1. The Impact of War on German Society

Question 1

Public opinion at the start of WW2

Answer 1

Didn’t match Hitler’s expectations
Mood of the German public at the news of hostilities was on of reluctant loyalty

Question 2

Principle aim of Nazi domestic policy at the start of the war

Answer 2

Sustain the morale of the home front and eliminate any elements of weakness in public mood

Question 3

The Nazi’s view of wartime rationing

Answer 3

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

Question 4

When did food rationing begin in Germany? What did this cause?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What was the allocation of food rations based on?

Answer 5

Age
Occupation
Race - Jews received smaller rations

Question 6

Success of the food rationing system between 1939 and 1941

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Food rationing system after 1941

Answer 7

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

Question 8

4 phases of war

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Events that occurred during Blitzberg (September 1939 - June 1941)

Answer 9

After defeating Poland in the East, German forces achieved series of quick victories in Europe

Question 10

How was Hitler presented during Blitzberg (September 1939 - June 1941)?

Answer 10

Presented in the press as a military genius who was responsible for these victories

Question 11

What did Hitler do during Blitzberg (September 1939 - June 1941) and what did this do for morale?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Events that occurred during the spreading war phase (June 1941 - December 1941)

Answer 12

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

Question 13

How was the invasion of the USSR during the spreading war phase (June 1941 - December 1941) portrayed in propaganda?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

German morale during the spreading war phase (June 1941 - December 1941)

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Events that occurred during the turning of the tide phase of war (January 1942 - January 1943)

Answer 15

German losses in the USSR start to mount in the harsh winter conditions

Question 16

Public morale during the turning of the tide phase of war (January 1942 - January 1943)

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Events that occurred during total war and Germany’s defeat (February 1943 - May 1945)

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Response to Goebbels total war announcement

Answer 18

Calls for radical measures to mobilise the population and economy by Goebbels were generally welcomed or even criticised for being introduced too late

Question 19

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)?

Answer 19

Incompetent military commanders were blamed for the losses rather than Hitler

Question 20

SD report of public morale in August 1944

Answer 20

Found that “most compatriots […] have lost all faith in the Führer”

Question 21

How did Goebbels attempt to keep up morale during the allied bombing?

Answer 21

He said that retaliation using secret weapons was coming

Question 22

What created a sense of exhaustion in German morale during the final phase of war?

Answer 22

Experience of terror
Growing shortages
Lengthening queues for rations
Loss of sleep due to air raids

Question 23

Hitler’s September 1939 work decree

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Response to Hitler’s September 1939 work decree

Answer 24

Widespread discontent among the labour force reflected in an increased level of absenteeism
In October 1939 (1 month later) the decree was essentially reversed

Question 25

Hitler’s action on workers in August 1944 (total war phase)

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Impact of Hitler’s actions on workers in August 1944

Answer 26

Accidents t work increased
Workers’ health deteriorated

Question 27

Women in work from May 1939 to May 1944

Answer 27

Percentage of women of the total workforce increased by 12%
Women in workforce was 13% higher in Germany than Britain

Question 28

What was there tension between during war?

Answer 28

Tension between Nazi ideology sand the needs of the war economy

Question 29

What was introduced by Goering in June 1941 to get more women into employment?

Answer 29

Family allowance introduced
Meant that any women without children had to register to work

Question 30

What became essential farther the defeat at Stalingrad in January 1943?

Answer 30

The total mobilisation of the labour force

Question 31

What announcement in January 1943 showed that’s Hitler had abandoned his ideological objections?

Answer 31

The announcement that all women aged 17-45 had to register for work

Question 32

What did the army established in the summer of 1944 for women?

Answer 32

The Auxiliary Corps for women serving in the armed forces

Question 33

Militarisation of women after Summer 1944

Answer 33

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

Question 34

How did the minimum age of being called into the armed forces change from 1940 to 1945

Answer 34

19 in 1940
18 in 1941
17 in 1943
16 in 1945

Question 35

Amount of youths in 1942 to helped with gathering the harvest through their youth organisations

Answer 35

600,000 boys
1.4 million girls