Defeat of the Germans Flashcards
1
Q
Soviet strengths
A
- USSR’s vast geographical size made it almost impossible for Germany to strike a decisive, knock-out blow against it. German forces constantly faced the problems of overstretched lines of communication. The size of the USSR enabled whole new armies, and a whole new industrial base, to be built up in the East, beyond Germany’s reach.
- Population of USSR was 171 million in 1941, nearly 3x greater then Germany’s
- USSR had vast natural resources that were unleashed by the war. In 1943 especially, USSR simply out-produced German war industries.
- Soviet ‘command economy’ well suited to the needs of total war and the emergency mobilisation of workers and resources
2
Q
German weaknesses
A
- Hitler was not able to achieve the rapid initial victory he had hoped for
- From December 1941 Germany had a war on two fronts
- Hitler made many crucial strategic mistakes and sacked many of his best generals, replacing them with yes men, denied Paulus the opportunity to withdraw from Stalingrad
- Germans alienated people in occupied countries, provoking resistance movements and partisans
3
Q
Foreign aid
A
- Stalin’s allies presented a dangerous threat to Hitler on other fronts, preventing him from focusing on the war in the East
- Mass bombing campaigns by the British and Americans from 1943 inflicted huge damage on Germany’s war effort 1944 795 RAF bombs attacked Nuremburg
- $500 million in US lend-lease supplies alongside 300,000 American trucks, trucks essential after Soviet rail network badly hit early in the war
- alliance made a difficult threat to Hitler, met with American forces at Torgau on the Elbe before final battle of Berlin
4
Q
Stalin’s leadership
A
- Previously desired complete control therefore appointed yes men such as Molotov and Kagenovich, in contrast to such appointments showed good leadership in appointment of Novikov who reorganised air force, by 1943 in position to challenge for air supremacy
- Successful propaganda, evident in women’s involvment in war- no other country enlisted such great amount, fought as infantry soldiers and tank captains at Battle of Kursk
