The War Years Flashcards
When did World War Two begin?
3rd September 1939
Name the Axis Powers
Germany, Italy, Japan
Name the Allied Powers
GB, France, USA, USSR, China
What was the Phoney War?
8 month period at the start of WWII during which there were no major military land operations on the Western Front.
Began with Germany invading Poland on 1st September 1939 and ended with German attack of France on 10th May 1940.
What was Blitzkrieg?
German term for “Lightning War”
German military technique. Quick advances on Eastern and Western Front, followed by blitzing of Britain.
What was Operation Barbarossa?
Code name for German Invasion of Soviet Union 1941
What had Germany invaded by 1939?
Czechoslovakia, Poland
What had Germany invaded by 1940?
Denmark, Norway, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
What was the Battle of Stalingrad?
Successful Soviet defence of the city of Stalingrad
What was the Battle of El Alamein?
British victory over Germany?
Why were air raids carried out?
To bring an early end to the war by destroying German’s spirits
When was Cologne raided?
30th May 1942
When was Hamburg raided?
July 1943
When was Dresden raided?
February 1945
How many Germans were killed due to air raids?
Around 3.5 million
Name three effects of air raids
Loss of lives
Destruction of property/homelessness
Can’t work
What foods were rationed at the beginning of the war?
Meat, bread, fats and sugar
What were Ersatz goods?
Substitute foods to replace rationed items
Eg. Coffee>acorns, fish>rice+onions+fish sauce
Name some tactics used by the Nazis to promote civilian food production
Encouraged to plant foods in their gardens
Parks and public areas planted with fruits and vegetables
Encouraged to eat alternative foods, eg. Daisy salad
What was the Black Market?
Place where you could easily buy rationed items, eg. Luxury clothes, food and perfume
Who were given extra rations and why?
Miners - more energy to produce essential war resources
Blood donors - to get healthy blood
Pregnant women - to produce healthy children
Where could Germans get clothing and furniture by the end of the war?
Exchange Centres
What were Balcony Pigs?
Berliners growing herbs and vegetables in their gardens or allotments, or keeping chickens or rabbits
Where were you less likely to be affected by rationing and why?
The countryside, as you had more room for growing your own food and raising animals.
When and what was Gœbbels’ Total War Speech?
February 1943 - in reaction to German defeat at Stalingrad. Encouraged Germans to endure their suffering and resist their enemies.
What was the focus in the German War Economy?
War production over consumer goods.
Who two people were Minister for Armaments and Production
Fritz Todt followed by Albert Speer in 1943.
What did Speer contribute to the War Economy?
Reinforced the drive for Total War by ending consuming goods production and focusing on war production.
Increases industrial productivity
When did the German government have to conscript women into the workforce?
January 1943
