Unit 6- The Impact of War 1939-45 Flashcards
1
Q
How was food rationing systems set up at the start of the war ?
A
-Decrees established food rationing system issued in August 1939
2
Q
What caused panic buying before the rationing systems took effect ?
A
- Clothing not included initially in rationing scheme
- Permits needed to purchase clothing
- Caused panic buying
- Led to inclusion of clothing in rationing theme in Nov 1939
3
Q
How were food rations allocated ?
A
- Based on age, occupation and race
- Manual labourers received more
- Jews received smaller rations
- Special allocations for pregnant women, nursing mothers and the sick
- Remained unchanged for the first 2 years of the war
4
Q
What was the outcome of consumption in the early years of the war ?
A
- Nazis reluctant to ask people to reduce consumption- anti war feelings
- Civilian consumption cut more in Germany than in Britain at the start of the war
- Able to exploit newly occupied countries for food supplies
- Nazi-soviet pact= imports of grain from Russia
5
Q
What was the outcome of food rationing in the early years of the war?
A
- Worked efficiently
- No serious food shortages in first 2 years of war
- Shortages of coal, shoes, soap and washing powder caused discontent from time to time
6
Q
What happened to rations after the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 ?
A
- Rations reduced
- Meat cut from 500g per person per week to 400g, then cut again
- Later years of war, meat couldn’t be eaten every day
- Food supplies limited in industrial cities
- Increased malnutrition
7
Q
How were farmers affected by reduced rations and shortages ?
A
- Had access to food- could grow themselves
- Shortages of animal feed, fuel and replacement tools
- Limited ability to produce food
8
Q
What was Phase 1 of the war ?
A
- Blitzkrieg
- Sep 1939 to Jun 1941
- First 2 years of war
9
Q
What were the events of Blitzkrieg ?
A
- Germany defeated Poland in the East
- Series of quick victories against European countries
10
Q
What was the public mood in Phase 1 of the war ?
A
- Volatile
- Quick and easy victories were a cause for celebration
11
Q
How did propaganda affect public mood in Phase 1 of the war ?
A
- Not always effective in lifting morale
- Edited newsreels showed stunning victories
- Hitler presented as military genius, responsible for victories
- Hitler made 9 major speeches 1940-41
- Led to people to be optimistic that war would end
12
Q
What was Phase 2 of the war ?
A
- Spreading of war
- Jun-Dec 1941
13
Q
What were the events of Phase 2 of the war ?
A
- Germany invaded USSR, occupied vast areas of territory
- Red Army launched counter attack against Germans
- Germany declared war on USA
- Hope of short victories was over
- World war against Grand Alliance of USSR, USA and Britain
14
Q
What was the public mood in Phase 2 of the war ?
A
- Success of Germans forcing Red army to retreat = OPTIMISM
- SD report people’s fears that the war would continue for years
- Soldiers talked of harsh winter conditions
15
Q
How was propaganda used during Phase 2 of the war ?
A
- Invasion of USSR presented as a crusade against ‘Jewish-Bolshevism’
- Propaganda downplayed Soviet success- letters home from soldiers undermined propaganda
- Soldiers talked of harsh winter conditions and soviet supply of manpower and equipment
16
Q
How did Nazis explain the spreading of war to the German people in Phase 2 ?
A
- Scapegoats used- even though Germany declared war on USA
- Acc to propaganda- Jewish international conspiracy to destroy 3rd Reich and Aryan race
- Increase in Anti-Semetic policy during the war
17
Q
What was Phase 3 of the war ?
A
- The turning of the tide
- Jan 1942- Jan 1943
18
Q
What were the events of Phase 3 of the war ?
A
- Germany losses in the USSR
- Due to harsh winter conditions
- Stalinsgrad
- Regime attempts to gear up nation for total war
19
Q
What was the public mood in Phase 3 of the war ?
A
- Rising casualties and letters home awakened population to realities of war
- Defeat at Stalingrad signalled defeat
- War-weariness more evident
- Confidence in regime beginning to erode
- Patriotism was also evident and willingness to endure hardships to help their country
20
Q
How was Nazi Propaganda declining in Phase 3 of the war ?
