Defeat of the Germans Flashcards
What did the Allies insist on that led the Germans to fight heavily?
unconditional surrender
What did Stalin want from the Red Army?
to gain as much of Central Europe and Germany as possible - accepting to have huge casualty rates
Who agreed to slow the Allies advance into Germany to allow the USSR to win the ‘race to Berlin’?
US General Eisenhower - to reduce Allied casualties and confrontation with USSR
When did Germany surrender unconditionally to the USSR?
9 May 1945
What was Hitlers strategy based on?
rapid victory - Weakness due to failure
What was a main weakness for German defeat?
from Dec 1941 - war on two frontsWh
What did germany lack by 1943?
self-sufficiency in raw materials
Why did Hitler make crucial mistakes?
replaced experienced generals with ‘yes men’
what increased resistance movements and partisans against the Germans?
the Harsh repression against countries
Why was the USSR’s size a strength?
German supply lines stretched, whole new armies and industry built beyond reach
Why was population a strength for USSR?
3 times the size of Germany’s - USSR could replace losses
What is an important factor in WW2 victory for resources?
USSR had Natural resources - oil,
command economy well suited for mobilation
What was the Stavka?
High command of the Russian Army
How many people volunteered for citizens defence in 1941 due to propaganda?
4 million
How did the Allies contribute to Hitlers weaknesses?
attacked - fighting on two fronts
mass bombing campaigns,
secret intelligence + code breaking,
Vital military and economic aid to USSR
What did USSR become as a result of victory?
an international superpower, economic potential amid weakened Eurpoean powers
What did USSR victory vindicate?
Communism seen to defeat fascism, made socialism more attractiveWh
What was strengthened by the USSR’s victory?
The cult of Stalin - seen as USSR’s saviour
What was increased by the USSR victory?
‘sphere of influence’ - baltic states and Pro-soviet regimes in Eastern European countries
How many Soviet citizens were killed?
20 million
How did Cold War tensions develop?
Stalin feared USA’s influence in Europe
disagreements over Germany
What did Stalin promise in 1945?
the USSR would be the world’s leading industrial power by 1960
When was the Five Year Plan worked on and launched?
throughout 1945, launched March 1946
What is a main focus of the 5th FYP due to idustrial and agricultural devastation?
Reconstruction of Ukraine
What was half of 1940 levels in 1945?
mining production,
electricity,
steel production
WHat was an issue with the workforce in 1945?
was exhausted and depleted
What added significant pressure on industry in 1945?
the end of foreign aid
What % of expenditure went towards military production by 1952?
25% - due to Cold War
How did the Targets of the 4FYP work?
many plans target met or exceeded
coal, oil, steel, cement and electricity
What region had a higher industrial output than before the wawr?
Ukraine
How was some production of consumer goods improved under 4th FYP?
Cotton fabrics, wool and sugar - pre-war figures by 1950
HOWEVER - shoes, clothes and furniture lagged behind
How did Soviet incomes increase?
back to 1938 in 1948
How was reparations help the USSR’s rapid recovery?
War reparations transferred masses of material
How did Central planning help the USSR’s rapid recovery?
able to enforce mass mobilisation
How did the Soviet people help the USSR’s rapid recovery?
people were proud of the victory - willing to make further sacrifices
What is a ‘rebound effect’?
enabled rapid rebuilding of essential services
How many collective farms had been destroyed by the war?
98,000
What had been destroyed and depleted by WW2?
Farm machinery and livestock numbers
What % of food was 1940 compared to 1945?
60%
What meant a major shortage of farming labour?
deaths and injuries from WW2
How many people died in 1946-47 due to famine in Ukraine?
1.5 million people
WHat did Stalin’s writing on the Soviet economy block?
reformin agriculture -
payments for farm products low,
taxes increased,
1948 - ban on selling food
What was Stalins post-ww2 writings on the Soviet economy called?
‘Economic problems of Socialism in the USSR’
