The Defeat of the Germans Complete

Question 1

What delayed Allied Victory?

Answer 1

Allies insistence on Germany’s unconditional surrender

Question 2

Why did Stalin want an unconditional surrender?

Answer 2

Would avoid the allies making a separate peace with Germany

Question 3

Why was Stalin’s desire to reach Berlin before the Americans costly?

Answer 3

He order all-out frontal assaults regardless of the high casualties

Question 4

What in early 1945 weakened Germany’s war effort?

Answer 4

The bombing of Dresden

Question 5

Political motives for Stalin wanting to win the Race to Berlin?

Answer 5

Storming of the German parliament building would be a symbol of Soviet victory

Question 6

Military motives for Stalin wanting to win the Race to Berlin?

Answer 6

Wished to control as much as possible of Central Europe and Germany to provide a buffer zone against any future threats to the USSR

Question 7

Soviet strength- Geographical size?

Answer 7

Impossible for Germany to strike a decisive knock out blow against USSR- constant problem of overstretched communication lines
Allowed whole new USSR armies and industrial bases to be built up in east beyond Germany’s reach

Question 8

Soviet Strength- population?

Answer 8

171 million in 1941- 3 times that of Germany’s

USSR could replace losses that were impossible for Germany

Question 9

Soviet Strength- vast natural resources?

Answer 9

Longer war went on the stronger the Soviet military-industrial base became
1943- USSR outproduced German war industries

Question 10

Soviet Strength- Command economy?

Answer 10

Before the war an economy suited to the total needs of war was established

Question 11

Soviet Strength- Stalin a good leader?

Answer 11

After an initial bad start Stalin proved himself to be a very capable war leader- his generals became highly competent and he used propaganda and patriotism to motivate his armed forces

Question 12

Soviet Strength- utilising women?

Answer 12

Although all countries enlisted women to help with the war effort, Russia went beyond that, women fought as infantry soldiers- tanks captains- skilled workers in munitions factories, women held daily life together
Women sniper- best sniper in the war

Question 13

German weaknesses?

Answer 13

Could not achieve the fast war they wanted
From December 1941 had to fight a two-front war
Lacked self-sufficiency in raw materials
Hitler made crucial strategic mistakes
Hitler sacked many of his best generals and replaced them with yes men

Question 14

Contribution of the Allies?

Answer 14

Presented a dangerous threat to Hitler on other fronts which prevented him from focusing on a war in the east
Mass bombing campaigns ran by British and American 1943- damaged Germany’s war effort
Allied secret intelligence - codebreaking- undermined the German war effort
Provided USSR with military and economic aid