Life In Germany In WW2 Flashcards
What was the initial reaction in Germany to the outbreak of World War Two?
In Germany in 1914, at beginning of WW1, great enthusiasm for war, but that wasn’t case in 1939
German people reacted with resignation
Remembered pain of their surrender in 1918 & humiliating punishment in Treaty of Versailles
Many Germans feared repeat of shortages & huge loss of life experienced during WW2
Majority of Germans reluctantly supported war & signed up to play their part in the war effort
What was the impact of war on the German people?
Rationing Area bombing Refugees Employment RARE
Rationing deliberately kept to minimum
Hitler knew cut-backs during WW1 led to political unrest, so ordered restriction kept to minimum
Consumer goods brought from France, after it was defeated by Germany in June 1940, helped reduce shortages.
However, autarky & rearmament meant consumer goods already expensive & scarce before war
Although main restrictions weren’t until 1942, some problems early in the war.
Food rationed immediately in 1939, although Germans didn’t experience chronic shortages until 1944
Germans’ diet became more monotonous, with lots of bread, potatoes & preserves
There were meat shortages due to lack of imports from the USA. Meat rations dropped from 750 grams per week in 1939 to 250 grams per week in 1945.
Extra rations were given to people considered important to the war effort, such as workers in heavy industries. There was also extra food for pregnant women and blood donors.
The Jews’ food entitlements were set below that of the Aryans.
Parks and gardens were dug up to make vegetable patches.
Food consumption per person fell 25 per cent by 1941.
Clothing, rationed from November 1939 onwards, was in such short supply that Nazi officials raided houses if they thought there were surplus items, particularly shoes.
There was a shortage of coal, which was most serious during the exceptionally cold winter of 1939-1940. To save fuel, people were only allowed warm water twice per week.
Rationing led to a flourishing black market. Luxury clothes and perfume were readily available for the rich.
Shortages meant many shop-windows displayed goods for “decoration only”. Dairies displayed rows of milk bottles filled with white salt to make it appear they contained milk.
In general, rationing was accepted with little opposition, especially as food rations were reasonably generous until the middle of the war. Indeed, some people ate better during the war.
However, in the last year of the war, ration cards were no longer honoured and shortages of food and clothing were severe
