War & Division Flashcards
What was the Hossbach Memorandum?
A note compiled by Colonel Hossbach during a secret meeting between Hitler & his top military & political leaders on Nov 5th 1937.
When was the Wannsee Conference?
Jan 20th 1942
Who attended the conference at the Haus de Wannsee & what was it about?
Heydrich, Eichmann & other senior Nazi bureaucrats.
To create a plan for the ‘Final Solution’ - resettlement to extermination
What was the economic impact of WW2?
Thousands were homeless
Food Shortages
Blackmarket was developing
What date did Operation Barbarossa begin?
June 1941 - Hitler invades the USSR
Which German army was destroyed at the Battle of Stalingrad?
the 6th Germany Army
What happened at the Battle of the Bulge?
Dec 16th 1944, German forces launched a surprise attack on Allied forces residing in France, Luxemburg & Belgium. Lasted till Jan 16th 1945
What were the trummerfrauen & what did they do?
They were women who helped to rebuild & repair Germany by clearing bombed sites (passed bricks to each other)
When was the Yalta Conference?
Feb 1945
What was agreed about Germany at Potsdam?
Germany would be divided into 4 zones
Germany would be disarmed & denazified
How many Nazis received the Death Penalty in the British, French & American zones as part of Denazification?
approx 50,000
Define:
SMAD
Soviet Military Administration in Germany
They aimed to destroy Nazism, they occupied key positions in local administration & arranged to appoint non-communist Mayors with communist deputies.
Define:
ACC
Allied Controlled Council
Ran by the 4 powers - decided & implemented the 4D’s & controlled post-war Germany, brought little success due to arguments & deteriorating relationships
What were the 4D’s?
Demilitarisation -Disbanding of all German troops and weapons.
Denazification -Removing symbolism and all trace of National Socialism from German society and life.
Decentralisation
-To remove the centre and go back to being more federal.
Democratisation -Reintroduction of democracy (voting/referendums & Party pluralism.)
Full title:
CDU
Christian Democratic Union of Germany
Full title:
KPD
Communist Party of Germany
Full title:
SPD
Socialist Democratic Party of Germany
Full title:
SED
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Define:
SAG’s
213 companies set up to produce goods for the USSR
Define:
VEBs
People owned enterprises - Nationalised industries accounted for 76% of total industrial production
When was Bizonia formed?
Jan 1947 - economic merge of the American & British zones
Renamed Trizonia in April 1949 when France joined
How many flights took place during the Berlin Blockade which allowed West Berlin to survive?
279,000 - from June 1948 to May 1949
Who implemented the economic policy of ‘Total War’?
When was this?
Speer
1943 - After Germany surrendered at Stalingrad
How much did tank production increase by because of Speers Policy?
increased by 25%
What were 3 aspects of ‘Total War’?
- Concentration Camp Prisoners were used as workers
- Ending the conscription of skilled workers
- Elimination of production that did not contribute to the war effort
What limited the full economic improvement during Speer’s policy?
- Gauleiters could prevent Speers orders in their location
- The SS exploited the land gained from war by using it for personal use
- The Allied Bombing prevented an increase in production
How many women made up the work force by Sept 1939?
37%
What was implemented as a result of ‘War Economy’?
Economic Decrees that aimed to avoid Germany having the same problems as they had in WW1 (Dec 1939)
Why were consumer good neglected by 1941?
55% of the workforce had to work on war-related projects as they were due to be finished by 1942
By how much did the workforce decrease by as a result of the war?
Dropped by 4 million causing a labour shortage
Was ‘War Economy’ successful?
Not fully - failed to mobilise adequately due to war starting in 1939, it was expected to start in 1942
How many Germans were killed as a result of allied bombing?
600,000
When was the Rationalisation Decree issued?
December 1941
How many homes were destroyed in Germany because of the war?
20% of all homes
What were some positives for Germany after defeat?
Had prospects to recover economically because of their well established banking system
Had a large industrial base which meant productivity could continue
