The domestic impact of the war

Question 1

How did Germany attempt to maximise the productivity of German workers?

Answer 1

• Wages were reduced
• Bonuses and extra overtime payments were banned at the start of the War
• Divert all money to machinery and resources
• This strategy backfired - workers’ lost motivation

Question 2

How were Germans affected towards the end of the war?

Answer 2

• By 1944, the impact on German workers became severe - living standards worsened
• Holidays were banned and the working week increased to 60 hours a week

Question 3

How many women worked at the time of the outbreak of war?

Answer 3

• 52%

Question 4

What was the main issue with the Nazi ideology?

Answer 4

• Women were encouraged to stay home and raise children
• 52% worked during war
• Combination of failure to conscript women with high level of female employment - meant that increasing the labour supply via the use of women did not occur - could not match enemies production levels

Question 5

What did Hitler refuse to authorise?

Answer 5

• The mass conscription of women