How did the coming of war change life in Germany?

Ashley – IGCSE History 2002

 

German Economy:

-          The full impact of the war was not generally felt until around 1942.

-          At first the economy was little affected, Germany had received 6.35 billion Reichmarks, in all from France, a large supply of raw materials, and they were benefiting from foreign labour.

-          At the peak of Nazi success they had about 3 million foreign workers.

-          As war grew, it began to hurt the Nazis.

-          Bombing raids damaged or destroyed factories and ways of transport.

-          The large focus on concentration camps also took away from the war effort.

-          Germany did however succeed in strengthening their arms, between 1942 and 1944.

-          When the Soviets, and the allies trapped them in 1944, the Nazis’ resources had finally run out.

-          The economy was no longer stable; there was a shortage of food, and fuel, which had a hard impression on the people.

-          Factory production was further slowed by air raids.

-          Millions of Germans became homeless because of the bombs being dropped on Germany’s cities.

 

Bombing Raids:

-          Right from the beginning bombing was a popular method used by the British.

-          The main targets were military areas, industrial sites; factories, oil refineries etc, but these were often hard to find and hit.

-          By 1942 the RAF (Royal Air Force) was dropping bombs on entire cities and towns as well.

-          30 May 1942- Thousand Bomber Raid-Cologne, Germany-  the outcome was 486 dead, and 58,000 destroyed homes.

-          Homes, schools, doctors, posts, trains, and people were harmed, or completely wiped out. Children and families could be seen walking around raided cities with what little was left, or collecting wood from the rubbish to make fires. As one survivor stated, “One felt completely cut off from the world. To meet a friend who had survived was a wonderful experience.”

-          As previously stated, the bombing raids resulted in thousands of homeless people.

-          The British often worked by night, while the Americans worked by day.

-          Raids on Hamburg in July, August 1943 ended in the deaths of between 60 and 100 thousand people, a ruin of 60% of the city, and the demolition of 300,000 houses.

-          The bombings also caused chaos and disorder amongst the people.

 

 

Year

On Germany

On Britain

1940

10, 000

36,844

1941

30,000

21,858

1942

40,000

3.260

1943

120,000

2,298

1944

650,000

9,151

1945

500,000

761

 

 

 

Rationing:

-          Germany wanted to be self-sufficient, in order to do this they cut off as much imports from other countries as possible. This caused there to be a shortage of food even prior to the war.

-          At the start of the war Germany was able to take some food from the areas

-          Nonetheless, the shortages continued, and grew worse.

-          As a whole the Nazis were able to keep the shortages from reaching critically low levels.

-          As war began ration cards were issued,  in 1939 the meat ration was at 700g per person, per week, by 1945 it had reached 250g.

-          Men were required to send in old razor blades for use of the steel, kitchen refuse was reused, anything that could be was sent in or collected.

 

Evacuation:

-          To escape the hazards of air raids, children were often sent out of cities.

-          People mainly went to Austria or Bavaria.

-          An evacuation program was set up by the Hitler Youth to help the young people out of Germany.

-          They promised good education to the children if the parents decided to take up this offer.

-          A majority of Germans found this to be very hard and painful to accept.

 

Hitler Youth:

-          Member did as much as possible to prevent war from reaching the domestic front.

-          Young men assisted in the fire services, distribution of ration-cards, post delivery, and guidance during black-outs.

-          They also helped in the collection of used products.

-          Girls were useful in aiding Kindergartens, older peoples homes, and hospitals however they could.

-          They brought coal, and food to those who needed it.

-          Choirs were also made up to entertain the wounded and sick.

 

Women:

-          The Nazis previous policy towards women was forced to change after the war.

-          The birth-rate was encouraged to grow even more, while women were also asked to go back to work.

-          There was little effect due to these changes and women began suffering health problems.

 

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