History - Democracy and Dictatorships, Impact of War and Defeat on Germany

Section 3

How did Nazi Germany try to achieve a total war economy?

Successes such as the Blitzkrieg made the German economy seem stable, however Ger had been facing problems before the war. The Ger Army was in desperate need of tanks and ammunition, which was the reason for the delayed invasion of France. By 1941, 55% of the workforce was focused on the war. Women were called back into the workforce, going against their ideology. Germany was using foreign workers but had to isolate them from German workers due to their beliefs.

What % of Germans ate better/more healthy during rationing?

20% or 2/5.

What else was rationed due to scarcity other then food?

Toilet paper, clothes, soap. Hot water was only allowed 2 days a week. Clothes rationing was completely shut down by August 1943 as they had no clothes due to having to close manufacturing.

How did Germany maintain resources during the beginning of the war?

Goods in Germany were largely from other countries due to their early successes in the war.

How did the end of the wart affect German rationing?

Ration cards were no longer honoured and people went to underground black markets for good the government could no longer provide. People lost faith in the Nazi’s and the government went chaotic.

What and when was the Rationalisation Decree?

in 1941, the ‘Simplification and Increased Efficiancy in our Armaments Production’, which reprimanded German firms for not adopting practices of mass factories and simple production methods, and called for the military to standardise a simple weapon design that could be mass produced. It called for a reform of economy and a reduction of waste.

What policies did Speer introduce?

Speer, made Minister of Armaments helped co-ordinate total war through policies such as: using concentration camp prisoners as workers, eliminating anything that didn’t improve war production (such as professional sports and magazines), employing women and ending conscription for skilled workers.

Overall was Total War successful?

At first, Speer seemed successful. 26% of tanks improved, 97% of ammunition and 59% of total arms. However, they faced struggles such as allied bombing, lack of use of conquered territory and the SS exploiting the lands for their own personal gain rather then Nazi use.

How did Britain attack domestic Germany?

Britain in 1940 mainly used naval blockades, but air raids were more immediate and drastic, and became more standard practice by 1942.

What are some examples of air raid damage?

In 1943, Hamburg was attached causing a firestorm which killed 30,000. Raids on Presden in Feb 1945 killed 150,000 and destroyed 70% of property in the area. Overall, 600,000 were killed by air raids. Air raids caused industrial destruction and disrupted communications, which played a significant role in stopping the Nazis from achieving total war production.

How did the Soviets encourage terror in Germany?

Even in May 1945, after Hitler’s suicide, wanted to keep going until the bitter end due to fear of Soviet soldiers, stories of them raping women and advancing were common, and many feared the consequences and repercussions of their actions.

How was German morale attempted to stay high?

Goebbels gained popularity through visiting bombed areas, and the bombing brought people together. Many Germans continued as they believed in Hitler’s vision of the 1000 year reich.

How was German morale lowered?

Local Nazi officers were killing locals who were showing signs of surrender, concentration camp survivors were being sent on death marches (marching until they died of starvation/exhaustion). There was indications that the Hitler myth was starting to break down.

How did the Holocaust develop?

It started as immigration and forced relocation, but turned into mass ‘extermination’ There are many historical debates over whether it was planned, and who is responsible.

How many Jewish people had died by the end of WW2?

6 million, although some think it is actually closer to 12 million. Only 2% of the Jewish population in Poland survived.

Why did the Holocaust develop into murder?

USSR vs Germany wasn’t going to end anytime soon, and relocating Jewish people was too costly and took from the war effort. By 1941, there was plans to use Jews as labour, with many expected to die.

What and when was the Wansee Conference?

It was created to ensure co-operation from leaders of various government departments in the implementation of the ‘final solution’ where they decided Jewish people would be transported throughout German occupied Europe and murdered.

Where were main ‘extermination centres’ established, and how were they run?

Throughout 1942, they converted existing work camps and built new centres such as Auschwitz, Sobibor, and Treblinka, which were ran by Deaths Head Units of the SS. Some took jewelry, gold teeth and hair from the Jews before they were murdered.

How did the occupation of the lands in the East affect Germany?

