6.21 The Impact Of War On German Society Flashcards
What was German public opinion at the start of ww2?
Grudging loyalty, didn’t want the war but accepted it
Why were decrees established about a rationing system in August 1939(before the war began)
Nazis determined not to make same mistakes as Kaiser as inadequacies of WW1 rationing system was a big reason for growing war-weariness in 1917 and 1918
When was clothing included in the rationing scheme
Nov 1939( panic buying also occurred before regulations set in place)
Describe the rationing programme
Based on age, occupation and race
-manual labour received more than those in sedentary positions
-Jews have smaller rations
-special allocations for pregnant mothers, nursing mothers and the sick
(-these allocations remained unchanged for first 2 years)
Why were there no serious food shortages 1939-41
Exploitation of newly occupied countries
Grain imported from soviets
When did rationing get worse
Post soviet invasion
Meet goes to 500g to 400g a week
Phase 1 of war: Blitzkrieg Sep 1939-June 1941
(After defeating Poland series of quick victories against European powers)
Describe public mood:
Quick and east victories Caine of celebration-Hitler presented as military genius who was responsible
Hitler’s speeches vital for moral
People believed war would be over quickly
Phase 2 spreading was June-December 1941
USSR invaded
USA join war
Public mood:
USSR invasion presented as a crusade against Jewish Bolshevism-forcing red army to retreat crested optimism
People feared the war would go on for years
Phase 3 turning tide Jan 1942-Jan 43
Losses mount in the USSR in the winter
Public mood:
Civilians realise the reality of war with mounting casualties
Defeat at Stalingrad was huge
Hitler myth begins to lose effect
Phase 4 Feb 1943-May 1945
Total war
-D-day landings June 1944
Berlin captured April 1945
Clear Germany in a struggle for survival by 1943
Goebeless total war introduced and population support it-blame shifted onto incompetent military commanders
Hitler myth crumbles in final months
What was the impact of bombing on moral?
British air force carry out bombing in March 1942 on Lubeck
-start of bombing campaign RAF by night and USAAF by day (us version) 43 German cities attacked between match and July
Moral kept up and any one speaking with defeatist language was punished -terror as Germany covered in firestorms hard to maintain moral
Describe the end of the war for the German population?
-unrelenting misery
-3 million Germans fled homes as soviets entered Germany
-civilian moral collapsed Nazi regime collapsed quickly once Germany was occiosied
What were the elites view on the crumbling regime?
-some viewed it as evil
Others were patriotic about their country but believed Hitler was leading them into destruction
When did Hitler impose a ban on workers holidays and the working week in crested to 60 hours?
August 1944- workers health deforested as a result
Women as %of total workforce 1939 and 1944
1939: 37.4%
1944: 51%