A
- Gobbles appeal for people to collect winter coats for soldiers- mood of disillusionment deepens
- News of defeat shocked public morale- Gobbles built up unrealistic expectations of Nazi victory and concealed truth
- Hitler Myth declines
21
Q
What was Phase 4 of the war ?
A
- Total war
- Defeat of Germany
- Feb 1943- May 1945
22
Q
What were the events of Phase 4 of the war ?
A
- Total war declared Feb 1943
- British and American bomb German cities to cripple German’s war effort
- D-Day landings in Normandy opened a second front in Western Europe
- Early 1945, Allies entered Germany
- Germany conceded unconditional surrender on 8th May 1945
23
Q
What was public mood in Phase 4 of the war ?
A
- Gobbles radical measures to mobilise population and economy criticised for late introduction
- Though generally welcomed
- Continuous defeats on Eastern Front, failure of U-boat campaign against Britain and heavy allied bombing on German cities= low public morale
- End of 1944, defeat accepted as inevitable
24
Q
How did Propaganda decline in Phase 4 of the war ?
A
- Hitler couldn’t be portrayed as military genius- hitler myth declined
- People lost faith in the Fuhrer
- Nazi propaganda and the Hitler Myth crumbled away
25
When was there a temporary boost in public mood in Phase 4 of the war ?
- German defeats- feeling that the war was finally ending
- Gobbles trying to counter-defeatism with talks of plans of secret weapons
- Use of V1 and V2 missiles, temporarily raised spirits-but couldn't alter the course of the war
26
What were the elites attitudes towards the Nazis and war ?
- Some thought Nazis were evil
- Some patriotic- but thought Hitler was leading country to destruction
- Aristocratic Helmut Von Maske disturbed he was living in comfort and others were living dismally
27
What was the Decree of the conversion of the whole German economy onto a war footing' 1939 ?
- Wage reductions
| - Ban on bonuses, Sunday work and night shifts
28
What was the impact of the Decree of the conversion of the whole German economy onto a war footing' 1939 ?
- Increase in levels of absenteeism
- Oct 1939- wages restored to pre-war levels
- Bonuses restored
29
What laws were introduced towards workers in Aug 1944 ?
- Total ban on holidays
- Working week increased to 60 hrs
- Overtime payments abolished
- Workers could have reserved status removed= conscription to army
30
How could employers control their workers ?
- Could allocate extra food rations for good attendance
| - Impose fines for absenteeism and bad timekeeping
31
What was the DAF factory cell system ?
- Workers divided into groups, under a Nazi party member
| - Who would monitor their attendance
32
What was the hourly system replaced with to raise productivity in workers ?
- Switched to a new system
- If they produced more, they earned more
- Replaced hourly based system
33
What impact did the increase in working hours and pressure to work and produce more have on workers ?
- The increase in working hours and pressure to work and produce more:
- Increase in accidents at work
- Decline in workers health
34
How many women were in the workforce in May 1939 ?
- 37.4% of women made up the workforce
- Only 20% in Britain
- Four Year Plan= 6.4 million married women in employment
35
Why was there tension with women in the workforce for the Nazis ?
- Conflict between Nazi ideology and war economy
- Hitler refused in 1940 for women workers
- Said they needed to be devoted to childbearing
- Need to increase armaments production= pressure for women to be employed in industry
36
How many women were conscripted into work in June 1940 ?
- Only 250,000 women conscripted
| - Many transferred from consumer goods to war work
37
What did providing benefits to families of soldiers ensure ?
- Provided benefits for families of conscripted soldiers
- Reduced need for married women to seek work
- Maintain Nazi ideology and reduce women in employment
38
Why was there a decline in married women in employment between 1939-41 ?
- Increase in working hours
| - More pressure for married women to give up employment if they had children
39
What was Goering's decree issued in 1941 towards women ?
- All women workers in receipt of family allowance and gave up paid employment, but didn't have children
- Should work or they lose their allowance
40
What was the impact of Goering's decree issued towards women ?
- Limited- only applied to women who had been employed previously
- Not married women who never worked outside the home (middle class)
- Class resentments- previous workers were working class, they were angry
- Only 130,000 extra women employed
41
What decree was issued in Jan 1943 towards women ?
