3 - the war economy & total war

Question 1

Hitler’s foreign policy in the 1930s

Answer 1

• increasingly aggressive
• initially, just taken back German land taken by the TOV
• gained confidence with the failure of British & French policy of appeasement
• confidence further reinforced by a treaty with Russia
• attacked Poland, Sept 1939 (outbreak of war in Europe)

Question 2

Nazi aims & economic figures at the start of the war

Answer 2

• economic decrees (Dec 1939) outlined vast programmes for war production
• German military expenditure more than 2x (1939-41)
• food rationing for some goods (introduced at the start of the war)
• clothes rationing (Nov 1939)
• soap rationed & toilet paper unavailable
• labour force mobilised for war
• civilian consumption decreased
• armaments production = low (eg. 8290 planes in 1939 -> 10,780 in 1941; tanks for invasion of Russia in 1941 = only 800 more than for invasion of the west)

Question 3

problems with Nazi economy at the start of the war

Answer 3

• production hit by inefficiency & poor co-ordination
• lack of central control (numerous agencies, eg. Ministry of Armament, Economics, Labour & Finance)
• by 1941 -> failed to achieve required levels of armaments production

Question 4

Rationalisation Decree (1941)

Answer 4

• introduced rationing
• to ensure existing materials were used efficiently

Question 5

When was the Rationalisation Decree introduced?

Answer 5

December 1941

Question 6

Albert Speer

Answer 6

• appointed Minister of Armaments (Feb 1942)
• introduced policy of ‘industrial self-responsibility’ to ensure mass production
• co-ordinated production process & ensured resources were exploited
• close friend of Hitler (able to exert influence)

Question 7

Central Planning Board

Answer 7

• set up in April 1942
• supported by a range of committees, representing different parts of the economy

Question 8

Speer’s policies

Answer 8

• prisoners in concentration camps used as workers
• women employed in arms factories
• skilled workers = no longer conscripted
• anything that didn’t contribute to war effort = eliminated (eg. professional sport ended 1943, magazines not essential to war closed, non-essential businesses shut)

Question 9

success of Speer’s policies

Answer 9

+ initially appeared successful
+ first 6 months = tank production ^ 25%, ammunition production ^ 97%, total arms production ^ 59%
+ by 1944 = 3x increase in war materials since 1942
- could’ve produced more
- party Gauleiters had influence at local level & could prevent orders being carried out
- SS did whatever they wanted & exploited lands for personal gains
- conquered territories weren’t exploited economically
- impact of Allied bombing
- unable to meet demands of total war
- production levels peaked in August 1944, & were still below potential

Question 10

When did Total War production levels peak?

Answer 10

August 1944