The Wages of Destruction - Study Notes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  • Adam Tooze

    • Current Position: Hart Fellow in History at Jesus College, University of Cambridge

    • Background: Grew up in London and Heidelberg, West Germany

    • Education:

    • Educated in Germany and England

    • Achieved a double first in economics at King's College, Cambridge

    • Obtained a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics

    • Awards:

    • Philip Leverhulme Prize in modern history (2002)

  • Major Work:

    • "The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy"

    • Published by PENGUIN BOOKS

PREPARING FOR TWO WARS AT ONCE

Introduction to Strategic Decisions

  • Date:

    • July 31, 1940: Hitler ordered the Wehrmacht to prepare for a campaign against the Soviet Union.

    • By early 1941: The decision to launch the attack was irrevocable.

  • Consequence of Invasion: The Eastern Front was crucial to the Third Reich's downfall.

  • Historical Perspectives:

    • John Kenneth Galbraith’s opinion (1945):

    • Argued that Germany shouldn’t have lost the war.

    • Attributed the failure to under-mobilization of the German economy.

    • Factors contributing to this: Overconfidence, incompetence, and lack of political will.

  • Galbraith's Conclusion:

    • German defeat demonstrated inefficiencies of dictatorship compared to freedoms in democracies.

  • Albert Speer’s Influence:

    • Speer indicated a 'peacetime economy at war' mentality prevailed under Hitler before 1942.

    • Criticism from Speer’s staff highlighted operational inefficiencies during 1940-41.

Re-evaluating Historical Strategies

  • Proposed Interpretation: Understand Germany's actions before Operation Barbarossa through its strategic situation.

  • Key Points: Despite victory over France, the war had not been won due to:

    • Britain's resilience and the looming support from the US from spring 1941 onward.

    • By 1942, Germany’s strategic position was deteriorating if not executed correctly.

  • Objectives of Barbarossa:

    • Consolidate Germany’s position for confrontation with Western powers, rather than merely defeating the Red Army.

    • Anticipation of a swift victory guided the attack's strategy, freeing up resources for ongoing battles with Britain and its allies.

  • Blitzkrieg Strategy Characteristics:

    • Integration of military technologies with operational tactics, assumed a quick victory and battlefield success.

    • Necessitated systematic organization of armament policies only after the success of the France campaign was recognized.

Economic Mobilization and War Efforts

  • Reality of Mobilization:

    • The German workforce was fully engaged during early war months, including import of labor from racially undesirable groups.

  • Civilian Priorities:

    • Hitler’s wartime policies included promises of future projects such as a luxurious housing program and agricultural modernization.

    • Short-term priorities were food security and protection from aerial attacks.

Internal Conflicts in War Economy

  • Bureaucratic Struggles:

    • Competition among figures like Fritz Todt, General Thomas, and the military procurement offices indicated inefficiencies in the war economy.

    • Despite civil unrest, substantial industrial production analysis indicates overarching strategic intentions guided decisions rather than just inefficiency.

  • Ruestungsprogramm B:

    • Established within weeks of preparations for Barbarossa to coordinate output for the armaments economy until the invasion.

    • Largest military operation on June 22, 1941: 3,050,000 men across three army groups over more than 1,000 kilometers.

  • Tank Focus:

    • Shift to focus on armored warfare as tanks became prioritized after France's victory.

Armament Production and Strategy of Conflict

  • Increases in Military Capacity Between 1940-41:

    • Number of Panzer divisions doubled from 10 to 20.

    • Shift concentrated production from obsolete weapons to modern war materials.

  • Effectiveness of Armament Production:

    • The tank production drive is linked to lasting organizational structures of the war economy, with a focus on increasing capacity for tank divisions.

  • Efficiency in Production Amidst Conflicts:

    • Allocating resources effectively led to a significant rise in armaments production despite simultaneous declines in ammunition production, which represented a strategic shift.

  • Logistical Challenges:

    • Complications in production output measuring were exacerbated during Barbarossa mobilization.

The Importance of Manpower and Logistics

  • Manpower Management Post-Defeat of France:

    • Full mobilization continued with substantial increases in military personnel, ensuring recruitment from all eligible populations.

  • Strategic Labor Allocation:

    • 'Armaments holiday scheme' allowed for battle-hardened veterans to train recruits and maintain production.

  • Concerns Over Military Operations:

    • Mismanagement indicated future manpower constraints, with most prime-age men conscripted, leaving middle-aged families as potential future recruits.

The Resources and Future of German Industry

  • Armaments Strategy and Future Planning:

    • Investments made in anticipation of conflict with Britain and the United States were critical to long-term strategies; the Luftwaffe was a focal point amidst shifting priorities.

  • Economic Ambitions vs. Reality of Resources:

    • Navigating potential shortages while aiming to secure control over grain and oil resources from the Soviet Union became a contradictory aspect of planning.