- All women 17-45 forced to register to work
- Hitler abandoned ideology
- Older women, pregnant, mothers of 2 or more children and farmers wives exempt
- Working class women resented the exemptions
42
What happened when Hitler was asked to raise the age limit of women to register to work ?
- Asked to raise age limit to 50
- Refused
- By 1944, situation was so grave he agreed
43
What % of women compromised the labour force by 1945 ?
-By 1945, 60% of women compromised the labour force
44
How did women begin to play a part in the war and armed forces ?
- Assigned auxiliary roles
- Replaced men in servicing anti-aircraft guns
- Operated searchlights
- 50,000 on anti-aircraft guns and 30,000 on searchlights
- 1944- auxiliary corps established for women
- 470,000 female auxiliaries- many conscripted
- Final stages- women's battalions of the army established
- Trained for combat roles
45
What was the Nazi's biggest priority with the Youth during the war ?
-Welfare and indoctrination of youth biggest priority- believed they could contribute to the war effort
46
What actions were taken with the Youth during the early stages of the war ?
- Early stages- not necessary to conscript
- Hitler Youth continued- greater emphasises on preparing for roles as soldiers (shooting practice)
- Sent in to help with harvest
- All youth expected to participate in collecting money for Winter Aid Programme
47
How did the age of conscription change for the youth ?
- 1940- 19
- 1941- Reduced to 18
- 1943- Reduced to 17
- 1945- Reduced to 16
48
How many of the youth helped out with the harvest ?
- 1942
- 600,000 boys
- 1.4 million girls
49
How was there more emphasis on military training in the Hitler Youth ?
- Camps
- 17 year olds would attend 3 week courses under army and Wafer SS instructors
- 1942- 120 of these camps established
50
How were schoolboys military trained in Jan 1943 ?
- 16/17 year olds conscripted at Luftwane and naval auxiliaries
- Deployed on air defence duties
- Whole school classes conscripted
- Boys continued education under visiting teachers
51
What was the Volkssturum (Home Guard ) ?
- Conscription introduced in 1944
- 16-60 year olds who weren't fit for active service
- Young men dug anti-tank Dutches
- Trained to use anti- tank weapons
- End of war- boys ages 12 conscripted into Volkssturum
52
Where was a division of the Hitler Youth sent to in 1944?
-Battle of Normandy 1944
53
What was passed in 1939 to turn the German economy to total war ?
-Decree for the Conversion of the Whole German Economy onto a war footing
54
Why didn't the economy reach full mobilisation until 1942 ?
- 1939-41- shortages of weapons and equipment
- 1941, supply problems hinder war effort- operation Barborosa and war with Mediterranean
- Hitler didn't anticipate war in 1939- thought allies would let him invade Poland
55
Why was armaments production disrupted ?
- War disrupted full-scale production of armaments
- Armed forces demand different specialised equipment of high quality
- Production of different types of weapons expensive and needed labour
- labour force in armaments 21%-55% sep 1939 and 1941, supply of weapons grew slowly
- Mass production of more standardised weapons would have been cheaper and capable of producing lots
- Military designed and ordered many different versions of the same weapons- making standardisation impossible to achieve
56
Why was Goering bad for the war economy ?
- Lacked technical and economic knowledge
- Had poor relations with military leaders and leaders of large companies and banks
- Was busy building his own economic empire
- War economy needed greater centralised coordination
- Speer appointed in 1942
57
How did Speer allocate resources to the armed forces ?
- Armed forces submitted their requests to Speer's ministry
| - Speer issued decree punishing arms manufactures who made false claims for labour, parts, equipment or raw materials
58
How did Speer limit the production of non-essential goods ?
- Campaigned against the allocation of vital resources for non-military users
- Ban on all post war construction
- Had a rubber stamp 'return to sender irrelevant to war effort'
- 1942- trip to Hitler's headquarters- ordered clothes hangers and reading lamps should be stripped off trains and sent for scrap metal
59
How did Speer bring in greater standardisation ?
