Economy (P3); War

Question 1

Expansion under war

Answer 1

• Hitler ensured the economy was ready for war, building programmes towards it, e,g factories building submarines
• Military expenditure nearly doubled between 39-41
• rationing introduced
• by 1941- 55% of workers were working towards war

Question 2

Limitations of economic mobilisation

Answer 2

• Germany’s airforce and tanksdidn’t increase that much showing it was quite inefficient in practice
• early war meant economy wasn’t ready
• there were many different people with different opinions on the same jobs, people weren’t agreeing what to do
• the armed forces wanted the best quality products, so the focus was on quality not quantity
• By 1942 and invasion of Russia, Germany’s economy still wasn’t ready for war

Question 3

Total War - 1942-45

Answer 3

• Rationalisation decree; Dec 1941 - eliminate waste
• Albert Speer appointed as minister of Armaments, turning point
• provided mass production

Question 4

Central Planning board

Answer 4

April 1942
Controls and constraints over businesses were relaxed in order to fit with nazi wishes.
number of committees, each representing an area of the economy. Gave them freedom to get on with things

Question 5

Speers role

Answer 5

• minister of Armaments
• co-ordinated and rationalized production for war more effectively
• he employed more women in factories to increase production
• making use of conc camp prisoners
• prevented skilled workers being sent to war

Question 6

Successes of Speers Rationalisation

Answer 6

• ammunition production increased by just under 100%
• tank production rose by 25%
• total arms increased by 59%

Question 7

Limitations of Speers Rationalisation

Answer 7

• despite improvements, Germany still had the capacity to do better, BUT people argue the bombings of 43 limited Germany
• couldn’t counter the role of the Gauliters who were taking things into their own hands in their area
• it couldn’t meet the demands of the total war