21 - The impact of war on German Society Flashcards

1
Q

What rationing measures were taken?

A

August 1939 - food rationing system issued before the war had begun, permits required to buy clothes but not rationed yet
Nov 1939 - following previous regulations people had panicked and clothes now rationed

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2
Q

Why was civilian morale considered to be important for Nazi officials?

A

During WW1, morale had been low due to food shortages and increased weariness in 1917 and 1918. Nazis did not want to repeat the Kaiser’s mistakes

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3
Q

How was food rations allocated?

A

Age, occupation, race
- those in manual labour would receive more than sedentary occupations
- pregnant, sick and nursing mothers received more
- Jews allocated very little

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4
Q

What were the standard ration allowances in August 1939?

A
  • 500g of meat a week
  • 1 egg a week
  • 250g of sugar a week
  • 62.5g of cheese a week
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5
Q

What items sometimes caused discontent when rationed?

A

1939-41:
coal, shoes, soap, washing powder

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6
Q

When did rations begin to get cut?

A

After the invasion of the soviet union in June 1941
- meat cut to 400g then cut again
- by the end of the war, many Germans became malnourished
- farmers experienced shortages of feed reducing production

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7
Q

What were the phases of war?

A

1 - Blitzkrieg (lightning war, method to quickly end war)
2 - the spreading of war
3 - the turning of the tide
4 - total war

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8
Q

What war events happened September 1939 - June 1941?

A
  • Poland defeated in the east, followed by quick victories in Europe
  • France June 1940
  • Norway and Sweden April 1940
  • Netherlands May 1940
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9
Q

What impact did September 1939 - June 1941 have on morale?

A
  • propaganda not always effective in lifting mood
  • Jan 1940 - June 1941 Hitler made 9 major speeches
  • propaganda made people believe the war would be over soon
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10
Q

What war events happened June 1941 - December 1941?

A
  • USSR invaded in June and occupied vast areas of territory
  • Red Army launched a counter attack on Germany halting progress
  • Germany declared war on the USSR in December
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11
Q

What impact did June 1941 - December 1941 have on morale?

A
  • SD reports suggested that the people felt the war would go on for ages
  • letters from the front lines shared the lack of success in Russia
  • Jewish conspiracy to destroy the Aryan race and Third Reich was spread to provide a scapegoat
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12
Q

What war events happened January 1942 - January 1943?

A
  • German losses in the USSR and harsh winter conditions
  • March 1942, RAF launched major bombing campaign
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13
Q

What impact did January 1942 - January 1943 have on morale?

A
  • casualty figures from the front awoke Germany to the military disarray
  • SD report that ‘faith in the Fuhrer is unshakeable’, but still scepticism regarding propaganda
  • news to defeat shocked the public due to the well built up propaganda, developed criticism
  • undoubtedly a well of patriotism and willingness to endure hardship
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14
Q

What war events happened February 1943 - May 1945?

A
  • Goebbels declares total war in February 1943
  • Britain and America attempt to cripple war effort through relentless bomb dropping
  • D - Day landings in Normandy June 1944 opened up a second front
  • by early 1945 allies had landed in Germany
  • Berlin captured by the Soviets in April 1945 and Germany declares defeat 8th May 1945
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15
Q

What impact did February 1943 - May 1945 have on morale?

A
  • Goebbels total war speech appeared to strike a chord with people, people criticised that these were being brought in too late
  • Hitler myth began to decline as he was seen less frequently in public
  • Goebbels spoke of plans of retaliation through V1 and V2 in 44-45 which boosted morale but these weapons did not help
  • SD reports from August 1944 ‘most compatriots, even those whose belief has hitherto been unshakeable, have lost all faith in the Fuhrer’
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15
Q

When was D-Day and when was Paris liberated?

A

D-Day = 6 June 1944
Paris = August 1944

16
Q

What was the extent of allied bombings?

A
  • often 1000 aircraft at a time
  • 43 German cities attacked March - July 1943
  • Hamburg bombed 7 times 25th July - 3rd August
  • high concentration of raids on Rhineland and Ruhr
17
Q

How did the bombings impact morale?

A
  • SD report from Lubeck March 1942 ‘showed a remarkable composure despite extreme destruction’
  • Goebbels spoke of retaliation via secret weapons to keep morale up
  • production was maintained until the end of 1944 as workers continued to show up
18
Q

What was the state of Germany by the end of the war?

A
  • when Soviet forces entered Germany in Jan 1945, 3.5 million Germans fled
  • Gauleiters in charge of evacuation but last minute organisation led to marches of hundreds of miles
  • estimated 500,000 - 1,000,000 died of starvation, disease and attacks from allied forces
  • transport systems ceased to function, electricity and gas cut
19
Q

What was the elites status before 1939?

A
  • many had welcomed the Nazi takeover
  • benefited from early policies, eg. IG Farben
20
Q

What impacts did the elites receive from Nazi control?

A
  • some believed the Nazis were evil
  • some were democratic but believed that Hitler was leading Germany to destruction
  • Helmut von Moltke believed that the mistreatment of others was deeply disturbing and was a founding member of the Kreisau Circle
21
Q

What was the workers status before 1939?

A
  • trade unions disbanded and DAF formed
  • could not protest their wages or go on strike
  • some benefits like Prora and Volkswagen program
22
Q

What were the positive impacts for the workers?

A

In October 1939, wages were made to pre war level following the high levels of absenteeism after reductions and bonuses were reintroduced

23
Q

What were the negative impacts for the workers?

A
  • 3rd September 1939, wage reductions and bans on overtime, Sunday and night bonuses
  • Oct 1939, wages cannot increase past pre war levels
  • August 1944, ban on holidays and working week becomes 60 hours
24
Q

What was women’s status before 1939?

A
  • Law of Protection of Blood and Honour meant they couldn’t marry Jews
  • Mother’s Cross encouraged them to stay home
  • contraception and abortions reduced
25
Q

What were the positive impacts for women?

A
  • by May 1944 had made up 51% of the workforce
  • generous benefits available for families of soldiers
26
Q

What were the negative impacts for women?

A
  • June 1940, 250,000 women conscripted into army
  • June 1941, Goering announces that those receiving family allowance but not had children must give it up or register for work, but only those who had worked previously so only 130,000 additional women
  • January 1943 after defeat at Stalingrad all women 17-45 must register for work
  • Hitler asked to increase age in Nov 1943, but by Summer 1944 situation was so bad that he agreed and women made up 60% of workforce
27
Q

What were the Auxiliary Corps?

A

Non combat units that supported the fighting

28
Q

What were the women’s roles in the Auxiliary Corps?

A

1943 - replaced men in servicing anti aircraft guns
1944 - operating searchlights
end of the war - 50,000 in AA and 30,000 OS
summer of 1944 - AC for women serving with the army and by Jan 1945 470,000 female auxiliaries

29
Q

What was young people’s status before 1939?

A
  • schools indoctrinated with Nazi policy
  • 2 hours of PE a day
  • NAPOLAs and Adolf Hitler schools
30
Q

What were the positive impacts for young people?

A
  • Hitler Youth?
31
Q

What were the negative impacts for young people?

A
  • conscription age gradually became lower (19 in 1940, 18 in 1941 and 17 in 1943)
  • 1942, 600,000 and 1.4 million boys and girls enlisted to gather harvest
  • January 1943, 16 and 17 year old school boys conscripted as Luftwaffe
  • conscription age 16 in 1945
  • 1943, special HJ division of the Waffen SS organised and sent to France to fight in the Battle of Normandy