- In the use of ammunition and rationalised transport production
- Concentrating productions on only 3 types of lorry
- Also reduced wasteful stockpiles
- Production of the Messer Schmitt BF 109, one of Germany's main fighter aircraft was concentrated in 3 factories, rather than the 7 used previously
- Rationalised production methods meant the production of this aircraft increased from 180 per month to 100 per month
60
How did Speer tackle the Gauleitter empires ?
- Biggest obstacle to the war effort- they wanted to keep work in their own areas
- Prepared to use blackmail, threatening them with no coal supplies if he didn't help with the food supply
61
How did Speer make use of labour for the war economy ?
- Pressed for increased use of 3 shifts a day
- Effective use of foreign labour in the countries of origin rather than in Germany itself
- Concentration camp labour extended
- Half a million women taken out of domestic employment
- Special task forces to repair bombed factories
- Temporary accommodation for workers could go up in one day
62
How did Speer try to block military recruitment ?
- Key production being disrupted by conscription of skilled workers
- Gained Hitler's promise to block military recruitment of skilled workers
- This failed
- Efforts hindered by Nazi political infighting
63
What were the results of the economy within 6 months after Speer's appointment ?
- Ammunitions output up by 97%
- Tanks production up by 25%
- Arms productivity went up to 60%
- 1941-44- tanks production to 1,7328
- 1941-43- German aircraft production increased by 250%
- Production of aircraft increased from 180 per month to 1000 per month
64
What was the economic impact of allied bombing 1942-45 ?
- Gains in production achieved by Speer still occurred
- Bombings had an impact on production- supply lines damaged and factories had to be dispersed
- Jan 1945- 35% fewer tanks, 31% fewer aircraft and 42% fewer lorries being produced
- Intense bombing campaign Jan-MAY 1945- caused a reduction in the amount of armaments being produced
65
How was the labour force mobilised for production of armaments ?
- Large numbers of non-essential workers released for military service
- Reduction of workers employed in consumer goods industries
- Rise in employed in mutations
- Full scale conscription of labour into war work not implemented in first 2 years of war
- Efforts to take labour away from civilian work to concentrate on armaments- opposed by Gauleiters
- Exercise conducted to identify men who could be released from employment for military service
66
What was the Decree for the comprehensive deployment of men and women for Reich defence tasks 1943?
- Small committee to oversee mobilisation of labour
- All men (16-65) and women (17-45) had to register to work
- Small businesses that were non-essential should close and employees would be transferred for more essential work
- Women workers not treated the same as male workers
67
How was Foreign Labour used in the war economy ?
- Invasion of USSR= more prisoners
- 1941- Russian prisoners of war to be used as slave labour
- Dec 1941- 4 million foreign workers employed in Germany
- March 1942- Plenipotentiary General for Labour Allocation- to organise allocation of foreign labour
- 1942-45- 2.8 million workers transported from Eastern Europe
- 7 million foreign workers in Germany and another 7 million in occupied countries used as labour for Germany by 1944
- Large cooperations like IG Farben used foreign forced labour
- By 1944- foreign labour is 1/4 of German labour force
68
What conditions did Foreign workers face ?
- Harsh conditions
- Wages low
- Living conditions harsh
- Discipline severe
- Forced labourers from East paid half the amount of Western Europe and German workers
69
What were the Origins of the Final solution ?
- Hitler's ideology fixed before 1933- Jews to face harmful consequences
- War essential for the Holocaust to take place
- Hitler linked war in Europe with fate of the jews
- Urgency of Nazi's problems that led to radical new policies
70
What was the Wannsee Conference Jan 1942 ?
- Meeting to inform senior bureaucrats of their roles in implementing a decision that was already made
- Decision came after invasion of the Soviet Union
- Meeting of 15 high-ranking Nazi officials
- Hitler and Himmler not in attendance
- Chairman was Reinhard Heydrich
- Received orders from Goering to organise the 'Final Solution to the Jewish Question'
71
What actions were taken against Jews after the Wannsee Conference ?
- Deportations of Jews now to organised camp systems (no longer to Poland)
- Way was open to coordinate mass killings
- More than half of all Jews to die in the Holocaust were exterminated Feb 1942-Feb 1943
72
How did Nazi propaganda against Jews intensify ?
