impact of war on social groups Flashcards
(46 cards)
What were the diverse views of the Nazis among the Elites? [4]
- Some felt moral conviction that the regime was evil
- Others patriotic but believed Hitler was leading Germany to destruction
- Some were democrats
- Some traditional, aristocratic conservatives who wanted to return to an authoritarian, non-Nazi style of government
What did Hitler’s ‘Decree on the Conversion of the Whole Germany Economy onto a War Footing’ in September 1939 do?
It imposed wage reductions and a ban on bonuses for overtime, Sunday work and night-shift working.
What was the response to the ‘Decree on the Conversion of the Whole Germany Economy onto a War Footing’?
It was met with widespread discontent among the labour force, and led to an increased level of absenteeism.
What did Hitler do in response to the discontent of the ‘Decree on the Conversion of the Whole Germany Economy onto a War Footing’ in October 1939?
He restored wage levels to their pre-war levels and payment of bonuses reintroduced, but wage rates were not allowed to increase.
What changes were made once more to lives of workers in August 1944? [3]
- Total ban on holidays
- Working week increased to 60 hours
- Extra payments on overtime abolished
Why did absenteeism not rise as much in August 1944 after the changes to the work schedule? [3]
- Workers could have their reserved status removed, which could result in conscription into the army
- Employers could allocate extra food rations to employees who had good attendance records
- Employers could also impose fines for absenteeism and bad timekeeping
What was the DAF factory cell system?
Workers were divided into groups under a loyal Nazi Party member who was responsible for the attendance of workers in his cell.
What did many factory plants change their system of payment of workers to?
Instead of an hourly rate, many switched to where workers could earn more if they produced more.
What was the result of increased working hours and pressure to produce more?
Had a negative impact on workers’ health and welfare. Accidents at work increased and health deteriorated.
How did women bear the brunt of hardships on the home front? [3]
- As housewives, they had to queue for supplies of vital foodstuffs when shortages occurred
- As mothers, they had to shoulder even more of the task of childcare when their husbands were away at war
- As workers, they had an increasingly vital role in the German war economy
What was the % change in women in the German workforce between 1939 and 1944?
Went from 37.4% to 51%.
What was the % change in women in the British workforce between 1939 and 1944?
Went from 26.4% and 37.9%.
What had caused for women to make up 37.4% of the industrial labour force?
The four year plan.
Why was there increased pressure to employ more women in the labour force once the war had started?
The need to increase armaments production at a time when many male workers had been conscripted.
How did Hitler respond when he was advised in summer of 1940 that the industry needed more women workers?
He refused to sanction this on the grounds that women should primarily be devoted to child bearing and rearing. It went against Nazi ideology.
How did the regime remove an incentive for married women to seek work?
- They provided generous benefits for families of conscripted soldiers
- Increased working hours further pressured married women to give up work to look after their children
What was the overall result of women in industry between 1939 and 1941?
That the number of women workers in industry actually declined, but there was a growing number working in agriculture.
What did Goering’s decree issued in June 1941 do?
It meant that all female workers who were in receipt of family allowance and had given up paid employment but not had children should be forced to register for work or lose their allowance.
Why did the first step towards conscription of female labour have limited effect?
It only applied to women who had been employed previously, not those who’d never worked outside the home.
Only 130,000 extra women were sent to armaments factories.
Why did Goering’s June 1941 decree cause class resentments?
The group of women who had previously been employed were mainly working class, whereas women in the home were middle class.
What did the defeat at Stalingrad in January 1943 mean for the mobilisation of labour?
It meant it was essential, and a decree in the same month meant all women aged 17-45 were forced to register for work.
What did the decree on labour in January 1943 show about Hitler’s views?
That they had been abandoned his objection of married women in the workforce. However, he had modified his view and had some objections.
Older women, pregnant women, mothers with 2 or more kids, and farmers’ wives were all not obliged to register.
How did the decree on labour in January 1943 do to class resentment?
Deepened it as working-class women resented the number of exemptions and lack of consistency implementing the decree.
How many extra women had joined the industrial labour force by June 1943?
Fewer than half a million.
