The Nature of wartime government

Question 1

Who gained more control during the years of the Second World war?

Answer 1

• The SS took over more of the government administration.
• SS numbers rose from 240,000 in 1939 to over a million in 1944.
• The SS also ran Hitler’s Racial Policy of eliminating non-Aryan races from the third reich.

Question 2

What happened to the governance at a regional level during wartime?

Answer 2

13 military districts were formed under Reich Defence Commisioners.

Question 3

What was the Volkssturm?

Answer 3

The Nazi Home Guard, formed in 1944. Boys and old men were recruited.

Question 4

How did the structure of government change during the war?

Answer 4

• Each of the armed forces were given their own ministry.

- Ministerial Council for Defence of Reich was established.

Question 5

How did the Nazis adminster the new territory they took over?

Answer 5

• Governance became decentralised.
• 11 New regional governments were set up to oversee germanisation.
• Party leaders in regional govts become powerful.

Question 6

How may prisoners were held in camps during the war?

Answer 6

September 1939 25,000
December 1942 88,000
January 1945: 714.211

Question 7

Why did the Nazis begin to lose control during the war?

Answer 7

• In June 1941, Nazis turned on the USSR and invaded the Soviet Union. The USSR did not collapse and the Nazis were forced to fight on two fronts.
• In december 41, USA joined the war.
• Rationing became tighter.
• German families lost their men and living standards.
• June 1944 allies landed in Normandy.