- Spring 1943- Gobbles 'Total War' speech followed by a massive propaganda drive in the Nazi press
- Autumn 1943- Mass bombings and air raids- anti jewish propaganda
- Summer 1944- Allied landings in France, another surge
- Articles and speeches by Gobbles emphasised war would result in the destruction of Jews
- Didn't make it clear what would happen but theme of destruction was emphasised
73
What did the Final Solution include ?
- Mass killings given higher priority than military needs and were accelerated
- Jewish population in France, Italy and Greece rounded up for deportation
- Jewish ghettos at Minsk and Vilinus were destroyed
- Feb 1944- remaining Jews of Amsterdam deported to Aushwitz
- Didn't abandon final solution when it was made clear the war would end
74
How did the Nazi's try to hide the Final Solution ?
- Nov 1944- Soviets advanced into Poland, closed down killing machines
- Crematoria at Aushwitz blown up and covered
- Surviving prisoners put into forced marches westwards away from Red Army
75
How were Concentration Camps used in the Final Solution ?
- Camps in the East occupied territories at the end of 1941 on an enormous scale
- Extermination at the heart of its system- these were death camps
- Railway of Aushwitz, people unloaded from trains, those deemed 'unproductive' sent immediately to gas chambers
- 1/5 of Holocaust victims died at Aushwitz
76
What was Chelmno Camp?
- First killing centre established 1941
- Killings first carried out by mobile gas vans using carbon monoxide
- Use of Zyklon B developed later in 1941 (poisonous cynaide gas)
- 145,000 died there
77
What was Majdanek Camp ?
-Death camp from 1941
-200,000 died there (60% were Jews)
Others were soviet prisoners of war or polish political prisoners
78
What was Sobibor Camp ?
- 250,000 victims (Jews and Soviets)
- Oct 1943- Jewish revolt- 800 escaped
- Camp closed soon after
79
What was Auschwitz ?
- Became the hub of vast killing machines
- Had complex of buildings wit different functions
- Auschwitz II= huge camp, arrivals from West and main gas chambers and crem
- Auschwitz III= industrial complex, production of goods essential for war effort
80
What Jewish Resistance was there during the Holocaust ?
- Partial success
- Eastern Europe- groups of Partisan fighters established base camps in the forests and carried out acts of sabotage against Nazi's
- Groups were Nationalist/Communists- also Jewish
- 10,000 Jewish Partisans active in Lithuania 1942
- General Gov of Poland- Hans Frank had to commit large security forces to deal with 20 partisan groups
- Bielski Brothers- became a permanent community of 1200 partisans- also provided refuge for Jews escaping ghettos
81
What Jewish revolts were there in ghettos and camps ?
- Warsaw Ghetto Jan 1943
- First attempts to crush rising failed
- May 1943, resistance crushed by 2000 German forces using heavy weapons and supported by air strikes
- Auschwitz- Jewish prisoners blew up Crematorium 4
- Jews smuggled evidence to send to Western Allies- had little impact- didn't believe it and didn't know how to stop it
82
What were the death marches ?
- Military defeat= hurried evacuations and forced marches from autumn 1944
- Camps closed down
- Inmates sent on long marches eastwards, away from Red army
- Caused suffering and death of illness and exhaustion
- In freezing conditions, had no clothes and were malnourished
- Hundreds shot by guards for being slow
- Would repeat the process at the new camp, as this had to shut down too
- Estimated 250,000- 400,000 died on marches
83
Who were the Endelwiss Pirates ?
- Working-class youth
- Active in the Rhineland and Ruhr
- Uniform of short trousers, white socks, a check shirt
- Anti-Hitler Youth and avoided conscription
- Hated discipline, sang songs banned by Hitler's Youth
84
What were the Cologne Group ?
- 1944
- Linked to underground group that helped army deserters, escaped prisoners of war
- Obtained supplies by attacking military depots
- Leaders of cologne Edwelwiss Pirates publicly hated in Nov 1944
85
How did the Nazis deal with the Edelwiss Pirates ?
- Arrested, shaved their heads
- Banishment to labour camps
- 7th Dec 1942- Gestapo broke up 28 groups in Dussledorf, Duisburg, Essen and Wuppertal
- Leader of cologne publicly hanged Nov 1944
86
What were the Swing Youth ?
