Defeat of the Germans

Question 1

What did the Allies insist on that led the Germans to fight heavily?

Answer 1

unconditional surrender

Question 2

What did Stalin want from the Red Army?

Answer 2

to gain as much of Central Europe and Germany as possible - accepting to have huge casualty rates

Question 3

Who agreed to slow the Allies advance into Germany to allow the USSR to win the ‘race to Berlin’?

Answer 3

US General Eisenhower - to reduce Allied casualties and confrontation with USSR

Question 4

When did Germany surrender unconditionally to the USSR?

Answer 4

9 May 1945

Question 5

What was Hitlers strategy based on?

Answer 5

rapid victory - Weakness due to failure

Question 6

What was a main weakness for German defeat?

Answer 6

from Dec 1941 - war on two frontsWh

Question 7

What did germany lack by 1943?

Answer 7

self-sufficiency in raw materials

Question 8

Why did Hitler make crucial mistakes?

Answer 8

replaced experienced generals with ‘yes men’

Question 9

what increased resistance movements and partisans against the Germans?

Answer 9

the Harsh repression against countries

Question 10

Why was the USSR’s size a strength?

Answer 10

German supply lines stretched, whole new armies and industry built beyond reach

Question 11

Why was population a strength for USSR?

Answer 11

3 times the size of Germany’s - USSR could replace losses

Question 12

What is an important factor in WW2 victory for resources?

Answer 12

USSR had Natural resources - oil,
command economy well suited for mobilation

Question 13

What was the Stavka?

Answer 13

High command of the Russian Army

Question 14

How many people volunteered for citizens defence in 1941 due to propaganda?

Answer 14

4 million

Question 15

How did the Allies contribute to Hitlers weaknesses?

Answer 15

attacked - fighting on two fronts
mass bombing campaigns,
secret intelligence + code breaking,
Vital military and economic aid to USSR

Question 16

What did USSR become as a result of victory?

Answer 16

an international superpower, economic potential amid weakened Eurpoean powers

Question 17

What did USSR victory vindicate?

Answer 17

Communism seen to defeat fascism, made socialism more attractiveWh

Question 18

What was strengthened by the USSR’s victory?

Answer 18

The cult of Stalin - seen as USSR’s saviour

Question 19

What was increased by the USSR victory?

Answer 19

‘sphere of influence’ - baltic states and Pro-soviet regimes in Eastern European countries

Question 20

How many Soviet citizens were killed?

Answer 20

20 million

Question 21

How did Cold War tensions develop?

Answer 21

Stalin feared USA’s influence in Europe
disagreements over Germany

Question 22

What did Stalin promise in 1945?

Answer 22

the USSR would be the world’s leading industrial power by 1960

Question 23

When was the Five Year Plan worked on and launched?

Answer 23

throughout 1945, launched March 1946

Question 24

What is a main focus of the 5th FYP due to idustrial and agricultural devastation?

Answer 24

Reconstruction of Ukraine

Question 25

What was half of 1940 levels in 1945?

Answer 25

mining production, electricity, steel production

Question 26

WHat was an issue with the workforce in 1945?

Answer 26

was exhausted and depleted

Question 27

What added significant pressure on industry in 1945?

Answer 27

the end of foreign aid

Question 28

What % of expenditure went towards military production by 1952?

Answer 28

25% - due to Cold War

Question 29

How did the Targets of the 4FYP work?

Answer 29

many plans target met or exceeded coal, oil, steel, cement and electricity

Question 30

What region had a higher industrial output than before the wawr?

Answer 30

Ukraine

Question 31

How was some production of consumer goods improved under 4th FYP?

Answer 31

Cotton fabrics, wool and sugar - pre-war figures by 1950 HOWEVER - shoes, clothes and furniture lagged behind

Question 32

How did Soviet incomes increase?

Answer 32

back to 1938 in 1948

Question 33

How was reparations help the USSR's rapid recovery?

Answer 33

War reparations transferred masses of material

Question 34

How did Central planning help the USSR's rapid recovery?

Answer 34

able to enforce mass mobilisation

Question 35

How did the Soviet people help the USSR's rapid recovery?

Answer 35

people were proud of the victory - willing to make further sacrifices

Question 36

What is a 'rebound effect'?

Answer 36

enabled rapid rebuilding of essential services

Question 37

How many collective farms had been destroyed by the war?

Answer 37

98,000

Question 38

What had been destroyed and depleted by WW2?

Answer 38

Farm machinery and livestock numbers

Question 39

What % of food was 1940 compared to 1945?

Answer 39

60%

Question 40

What meant a major shortage of farming labour?

Answer 40

deaths and injuries from WW2

Question 41

How many people died in 1946-47 due to famine in Ukraine?

Answer 41

1.5 million people

Question 42

WHat did Stalin's writing on the Soviet economy block?

Answer 42

reformin agriculture - payments for farm products low, taxes increased, 1948 - ban on selling food

Question 43

What was Stalins post-ww2 writings on the Soviet economy called?

Answer 43

'Economic problems of Socialism in the USSR'