Unit 10 War and the people 1939-45 Flashcards
10 Introduction
The arrival of state welfare, has been linked to the concept of the ‘People’s War’
A less ‘romantic’ war than the first, it was a more uncomfortable and physically upsetting war than the 1914-18 one
Home front, wartime agriculture, women’s work during the war
10.1 Wartime agriculture
Food a key factor, the Germans made no provision at all for feeding the urban population of those parts of the USSR which they occupied, their plan was that millions would starve, which they did
Fast merchant ships like pressurised banana boats were pressed into service, amount of animal feed reduced resulting in less cows and meat
Wheat output doubled as did production of barley and potatoes, by 1943, most land hat could be cultivated was
10.1 Wartime agriculture 2
Farming techniques - 1) increased production to offset the loss of imports, 2) clearing an ploughing up land, 3) using science, 4) using machines
Management structures - 1) war ‘agricultural committee’ in county, already set up before the war, 2) government scientists,3) cooperation between farmers in sharing machinery
Government prices were high enough to provide farmers with a good living, a last hurrah! for the old rural elite
10.1 Wartime agriculture 3
Chain of command went from the minister (a businessman rather than a farmer) down to Land Commissioners, then to county ‘War Ag’ committees
Farmers who did not comply with the local committee could lose control of some or all of their farms, or even have them taken away - over 2000 farmers were removed from their farms
Following incentives was profitable, overall farmers who followed orders did well
10.1 Wartime agriculture 4
Overall Britan was successful in centrally planning its food supply through fixed prices
When exhortation didn’t work legal powers were used to force 10,000 farmers to comply
Sanctions taken against 2% of them
10.2 Women at war
Initially women were expected to volunteer for war work, after 1942, they were conscripted into it, the media message was that post war conditions would return to the pre war norm (as in WWI)
Women could not remain ‘feminine’ due to the burdens of work, queuing for food and extra war duties such as voluntary air-raid work
10.2.1 Continental contrasts
Law of 11/10/1940 in Vichy France made it illegal to employ a married woman whose husband was in work & insisted on compulsory retirement at 50
As a result, the female proportion of those unemployed doubled to 35% between October 1940 and July 1941 but this falters due to German demands
A new law of 12/09/1942 allowed married women to work to meet German demand.
10.2.1 Continental contrasts 2
In Germany a half of all women 15-60 were in work
The maintaining of small peasant farms fall on women’s shoulders, already at 60% in Bavarian farms in 1939
10.3 The People’s war
Difference between WWI and WWI in that Britain shifted from a (theoretically) minimalist state that left large areas of the economy and society unregulated (WWI), to one the state claimed the right to be present in many transactions.
A ‘total’ war at home helped in many ways to prepare the ground for. transformative peace
Atlantic Charter 1941 promised ‘the fullest collaboration between all nations in the economic field, with the object of securing for all improved labour standards, economic advancement and social security.
10.3 The People’s war
Ariel bombing of civilians - Population supports government to the bitter end, it was the fact that they knew the war was lost in Germany that led to disenchantment.
Bombing in Vichy France. does not translate into pro-German feelings
10.3.1 A shared sense of purpose
The Home Front or People’s War. Circumstances brought people (classes) together, the implication is that the English classes had been divorced from each other in the interwar years and the English middle-class suddenly woke up to its social responsibilities.
This led to a wartime consensus to improve social services and the health of the nation.
A significant degree of pulling together
During the war, many erstwhile Conservatives and Liberal voters shifted to a new party, Common Wealth, which had an overly socialist message
10.3.1 A shared sense of purpose 2
‘the accumulated shared experience of life on the home front, together with public discourse about what it meant to be British, served to reinforce people’s sense of being part of a national community’ Mackay (2002)
1945 the people vote decisively for Labour, this done by a hugely increased working-class vote.
A mixing of classes occurred with differences seeming less important
During the war, moral was overall high and the majority of the population was willing to cooperate with the government in fighting the war (Mackay) and as opposed to what the revisionists say
10.3.2 Germany
The Nazis smash indépendant organisations of the working class, but put state-provided welfare services in place of autonomous (freedom to govern its own affairs) ones, they provided an avenue of social mobility in a quite hierarchical society.
In Britain, the idea of all contributing to the common end broke through existing racial discrimination, e.g. a black female worker Amelia King
But British gypsies did not always get a fair hearing
10.3.2 Germany 2
NSV National Socialist People’s welfare association (NSV) in Hitler’s decree this is in charge of education of the individual to participate in the welfare of the community.
NSV takes care of ‘genetically healthy’ German families
After air raids, the NSV responsible for the provision of food and accommodation for those who have been bombed out
NSV is responsible for providing means (gifts) for the care of the Wehrmacht, particularly the wounded
10.3.2 Germany 3
NSV responsible for recruiting and training specialists and volunteers
It is an example of the polycratic nature of Hitler’s operations
The decree brings existing Catholic, Protestant and Red Cross organisation under Martin Boreman ‘The Head of the Chancellery’s’ control