- Motivated by desire to have a good time
- Rejection of Nazi values, listened to American and British Swing and Jazz
- Wore English style clothing
- Swing clubs in Hamburg, Berlin, Kiel
- Jazz music in opposition with Nazi's
- Himmler wanted to send the leaders to concentration camps for 2-3 years
87
What were the White Rose Group ?
- Led by Hans and Sophie Scholl
- Main target- educated, middle class
- Influenced by Catholics like Bishop Galen
- Emphasised individual freedom and personal responsibility
- Attacked Nazi's treatment of Jews and Slavs
- 1942-43- issued 6 pamphlets, distributed mainly in Munich
- Geb 1943- Painted anti-nazi slogans - 'Hitler Mass Murderer' on buildings
- Caught by Gestapo and executed
88
How was opposition from the Roman Catholic Church limited ?
- Conflict between protecting their organisation and supporting some of the regimes policies
- Supported war aims 1939 and invasion of USSR 1941
- Individual churchmen protest, but churches as a whole were silent
89
What opposition was there from the Roman Catholic Church ?
- Bishop Galen sermon 1940 against euthanasia
- Nazi's killed 270,000 mentally and physically disabled people
- Was successful- programme halted
- Galen not persecuted- priests who delivered sermons were
- 3 Catholic priests executed
- Archbishop Frings of Cologne, commended the killing of prisoners of war
- He denounced the Nazi's persecution of Jews as a 'crime that calls out to heaven'
- Frings placed under Gestapo surveillance
90
What opposition was there from the Protestant Church ?
- Only Christian body in Germany to protest publically about the treatment of Jews
- 1943- statement read from pulpits in Prussian Churches
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, outspoken critic of regime since 1933
- Called for wider resistance to the treatment of Jews
- Banned from speaking in public since 1940
- His criticisms couldn't reach a wider audience= limited
- Arrested by Gestapo 1943, held in prison till execution
91
What communist opposition was there ?
- KPD had 89 underground cells operating in Berlin
- Other cells in Hamburg, Mannheim and Central Germany
- Spread ideas and gaining recruits through leaflets attacking the regime
92
How was communist opposition dealt with ?
- 1942-43- Gestapo had success in destroying the communist underground network
- End of 1943- 22 communist cells in Berlin destroyed
93
Why was Communist opposition limited ?
- Pressure from Gestapo
- Links to USSR, Germany's biggest enemy
- Couldn't attract widespread support
94
What was the Kresisau Circle ?
- Elite opposition
- Count Helmut von Moltke, leading figure
- Included aristocrats, lawyers, SPD politicians and churchmen including Bonhoeffer
- Belief in personal freedom and individual responsibility
- Held 3 meetings in 1942-43, before the group was broken up by the Gestapo
95
What was the first method of opposition by the Kresisau Circle ?
- Those in 1938 plot: general beck, Karl Goederer, discuss acting against the regime
- Had links to Bonhoeffer and Hans Oster
- Wanted to persuade senior army generals to arrest Hitler
- Also made contact with British government, hoping to negotiate peace if Hitler was removed
- Not effective- decide to assassinate Hitler in 1943
96
What was the first assassination attempt ?
- March 1943
- Bomb on Hitler's plane
- Failed to explode
- April 1943- Arrests of Boehoffer and other members of the circle- close to discovery
97
What was the second assassination attempt ?
- 1943- General Claus voin Stauffenberg joined and succeeded in planting a bomb at Hitler's headquarters
- Plans for military coup (operation valkerye) to take over Berlin after Hitler's assassination
- Would establish a gov: conservatives, Spd, centre party
- Would enter peace negotiations with allies
- Bomb exploded but Hitler escaped with minor injuries
- Broadcast proved he was alive
98
What was the aftermath of the July assassination attempt ?
- SS arrested 7000 people- executing 5746
- Beck committed suicide
- Stauffenberg was shot
- Army lost indépendance, placed under SS control
- Bomb plot gained little sympathy among ordinary germans
- Plotters came from old elites, were traitors
- Reported there was a feeling of relief that Hitler was alive