The use of ghettos and camps strained money between the war against the USSR. In Spring 1942, 500,000 Jews were killed by the Einstatzgruppen following the invading Army.

What are Funtionalists and Intentionalists views on the Holocaust?

Functionalists argue that they did it as it was draining money but wasn’t the original intent of the Nazis. Intentionalists argue that extermination was always one of Hitler’s goals.

What was Hitler’s role in the final solution?

There was never any written order from Hitler, although Himmler claims Hitler told him to ‘prioritise the solution to the Jewish question’. He always knew, regardless if it wasn’t footed by his ideology.

What was the peoples role in the Holocaust?

They were indoctrinated to some extent, and most weren’t necessarily antisemetic but fearful for their family and place in the world. Although, some argue this is irrelevant as they were fully morally capable of rejection of these ideals.

How were ideologies classified by the Nazis?

Ideological (communist), biological (Jewish), and social (unemployed).

By 1944 how many mentally ill and physically disabled had been murdered by the Nazi regime?

200,000.

Where did the Nazi’s originally want to relocate Jewish people, but were unable to?

Madagascar - they were unable to defeat GB and gain access to the seas to make this a possibility.

How did the White Rose Group oppose the Nazis?

Wrote letters encouraging everyone to ‘wake up’ and defaced Nazi buildings and met anti-Nazi revolutionaries at the Czechoslovakian border. The two leaders, a brother and sister, died at the guillotine and refused to give up the group.

How did the Eidelweiss Pirates and the Swing Youth oppose the Nazis?

Swing movement listened to USA ‘swing’ music to defy cultural norms. The Pirates was an umbrella for many smaller groups, such as the ‘Roving Dudes’ and ‘Navajos’ who organised hikes and camping trips. Some sheltered concentration camp escapees and they even assassinated the head of the Cologne Gestapo, those who did being caught and killed.

How did the The Church oppose the Nazis?

Most in the Church failed to stand up to the Nazis. Someone who did was Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler but was placed in solitary confinement until his trial, where he was hung.

How did the Army oppose the Nazis?

Military failings in 1942 encouraged opposition from the army, forming the Kreisav circle who were influential figures who wanted to end the Eastern war but continue the Western War. Operation Valkyrie involved army officials amnd politicians, but failed and only injured Hitler rather then killing him. The plotters were arrested and killed, and Hitler used this as an excuse to arrest 7,000 opponents and kill 5,000.

Why was there such a lack of active and effective resistance of the Nazis?

They didn’t want Germany to fail WW2 as that would endanger the whole country. The Gestapo was relentless and hunted many, making people afraid and want to self preserve. Small groups were less effective, but bigger groups were easier to be found.

How big of an issue was bombing in Germany by 1945?

It had rendered 1000s of Germans homeless, many refugees were unprepared. 20% of housing was destroyed and 30% had been badly damaged, many of the population was traumatised and there was a major housing crisis.

How big of an issue was the economy in Germany by 1945?

Germany had an economic base and the potential for productivity. There was an increase of pressure to put women in the workforce. Government authorities still existed and there was a well established banking system. Inflation was rising and a wartime black market grew. The economies infrastructure was broken.

How big of an issue were social issues in Germany by 1945?

Millions were refugees or POWs. There was 12 million fleeing from the Red Army, there was a housing crisis, food shortages due to blockades seeing calorie consumption go from 2000 to 1000 in the average German. 1/3 women in Berlin reported being raped by the Red Army. The church was having issues in the communist controlled east, but had survived and was trying top share support, however, some lost faith after the war.

How big of an issue was political development in Germany by 1945?

There hadn’t been a breakdown in law, and it resumed post-war. Captives and POWs didn’t return from the USSR until the 50s. Following Hitler’s suicide a new government was formed which was then taken over by the Allies on the 8th May, 1945.

Why was Germany divided after WWII?

The Allies weren’t intending on dividing Germany but they had little choice but to take it over to make sure the German people still had rule. However, it was hard to divide by ideology and ended up being long term.

What 7 things led to Germany’s division?

Cold War; Potsdam; the De-Nazification of Germany; Economic development and the Creation of Bizonia; The Soviet Zone; the Truman Doctorine and Marshall Aid; and Emergency reform and the Division of Germany.

