12) WW2

Question 1

How did the economy prepare for war?

Answer 1

• production had risen by 400% since 1928.
• in 1939, 24 new factories JUST dedicated to explosive production were built
• total number of tanks in 1942 were twice the goal in 1938
• Russian economy was more powerful than German economy. 5 billion dollars on military in 1940 made only 20% of the national income. The 6 billion Germany spent made 44%.

Question 2

What was the Nazi Soviet pact? When was it signed?

Answer 2

1939. It was signed to ensure national security - Stalin was willing to negotiate with Hitler. Even thought it gave him a false sense of security, there were no other viable alternatives. Neither Britain nor France were interested in alliance.
      - some say it was just another pragmatic way of buying time. The army would not fully be ready until 1943- it was a way of delaying the inevetible.

Question 3

When/how did the German invade?

Answer 3

June 1941, Operation Barbarossa. Stalin was taken by surprise - he had precise information but he refused to believe it.

Question 4

What was the battle of Stalingrad? Outline the events after this key battle.

Answer 4

Battle of Stalingrad- August 1942.
-1.1 million Russian army soldiers died.
However, they didn’t give up. By feb, Germany had been driven out and by December, 2/3rds of land had been recaptured.
January 1945 - red army entered German territory
May 1945 - German surrender

Question 5

What was the human cost of WW2?

Answer 5

• atleast 10% of the Russian population died between the years 1941-1945
• workers were expected to work 7 days a week even during the war. The first day off in four years was 9th May 1945
• women made majority of Russian workforce. They were required to perform tasks that were normally completed by machines/animals. Eg women were yoked to ploughs in the absence of horses.

Question 6

What was the economic cost of WW2?

Answer 6

• set back Russian economy by 10 years.
• wiped out the progress that was made by the 5 year plans.
• this is because in jan 1942: Germany had control of 1/3rd of Russia’s industry and Russian labour was being conscripted.
• 1942- industry only producing 59% of 1940 output
• living standards fell: no electricity from late 1941 and government took 90% of produce from collective farms.
• Late 1941, ordered to destroy all industrial equipment likely to fall into German hands. In German controlled areas, more than 2/3rds were destroyed

Question 7

How did the military prepared for war?

Answer 7

1935- military discipline was tightened. No longer were they ‘comrads’.

• return to tsarist system of strict discipline and clear divisions.
• the purges of 1937-1938 meant a great deal of experience/skill was lost