The Impact of War on German Society Flashcards
What was a critical factor in maintaining civilian morale?
Availability of foodstuffs and other commodities
How did the regime aim to make rationing efficient?
-Shortages and inadequacies of rationing system = one of the main causes of war-weariness 1917-18
-Nazi regime was determined to not make same mistakes as Kaiser
-Decrees est food rationing system Aug 1939
-Clothing initially not included but permits were needed to buy clothes
-This caused panic buying before regulations took effect, so inclusion of clothing took place Nov 1939
How were food rations allocated?
-Based on age, occupation and race
-Those in manual labour received more than sedentary occupations
-Jews received smaller rations
-Special allocations for pregnant women, nursing mothers, sick
-Allocations remained largely unchanged during first 2yrs of war
How efficient was the food rationing system at the beginning of war?
-Regime = reluctant to ask population to make significant reductions in their consumption at beginning for fear of anti-war feelings
-Consumption was cut more in Germany than Britain at start
-Regime was able to exploit newly occupied countries for food supplies
-Whilst Nazi-Soviet Pact in place = imports of grain from Soviet Union
-On the whole the system worked efficiently with no serious food shortages 1939-41
-Coal, shoes, soap and washing powder shortages caused discontent time to time
How efficient was the rationing system by the end of the war?
-After invasion of Soviet Union June 1941 some rations reduced
e.g. meat rationing cut from 500g per person to 400g
-In later years meat could not be eaten everyday, other goods in very short supply
-By end of war food supplies became very precarious and unpredictable
-Many experienced malnutrition
-In countryside farmers had access to food they could grow themselves
-However they also experienced shortages of animal feed, fuel and replacement tools -> limited ability to produce food
How did the regime aim to maintain morale?
= high priority for the regime
-Goebbels developed sophisticated propaganda system that controlled flow of info to Germans
-used secret police system (SD & Gestapo) to monitor public mood and effectiveness of propaganda
-SD reports = valuable source to historians about morale at different stages of war
How can the war be divided into phases?
-Phase 1: Blitzkrieg, Sept 1939 - June 1941
-Phase 2: Spreading of War, June 1941 - Dec 1941
-Phase 3: The Turning of the Tide, Jan 1942 - Jan 1943
-Phase 4: ‘Total War’ and the Defeat of Germany, Feb 1943 - May 1945
What were the events of Blitzkrieg, Sept 1939 - June 1941?
After defeating Poland in the east, German forces achieved a series of quick victories against various European countries
What effect did Blitzkrieg have on public mood?
-First 21 months of war mood was volatile (liable to quick change, unpredictable)
-Propaganda not always effective in lifting morale
-Quick and easy victories were a cause for celebration
e.g. edited newsreels showed German forces sweeping aside inferior opposition as they achieved stunning victories
-Hitler was presented as military genius responsible for victories
-His speeches broadcast on radio = vital in boosting morale
-Jan 1940 - June 1941 he made 9 major speeches
-At this stage propaganda led to optimism and the belief that war would be over soon
-When defeat of Fr June 1940 did not bring immediate peace - Britain blamed for prolonging war
What were the events of The Spreading of War, June - Dec 1941?
-Germany invaded USSR June and occupied vast areas of territory
-Dec the Red Army launched counter-attack, halting German advance
-Germany declared war on USA Dec - hope of short victorious war was over
-Now faced a world war against Grand Alliance of USSR, USA and Britain
What effect did the The Spreading of War have on public mood?
-Invasion of USSR presented as crusade against ‘Jewish-Bolshevism’
-Success of German forces in forcing Red Army to retreat = feeling of optimism
-SD reported people’s fears that war would go on for years
-Nazi propaganda played down extent of soviet success, letters home from soldiers at front undermined propaganda
-Soldiers talked of harsh winter conditions and seemingly limitless Soviet supply of manpower and military equipment
-Hopes of quick and easy recovery dissipated
-Other scapegoats needed to explain spread -> Germany declared war on USA
-Propaganda displayed Jewish international conspiracy to destroy Third Reich and Aryan Race
-Marked increase in anti-Semitic propaganda during the war
What were the events of The Turning of the Tide, Jan 1942 - 1943
German losses in the USSR started to mount in the harsh winter conditions
What effect did the events of The Turning of the Tide have on public mood?
-Rising casualty figures and letters home from soldiers on Eastern Front awakened civilians to realities of war they were in
-Mood deepened when Goebbels broadcasted appeal for people to collect winter clothing for soldiers
-Scepticism about propaganda was an early sign of confidence in the regime eroding
-Defeat at Stalingrad = major turning point military and on home front -> signalled defeat for propaganda and armed forces
-News was a shock to morale due to Goebbels’ built up expectations
-War-weariness = much more evident
-Criticism of propaganda increased and Hitler myth began to lose potency
-On the other hand undoubtedly a deep well of patriotism and willingness to endure hardship - regime could use this as it geared up for total war.
What were the events of ‘Total War’ and the Defeat of Germany Feb 1943 - May 1945?