How did the Cold War lead to Germany’s division?

1945-1991. The Western powers had allied to overthrow Hitler, but there was tension as the USSR didn’t get as much help as the rest of the Allies. The USSR felt Germany may attack in the future and wanted a buffer zone, and advanced into Eastern Europe, spreading commmunist policy, which the rest of the Allies didn’t want as they wanted strong capitalist trade links, and wanted to prevent Europe from falling to communism.

How did Potsdam lead to Germany’s division?

In February 1945, the Allies met to decide how Germany would be divided once Hitler died/was defeated. They decided it would be divided into 4 zones, and created the United Nations for all countries. The Potsdam conference was in July, when the East vs Japan. USA created the atomic bomb to end the war, which caused tension. Germany was decided to be run under joint allied control but all decisions had to be unanimous, and if this failed each zone had a military governor who could implement decisions. There was still arguments and division over elections, land boundaries and reparations.

How did the De-Nazification of Germany lead to Germany’s division?

Germany was to be de-nazified and de-militarised, which led to the Nuremberg Trials. These were trials to prosecute Nazi war criminals, such as leaders and officials. Germany was to be democratised, which was an area of major diagreement. The Communists (USSR) returned to the Eastern Zone after fleeing Nazi Germany, wanting to control under the allure of democracy, The Soviet Military Organisation allowed political parties to form in June, and the Communists and the Social Democrats joined forcibly to create the Socialist Unity Party in 1946, and democracy was abandoned in the Eastern zone by 1948, contrasting with the Western Zone, where democracy developed.

What was the London Trial?

During the Nuremberg Trials, they made the ‘London Trial’ which declared the Nazis could be tried for war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against peace.

How did the Economic development and Creation of Bizonia lead to Germany’s division?

Britain and USA combined their zones creating Bizonia in 1947, then France joined creating Trizonia in 1949, creating East and West Germany. This angered the USSR as Stalin thought they were undermining him, arguing capitalism allowed Hitler to take control. East Ger dismantled banks and factories to make it a communist zone. The USSR got 25% of the reparations of Britain and France’s reparations for their help during the war. The USSR was stripping its zone for assets, whilst the West was genuinely trying to rebuild. In winter 1947, $700 million worth of food had to be imported.

How did the the Soviet Zone lead to Germany’s division?

The SED (Communists) was the best funded party in the East and portrayed themselves as liberators ti gain support, claiming Nazism was from capitalism and the workers were innocent. They said they wouldn’t impose Sovietism. They built support, gaining control of other grouos and eliminated other political views, incorperation Liberal/Christian Democrats into their group. By 1949, they announced a Marxist-Leninist ‘party of a new type’ which established communist organisations for youth, women and unions in the Soviet Zone.

How did the Truman Doctorine and Marshall Aid lead to Germany’s division?

Many Westerners believed Stalin’s aim was world domination, and the USA feared communist expansion due to the Red Scare, and saw the opportunity to involve themselves politically and economically in their affairs. Churchill gave his ‘iron curtain’ speech suggesting the metaphorical ‘war’. The Truman Doctorine was a speech from Truman to give $17 billion to Europe to rebuild the economy. The Marshall Plan rebuilt homes and businesses. The West hoped his economic prosperity would prevent Europe from falling to communism. Stalin tried to battle this, refusing to let his controlled countries take any aid, and instead made his own (unsuccessful) aid system, Comicon.

How did the Berlin Blockade lead to Germany’s division?

From June 1948 to May 1949. Stalin began a blockade, and the Allies could not enter his zone to deliver resources to Western Berlin, with Stalin hoping that they would surrender their half of Berlin to him. The Blockade stated no bringing food via road, rail or water. Br, US, and Fra flew 5000 tonnes of humanitarian aid per day of the blockade. For how unprepared the West was, they held up. 279,000 flights per day were sent to Berlin. Stalin wasn’t allowed to block flights and to shoot them down would be an act of war. Stalin was angry about West Berlin’s solidarity, Marshall Aid, Truman Doctorine and the new currency. This was the first direct West vs East clash, and is seen as the first agitation of the Cold War. The Blockade made the Allies seem heroic.