Chapter twenty-two - The defeat of the Germans Flashcards
What was the role of women on the home front?
By the end of 1942, 80% of Leningrad’s industrial workers were women.
Only 500,000 served in the armed forces
How many reported on the front?
Over 1000 writers and artists joined the campaign to report on the front.
How was defeated talk limited?
One woman was sentenced to seven years for telling a friend about the bombing of Smolensk
How did the role of the Orthodox church increase?
According to a 1937 census, 55% considered themselves to be religious believers. Stalin took this into account and the League of the Godless was abolished, and 15,000 Orthodox churches reopened
How much money were Russia given by the US?
500 million dollars
What products were given to Russia by the US?
300,000 trucks
14,000 aircraft
782,000 tins of canned meat
How did the lend lease system contribute to the USSR?
in 1943 and 1944 it contributed to 10% of the GDP of the USSR. Without it the defeat of Wehrmacht would have taken 12 to 18 months longer
How did the lack of Western front apply pressure to the USSR?
Western front did not open until 1944 despite the USSR asking from 1942. Put great pressure on the USSR as 2/3 of German soldiers were always at the Eastern front
What happened to factories in the USSR?
Equipment, workers and whole factories were put on 20,000 trains and shifted hundreds of miles to the East. By the end of 1941, 1523 factories had been moved
How many factories were created?
3500 new factories were built, most dedicated to armaments. They were producing more rapidly than Germany
What happened to the civilian economy?
It was neglected and living standards fell by 40%. Bolstered by the support of the allies as they would have been compelled to withdraw major resources from fighting in 1943 if not for the lend lease system
How were workers treated?
Millions were overworked and there were 7.5 million convictions for absenteeism and lateness
What happened to agricultural output?
By 1943 it was 38% on 1940 levels but resilience meant that they were able to feed the growing population
How was the German war effort weakened by mass bombings?
Dresden was destroyed in February 1945
Did Germany have self-sufficiency in raw materials?
By 1943 - 44 - war production in Germany depended on all out exploitation of dwindling economic and human resources
What was the territorial expansion of the Soviet Union?
Previously independent Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and parts of east Prussia were all made Soviet Republics.
What was the great mass migration?
12 million refugees, many of them ethnic Germans fled westwards in 1944 - 45 as the Red army advanced.
How was Germany split?
Germany was divided into four zones: Soviet, American, British and French. Berlin, despite being in the Soviet zone, was divided into four zones ruled by a joint allied commission
What was the price of the war victory?
Approximately 20 million Soviet citizens died: 7.5 million in the armed forces and more than 20 million civilians
Between 1941 and 45, the war killed one in eight of the population and caused massive dislocation.
What were the plans for economic recovery?
In 1945, Stalin promised that the USSR would be the leading industrial power by 1960. August 1945 - Gosplan was instructed to prepare the fourth five year plan: one third of the plan’s expenditure was to be spent on Ukraine
How did industry struggle to adjust to peacetime conditions?
1945 + 46 - mining production was running at less than half the 1940 level, electric power was at 52% and steel was at 45%
When was foreign aid ended?
Lend-Lease system ended in 1945
What was industrial production under the fourth five year plan?
In millions + tons:
Coal - 1940 - 165.9 1950 - 261.1
Oil - 31.1 - 37.9
Steel 18.3 - 27.3
What happened to Soviet incomes?
As early as 1948, average Soviet incomes had climbed back to 1938 levels
