1. The Impact of War on German Society Flashcards
Public opinion at the start of WW2
Didn’t match Hitler’s expectations
Mood of the German public at the news of hostilities was on of reluctant loyalty
Principle aim of Nazi domestic policy at the start of the war
Sustain the morale of the home front and eliminate any elements of weakness in public mood
The Nazi’s view of wartime rationing
Shortages and inadequacies of the rationing system during WW1 were one of the main causes of growing war-weariness in 1917 and 1918
Nazis determined not to make this same mistake
When did food rationing begin in Germany? What did this cause?
In August 1939 before the war began
Caused panic buying before the regulation took effect and led to the inclusion of clothing on the rationing scheme in November 1939
What was the allocation of food rations based on?
Age
Occupation
Race - Jews received smaller rations
Success of the food rationing system between 1939 and 1941
On the whole it worked efficiently and there were no food shortages in this period as Germany was exploring the newly occupied countries for food supplies as well as importing grain from the USSR after the Navi-Soviet Pact
Food rationing system after 1941
After invasion of Soviet Union in June 1941, some rations were reduced
By the end of war, food supplies became very uncertain and unpredictable so many Germans suffered malnutrition
4 phases of war
1) Blitzberg
September 1939 - June 1941
2) The spreading war
June 1941 - December 1941
3) The turning of the tide
January 1942 - January 1943
4) Total war and the defeat of Germany
February 1943 - May 1945
Events that occurred during Blitzberg (September 1939 - June 1941)
After defeating Poland in the East, German forces achieved series of quick victories in Europe
How was Hitler presented during Blitzberg (September 1939 - June 1941)?
Presented in the press as a military genius who was responsible for these victories
What did Hitler do during Blitzberg (September 1939 - June 1941) and what did this do for morale?
Hitler made 9 major speeches which were all significant in improving morale
The speeches as well as propaganda made the German people optimistic and believe that the war would nearly be over
Events that occurred during the spreading war phase (June 1941 - December 1941)
Germany invaded the USSR
The Red Army launched a counter-attack which stopped the German advance
Germany declared war on USA
Nazi Germany now faced a world war against the Grand Alliance of USA, Britain and the USSR
How was the invasion of the USSR during the spreading war phase (June 1941 - December 1941) portrayed in propaganda?
Portrayed as a crusade against Jewish Bolshevism
Propaganda stated that Soviet and American enemies had a Jewish conspiracy to destroy the Third Reich and the Aryan Race
German morale during the spreading war phase (June 1941 - December 1941)
Success of German forces in invasion of USSR enhanced public optimism
Although Nazi propaganda downplayed extent of Soviet success, letters home from soldiers undermined the propaganda
Hopes of a quick and easy victory dissipated
Events that occurred during the turning of the tide phase of war (January 1942 - January 1943)
German losses in the USSR start to mount in the harsh winter conditions
Public morale during the turning of the tide phase of war (January 1942 - January 1943)
Rising casualty figures and letters home from soldiers serving on the Eastern Front gradually awakened civilians to the realities of the war
Defeat at Stalingrad signalled a defeat for Nazi propaganda
Criticism of propaganda increased and the Hitler myth was beginning to lose its potency
Events that occurred during total war and Germany’s defeat (February 1943 - May 1945)
February 1943, Goebbels declared that German was engaged in total war
Unrelenting bombing of German cities by Britain and the US
By early 1945, allied forces had entered Germany itself
Berlin captured by Soviet troops in April 1945
Germany surrendered on 8th May 1945
Response to Goebbels total war announcement
Calls for radical measures to mobilise the population and economy by Goebbels were generally welcomed or even criticised for being introduced too late
How was Hitler’s image as a military genius attempted to be maintained during the total war and defeat phase of war (February 1943 - May 1945)?
Incompetent military commanders were blamed for the losses rather than Hitler
SD report of public morale in August 1944
Found that “most compatriots […] have lost all faith in the Führer”
How did Goebbels attempt to keep up morale during the allied bombing?
He said that retaliation using secret weapons was coming
What created a sense of exhaustion in German morale during the final phase of war?
Experience of terror
Growing shortages
Lengthening queues for rations
Loss of sleep due to air raids
Hitler’s September 1939 work decree
Announced the Decree of the Conversion of the Whole German Economy onto a War Footing on 3rd September 1939
This imposed wage reductions and put a ban on payment of bonuses for overtime
This introduced Sunday work and night-shift working
Response to Hitler’s September 1939 work decree
Widespread discontent among the labour force reflected in an increased level of absenteeism
In October 1939 (1 month later) the decree was essentially reversed
Hitler’s action on workers in August 1944 (total war phase)
Total ban on holidays imposed
Working week increased to 60 hours
Extra payment for working overtime abolished
Employers could advocate extra food rations to those with high attendance and impose fines for absenteeism
Incentives introduced to encourage workers to raise productivity
Impact of Hitler’s actions on workers in August 1944
Accidents t work increased
Workers’ health deteriorated
Women in work from May 1939 to May 1944
Percentage of women of the total workforce increased by 12%
Women in workforce was 13% higher in Germany than Britain
What was there tension between during war?
Tension between Nazi ideology sand the needs of the war economy
What was introduced by Goering in June 1941 to get more women into employment?
Family allowance introduced
Meant that any women without children had to register to work
What became essential farther the defeat at Stalingrad in January 1943?
The total mobilisation of the labour force
What announcement in January 1943 showed that’s Hitler had abandoned his ideological objections?
The announcement that all women aged 17-45 had to register for work
What did the army established in the summer of 1944 for women?
The Auxiliary Corps for women serving in the armed forces
Militarisation of women after Summer 1944
Taken further in the final stages of the war when women’s battalions of the army were established and women were trained for combat roles
How did the minimum age of being called into the armed forces change from 1940 to 1945
19 in 1940
18 in 1941
17 in 1943
16 in 1945
Amount of youths in 1942 to helped with gathering the harvest through their youth organisations
600,000 boys
1.4 million girls