-Feb Goebbels declared Germany was engaged in ‘Total War’
-British and Americans attempted to cripple Germany’s war effort through unrelenting bombings in cities
-D-Day landings in Normandy June 1944 opened up second front in W Europe, by early 1945 Allied forces entered Ger itself
-Berlin captured by Soviet forces April 1945 -> Germany conceded unconditional surrender to Allies 8th May 1945
What effect did the effects of ‘Total War’ and the Defeat of Germany have on public mood?
-Goebbels made ‘Total War’ speech at Sports Palace Berlin Feb 1943 calling for nation to engage in total war
-Struck a chord with many - in his call for radical measures to mobilise economy and pop.
-Generally welcomed, main criticisms = introduced measures too late
-Hitler could no longer be portrayed as military genius - attempts were made to shift blame to incompetent commanders
-Spring 1944 morale declined further - news of continuous retreat by German forces on Eastern Front, failure of U-Boat campaign to bring Britain down and heavy bombing raids.
-Temporary lift in morale - feeling that final settling of accounts with British and Americans were at hand, Goebbels trying to counter defeatism with talks of retaliation plans with secret weapons.
-Use of V1 and V2 missiles also raised spirits but could not alter course of events
-SD report Aug 1944 stated most had lost faith in Fuhrer
-Final months saw growing cynicism about propaganda, Hitler myth crumbled away
When was the new phase in the air war and what happened?
-Began March 1942 when RAF carried out major bombing raid on Lubeck
-The start of Allied mass bombing campaign, RAF attacked by night, USAAF by day, often with 1000 aircraft at a time
Describe the situation in 1943
-Bombing campaign reached even greater intensity, with 43 German cities attacked March-July
-Hamburg bombed 7 times 25th July - 3rd Aug
-All main industrial and port cities attacked but high concentration of raids in Rhineland and Ruhr areas
Explain official reports on the impact of bombing on morale
-Spoke of resilience of civilian population and their continuing support for the regime
-Police report from Hamburg stated behaviour of pop displayed panic and ‘was worthy of the greatness of this sacrifice’
-SD report on impact of bombing showed remarkable composure
-Personal reminiscences experiencing first hand horrors of bombing raids painted different picture
What did the regime class as ‘defeatist’ comments and why were they a concern?
Included any remark critical of war leadership or showed loss of faith in German ability to win war
-Regime took increasingly repressive line with these
How did Goebbels try to keep morale high?
-Talk of retaliation using secret weapons being developed
-Civilian pop did show some resilience but as raids continued = serious erosion of morale
-Cities consumed by firestorms, growing shortages, lengthening ques and loss of sleep = growing sense of exhaustion
Why was it important for German population to maintain a daily routine?
-Mass bombing designed to break will of civilians support
-Workers continued to turn up until end of 1944 - till then production maintained
-Pressure from regime to keep heads down and not oppose war
-Need for people whose lives were disrupted to find stability
-Maintaining daily routine of work = one way of achieving this
-Bombing wore down pop but did not break will completely
Summarise the situation at the end of the war
-For civilians last months = unrelenting misery
-Millions of Germans in Poland, E Prussia and Czech = driven out by hostile locals and forced to trek westwards in advance of Soviet forces
-Soviets entered Jan 1945, 3.5 mil germans fled homes
-No help from army as also retreating, priority of trains and ships given to military supplies transports
-Responsibility for evacuations rested with local Gauleiters who delayed orders to leave till last min -> people forced to walk hundreds of miles, 500,000 - over 1 mil died
-When survivors reached West, cities devastated by bombing, faced severe hardships
-Bombing and pressure of evacuees from easy left 1/4 pop homeless
-Transport systems ceased to function, electricity and gas cut, water and sewage systems damaged, epidemic diseases
-Food supplies running low, serious risk of starvation in some areas
-Few signs of outward resistance and less of rebellion despite collapse of morale - on the whole reacted passively
-Once defeated and occupied, regime collapsed quickly
How did the war impact the elites?
-Diverse views regarding the regime, various reasons for opposing it
-Some felt moral conviction that the regime was evil
-Others were patriotic about country but believed Hitler was leading Germany to destruction
-Some were democrats, others trad aristocratic conservatives = wanted return to authoritarian, non-Nazi style govt
-Many who opposed Nazism - believed in personal freedom and individual responsibility
-For some e.g. aristocratic Helmut von Moltke, dismal treatment of others whilst still living comfortable lives = deeply disturbing
How did the war impact workers?
-’Decree on the Conversion of the Whole German Economy onto a war Footing’ Sept 1939 imposed wage reductions and ban on bonuses for overtime, Sundays and nightshift -> widespread discontent = increased absenteeism
-Oct 1939 regime relented - wage levels restored, bonuses reintroduced, but wage rates not allowed to increase
-Total war measures began to impact workers 1943-44
-Aug 1944 total ban on holidays imposed, working week increased to 60hrs, extra payments for overtime abolished
-Did result in some absenteeism but employers had number of disciplinary measures
-Workers could have their status removed = result in conscription
-Employers could also allocate extra food rations to those who had good attendance records and impose fines for absenteeism
-DAF factory cell system (divided workers into groups) under loyal Nazi Party mber
-Used incentives to encourage workers to raise productivity
-Many plants switched hourly paid system to system of piecework where workers could earn more if produced more
-Increase in working hours and pressure to produce = impact on workers health and welfare
-Accidents at work increased, health deteriorated
