Reasons for Germany's defeat in WW2

Question 1

Reasons for Germany’s defeat in WW2

Answer 1

• Weak Axis partners in Europe
• War production
• Failed strategy
• Hitler’s military decisions
• USSR as the cause of German defeat
• The role of the USA and Britain in defeating Germany

Question 2

Weak Axis partners in Europe as a cause of Germany’s defeat in WW2

Answer 2

• Germany did not have strong war allies in Europe. Italy failed to conquer Greece without assistance from Germany and was not successful in its invasion of Egypt.
• Italy did not assist Germany in any European campaigns of any significance.
• While Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania all provided troops for the Eastern Front, they were poorly equipped and not instrumental in German success.

Question 3

War production as a cause of Germany’s defeat in WW2

Answer 3

• Germany was weakened as the result of problems in war production.
• German industry was not fully mobilized until 1943. Germany produced a wide variety of weapons, causing funds and resources to be channeled into experimentation rather than mass production.
• The Allied nations, on the other hand, were well-resourced, well-manned, and well-organized. The USSR had improved its industrial capabilities through a series of Five Year Plans in the 1930s and the USA was the world’s largest economic power.

Question 4

Failed strategy as a cause of Germany’s defeat in WW2

Answer 4

• Blitzkrieg tactics
• Inability to invade Britain
• Germany’s invasion of the USSR and its struggle there

Question 5

Failed strategy as a cause of the German defeat- Blitzkrieg tactics

Answer 5

Germany’s Blitzkrieg tactics were successful in the beginning stages of the war on mainland Europe; however, Germany struggled once it was required to adapt its tactics.

Question 6

Failed strategy as a cause of the German defeat- inability to invade Britain

Answer 6

Britain, as an island, was difficult to invade, and German aircraft, which were designed to work alongside land forces, failed in the attempt to do so.

Question 7

Failed strategy as a cause of the German defeat- Germany’s invasion of the USSR and its struggle there

Answer 7

• Germany’s invasion of the USSR was initially successful, but the speed at which troops advanced left them overextended and vulnerable.
• Germany also struggled in the USSR once it became clear that victory would not be achieved rapidly and the German forces would be required to fight through the winter months.

Question 8

Hitler’s military decisions as a cause of Germany’s defeat in WW2

Answer 8

• Hitler could be held responsible for Germany’s defeat.
• As head of the armed forces, he had little experience.
• Hitler often refused to take advice from his generals, including the recommendation to retreat in order to preserve men and equipment for key battles.
• Some of Germany’s best soldiers and key weaponry were lost in important battles, including in Stalingrad and Kursk, in relation to which Hitler refused such advice.

Question 9

USSR as the cause of the German defeat- why was the USSR difficult to conquer?

Answer 9

• Its size, climate and challenging terrain, and its enormous population who were willing to work and fight exceptionally hard for their country.
• The Soviet government was prepared to sacrifice its people in its defense of the land.

Question 10

Soviet forces were responsible for around ___ of all Germans killed or wounded.

Answer 10

80%

Question 11

The role of the USA and Britain in defeating Germany

Answer 11

• US war production assisted the USSR greatly in its prolonged campaign against Germany.
• The US, British and Canadian invasions of France in 1944 helped to occupy German forces which would have otherwise been sent to the Eastern Front.
• However, the bombing of Germany had a little significant impact on the war effort until later in 1944 when the Soviets had almost advanced into Germany.