Consequences Of War For G ppl Flashcards
When were ration cards printed
1937
When was food rationing introduced
1939
What was rationed in Oct 1939
Clothes and shoes
what luxuries were banned
Chocolate and whipped cream.
1939 meat ration
750g pw as G dependant on imports of meat and dairy products such as fodder
No serious rationing from 39-41 because..
Regime careful not to alienate civilian population and nazis focused on keeping mora,e high
Food imports stopped after
Operation Barbarossa
By ——- parks and gardens in major cities turned into veg allotments
1942
turning point
1942
when and where did G ppl consume some wildlife
1943 Berlin Zoo when it was bombed
food supplies v precarious
Autumn 1944
1945 meat ration
250g pw
Up until 1944 rations about —% above minimum calorific standard
10
start of war public mood
reluctant loyalty and hope of quick war. Euphoria rapid victories 1940-41
German people encouraged to…
Work harder, save fuel and do all possible to support war effort
‘Winter Aid’ 1941-42
Practical propaganda campaign that provided 1.5 million furs and 6.7mil garments for army
Kolberg- released Jan 1945
showed heroic resistance of Germans to Napoleon. Cost 5 billion marks and took 187000 soldiers for extras. No budget cuts to propaganda
Frankfurter Zeitung
Newspaper that was closed down in 1943 for spreading bad news. No negative press headlines were allowed.
Goebbels’ personal propaganda efforts (4)
- He organized increased rations for G civilians during Christmas
- V respected for Total war sportspalast speech of 1943
- He visited bombed areas
- created more feel-good movies in 1943
————- and ——- payments for workers reintro to boost morale and productivity
Bonus and overtime
Aims of ministry of propaganda and enlightenment
Maintain morale and continue effective indoctrination of G ppl
German surrender at Stalingrad
Feb 1943. Shocking to G ppl as G propaganda had presented as Germany winning even when G 6th army was surrounded and slowly destroyed. V damagaing to goebbels reputation as military defeat for Wehrmacht. Strategic disaster and blow to confidence
Germans secretly listened to the BBC
under threat of persecution. Became obvious that info from Goebbels ministry had gaps and not entirely accurate. Last few months war, people cynical of official news
Volkssturm
People encourage to join post 44. Poorly equppied, manned and trained
Goebbels attempt to rejuvenate moral 1944
Talk of a secret weapon to retaliate allied bombing
British intelligence reports early 1943 on morale
While wealthier Germans begun to accept that Germanys defeat was probable, this view wasn’t widespread. Not until end of war that morale collapsed.
Before 1942, lil disruption from Allied bombing as the RAF…
Unable to strike targets effectively. More casualties by road accidents in black outs than by bombing.
Reich Association for Air-raid Precautions
Formed 1933 and org a network of air-raid wardens. Built shelters and assigned bunker mothers, women who kept order in bunkers during raids.
First Allied bombing on G
Sep 1940 on Berlin
1940 ——- evacuated from ——-
2 million children evacuated from northern and western germany
effect of Allied bombing on Morale
Brought the horrors of war to the G people. Lowered morale of people.
when did the US enter the war and effect
December 1941. As war continued, superior aircraft available to allies and sustained bombing campaign began after US joined. By 1943, USAAF bombed at day and RAF at night.
Allied bombing of Cologne
30 May 1942 Allies dropped 1000lbs of bombs on Cologne, destroying 45000 homes and killing about 500 people. But industrial production back to normal in two weeks.
Allied targeting residential areas
Started by May 1942. About 410 000 civilians killed in Allied air raids and millions became homeless. 61 cities and also small towns targeted during carpet bombing. June 1943 regular, large-scale bombing of cities.
Industrial areas where were the first to become vulnerable
The Rhineland, the Ruhr and places close to the coast. Hamburg was reduced to 10% industrial capability. Slowed down munition production.
Air raids on Berlin
363 air raids on Berlin and a third of Berlin houses uninhabitable
How many killed in Allied bombing during the war
About 410 000
Incendiary bombing by end war and Dresden
2 devastating fire bombings in Dresden Feb 1945 and Dresden Feb 1943 3900 tonnes of bombs dropped in 4 raids. Up to 25 000 killed. Dresden a significant transport hub and Nazi stronghold but no military significance and lightly defended.
As the Allies took over bases closer to Germany
Raids intensified 1944-45
How many missions and bombs did The allied airforces unleash on Germany
1.4mil missions and 2.7million tonnes of bombs
Hitler ordered major economic mobilization and G military doubled from… But…
1939-41 but actual production of weapons disappointing and major deficiencies of war materials eg invasion USSR 1941 had a third of troops I’ll-equipped
Skilled armaments workers exempt from conscription via Speer’s
Special priority rating
Labour force 1939 vs 1944
39.1 million 1939 vs 30.4 million 1944
Labour ‘comb-through’ exercise
Identified men who could be released from unemployment and conscripted
% of women in workplace 1939 vs 1944
1939 37.4%
1944 41.5%
What is estimated to have cost the Nazis 3mil reinforcements against the USSR
Speers estimated that Nazis reluctance to put women in the workplace did this as 3 mil men had to stay behind in factories that could’ve been conscripted
womens call to work
1943, 3mil women called to work but only 1mil answered
Which ministry and when pushed for comprehensive conscription of women but refrained due to unpopularity
Spring 1940 the Reich Labour Ministry
Employees from ———- transferred to war work
Small businesses in nonessential trades
Increased use of Hitler Youth after invasion of Germany
Compulsory membership 1939, even stronger focus on militaru\ism intro to Youth. HY collected scrap metal from houses and an increasing number of teenagers used for defence work such as manning aircraft batteries and helping operate factories. Youth not avoid increasing demands of war.
Minimum Age of military service Germany
Reduced to 17 in 1943 and then to 16 in 1945
By end 1940 how many POWs and foreign workers were there in Germany?
800 000 POWs and about 2million foreign workers. About 21% of Germany’s workforce, despite Nazi racial contempt. Many Nazis found this unpalatable and a last resort.
Hierarchy of foreign workers’ nationalities and race
Ranging from France and Belgium at the top to slave labourers from Slavic countries
1944 how many foreign workers in Germany
8 million, they freed men to fight but problems with loyalty and. Language.
140 to spring 1942 where were volunteer foreign workers from
Occupied western countries
Fritz Sauckel’s decree Aug 1941
Compulsory labour decree for all occupied territories
When was the labour shortage issue made easier
After 1939 when much of Eastern Europe was under Nazi v]control
What did Hitler decree Oct 1941
oct 41 Hitler decreed Russian POWs could be used as slave labour
What were POW work camps like to boost war production and help G war effort
Notoriously prisoners forced to work in appalling conditions and suffered malnutrition, hypothermia and torture. 3mil soviet POWs out of 5.7 taken prisoner were allowed to freeze and die. Soviet soldiers would use any means necessary to evade capture.
Incentives for Prisoners of War
Incentives like more wages and rations for civilian workers not applied to POWs or soviets, who were subject to brutal discipline. This led to sabotage and noncompliance, 1944 Sauckel gave them some rations but these not always adhered to.
When was there a large increase in POWs?
Post-invasion Russia June 1941
Describe successes of Blitzkrieg up to not incl France
Early success against Poland in 1939, and then quick defeats of Denmark, Holland, Norway and Belgium in Spring 1940 were a huge boost to morale for many G ppl, despite caution at outbreak of war.
What left Germany as masters of Europe?
Fall of France June 1940
When did Hitler defeat France?
June 1940
Why did Hitler receive a hero’s welcome?
He had conquered France
