IMPACT OF WAR- different groups

Question 1

ELITES

Answer 1

• Diverse views on regime
• Some felt moral conviction that regime was evil
• Others were patriotic, but believed they were being driven into destruction
• Some democrats, others traditional, aristocratic conservatives who wanted authoritarian, non-Nazi government
• Many who opposed did so due to belief in personal freedom and individual responsibility
• Aristocrat von Moltke- thought poor treatment of others while they lived comfortable lives was disturbing

Question 2

WORKERS

Answer 2

• 3 Sep 1939 “Decree on Conversion of German economy onto a War Footing”
  > wage reductions, ban on employment bonuses for overtime, Sunday work and night-shift working- caused increasing absenteeism
  > October 1939- wage changes reversed
• August 1944: total ban on holidays imposed; working week increased to 60 hours
  > some rise in absenteeism, but this was combated: workers could have their reserved status removed resulting in conscription or have to pay fines; workers with good attendance could get extra food rations
• DAF factory cell systems- workers divided into groups, loyal Nazi party took attendance
• Many plants paid workers per amount of production instead of hourly
  > Health of workers deteriorated, accidents at work increased

Question 3

WOMEN- work

Answer 3

• Hardship at home front- married women obliged to queue for supplies when shortages occurred; had to be sole childcarers when husbands away
• As workers- increasingly vital role; 1939: 37% of workforce; 1944: 51%
  > Tension between Nazi ideology and war economy- Hitler initially refused to sanction allowing women in industry due to their main “role”
• Conscription rarely used on women: June 1940: 250,000; mainly transferred to production of consumer goods to war work
  > Women working in industry declined 1939-41; but grew in agriculture
• June 1941: all female workers receiving family allowance but not produced children must register for work or lose allowance- 130,000 women sent to armament factories
• Defeat at Stalingrad Jan 1943- total mobilisation of labour necessary- all women 17-45 had to register for work- Hitler convinced; but insisted that older pregnant, mothers of 2+, and farmers’ wives be exempted; but by November he had to raise age to 50- which he agreed to by 1944- by 1945 women made up 61% of workforce

Question 4

WOMEN- fighting

Answer 4

• Given auxiliary roles in armed forces (non-combat unis)
• 1943- women began replacing men in anti-aircraft guns; 1944: began operating searchlights
• January 1945: 470,000 female auxiliaries
  > Duties mainly secretarial and working on radio and telephone communications- often involved serving at front line
• During final stages of war women’s battalions established and women were trained for for combat roles

Question 5

FEMALE EDUCATION- Nazis

Answer 5

• National Socialist Women organisation- organised classes on cookery (economic use of available supplies) and sewing classes
  > mobilised women to help with harvest, prepare parcels of food, clothing for soldiers, help evacuated children
  > community evenings sustained morale and indoctrination

Question 6

YOUTH

Answer 6

• Compulsory attendance to BDM and HJ by 1939- high priority to indoctrinate youth and make them help war effort
• Boys militarily trained; both had to help with harvest and collect money in Winter Aid programme
• Transition towards total war lowered conscription age- 1943: 17; 1945: 16
  > 1942: 600,000 boys and 1.4 million girls organised with helping harvest
• November 1942: 120 military training camps set up
• September 1944: conscription of unfit 16-60 year olds into Volkssturm (home guard); by the end boys as young as 12 were conscripted into Volkssturm