CHAPTER 6, SECTION 21: The Impact of War on German Society

Question 1

What was the mood of the German people when war broke out?

Answer 1

Acceptance, no enthusiasm.

Question 2

What was a principal aim for the Nazi regime at the start of the war?

Answer 2

Sustain civilian morale & eliminate any weakness in the public mood.

Question 3

What did the Nazis understand about food rationing?

Answer 3

Morale had collapsed in later stages of WW1, due to severe shortages of vital foodstuffs. Determined to prevent this from happening.

Question 4

When was food rationing introduced?

Answer 4

August 1939: before the war had began.

Question 5

What foods were rationed?

Answer 5

Meat, bread eggs etc. Foods imported from outside of Europe, e.g. chocolate, were in short supply.

Question 6

When was clothing rationing introduced?

Answer 6

November 1939

Question 7

How was food rations allocated?

Answer 7

Based on age, occupation & race - manual labourers got more, Jews got less.

Question 8

Why was regime careful to not reduce food consumption quickly and significantly?

Answer 8

Didn’t want to alienate civilians.

Question 9

Why were food rations reduced in 1942?

Answer 9

After invasion of Soviet Union in June 1941, imports of food were stopped from there.

Question 10

When did food rations become precarious?

Answer 10

Autumn 1944.

Question 11

When did supply & distribution of food collapse & Germans faced prospect of starvation?

Answer 11

Spring 1945.

Question 12

How did Goebbels’ boost morale through propaganda?

Answer 12

Emphasising successes & minimising setbacks for German forces.

Question 13

How was morale affected as war progressed?

Answer 13

Early gains = reversed, public mood began to change, propaganda = less effective.

Question 14

What happened in the “Blitzkreig” part of the war (Sept 1939 - June 1941)?

Answer 14

Invasion of Poland (1939), quickly followed by invasions of Belgium, Norway, France etc, all defeated quickly.

Question 15

How was the “Blitzkreig” part of the war (Sept 1939 - June 1941) shown through propaganda?

Answer 15

Quick & easy victories edited showreels. Made people optimistic war wold be over quickly. Hitler presented as a military genius, made 9 major speeches on radio.

Question 16

What happened during the “Spreading of War” (June 1941 - Dec 1941)?

Answer 16

June 1941: Germany invaded USSR & was occupying territory
Dec 1941: Red Army halted Germany’s advance.
Dec 1941: Germany declared war on USA, after it’s ally (Japan) attacked Pearl Harbour.

Question 17

How was the “Spreading of War” (June 1941 - Dec 1941) part of the war shown through propaganda?

Answer 17

Invasion of USSR presented as a crusade against “Jewish Bolshevism” - meant semantic propaganda increased.
War on USA made it clear war wouldn’t be over as soon as Germans had hoped.

Question 18

What happened during the “Turning of the Tide” part of the war (Jan 1942 - Jan 1943)?

Answer 18

British stopped German & Italian advances in North Africa.
Defeat of entire German army at Stalingrad (Jan 1943) was big turning point in war.

Question 19

How was the “Turning of the Tide” (Jan 1942 - Jan 1943) part of the war shown through propaganda?

Answer 19

Big setback for propaganda. Defeat showed Goebbels had created an unrealistic expectation of victory.
Letters home from soldiers undermined propaganda.
Criticism of regime increased, but still deep reserve for patriotism - Nazis played on this.

Question 20

What happened during the “Total War” & defeat of Germany (Feb 1943 - May 1945) part of the war?

Answer 20

British & American bombing of German cities brought destruction & loss of civilian lives.
D-Day landings in France (June 1944) opened up a 2nd front in Western Europe.
Berlin captured by Soviet forces (April 1945).
Germany surrenders 8th May.

Question 21

How was the “Total War” & defeat of Germany (Feb 1943 - May 1945) part of the war shown through propaganda?

Answer 21

Hitler appeared less often in public & made very few speeches - dented the “Hitler Myth”.
Mood collapsed.
Goebbels tried to lift morale in 1944 with the talk of secret weapons, but lifted only temporarily, people could see through this - Hitler Myth = SHATTERED

Question 22

Impact of War on Elites? START

Answer 22

Some thought Hitler was leading them to destruction, didn’t want war.

Question 23

Impact of War on Elites? END

Answer 23

Some were trying to plan Hitler’s assassination.

Question 24

Impact of War on Workers? START

Answer 24

Sept 1939: Hitler imposed wage reductions & banned bonuses - caused discontent & more absenteeism.

Question 25

Impact of War on Workers? END

Answer 25

Aug 1944: Total ban of holidays, working week increased to 60 hours, working conditions getting worse and worse.

Question 26

Impact of War on women? START

Answer 26

May 1939: made up 37.4% of industrial labour force.
Hitler believed that they should focus on childbearing and care.
But didn’t have children and expected to work.

Question 27

Impact of War on women?
END

Answer 27

Jan 1943: decreed all woman 17-45 should work
1945: situation so grave women made up 60% of labour force.

Question 28

Impact of War on youth? START

Answer 28

1939: membership to Hitler Youth compulsory - trained to be soldiers.

Question 29

Impact of War on youth? END

Answer 29

1942: 600 000 boys & 1.4mil girls organised to help gather harvests.
1943: conscription age = 17
1945: conscription age = 16 - lots of pressure put on youth to join war.