German History Revision Notes

Early Success and Initial Impact of the War

Initial German population apprehensive about the war.
Blitzkrieg successes created an image of strength, dispelling doubts.
Defeat of Poland provided access to resources and labor, aided by the Nazi-Soviet Pact.
Conquest of France within 6 weeks was a major triumph for Hitler.

Britain, under Churchill, refused to negotiate, continuing the war.
Failure to win the Battle of Britain and decision to invade the USSR were significant.
Operation Barbarossa launched in December 1940 aimed to crush Soviet Russia quickly.
Initial success in USSR, but advance halted by December 1941.
Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and Hitler's alignment turned the world's greatest industrial power against Germany.
Defeats at El Alamein and Stalingrad marked the beginning of the Soviet counter-offensive, showing Germany was no longer invincible.

Nazi economy not ready for a major war in 1939; rationing introduced early.
Rations were adequate until 1944, then shortages increased, especially in industrial cities.
Consumer goods trade declined significantly.

Nazis focused on maintaining public morale with bonuses and overtime payments.
Early victories easy to exploit for propaganda, but harder to disguise reality from 1942-43.
Goebbels attempted to maintain morale, but by 1943 realized Germany couldn't be portrayed as winning.
Propaganda focused on negative portrayals of Allies and anti-Semitism on the Eastern Front.

Civilian hardship intensified after 1943 due to Allied bombing.
Estimated 650,000 German civilians killed; industrial plants and communications destroyed.
Evacuation of children and elderly from cities.
Criticism of the Nazi regime for failing to protect cities.
Increased absenteeism and terror; camps expanded.

Register of Labour created; men drafted into armed forces, leading to labor shortages.
Focus on war-related industries.
Foreign workers and POWs drafted into labor force.
Creation of the Volkssturm in 1944 for total mobilization.

Albert Speer organized the economy effectively for total war from 1942.
Increased output despite Allied bombing.
Ammunition production increased by 97%; tank production rose by 25%; total arms production increased by 59%.
Resources diverted to anti-aircraft guns and underground industrial sites.

Females already made up 37.4% of the workforce by 1939.
Limited mobilization of women despite decrees, due to exemptions and employer preferences for foreign workers.