Morale and rationing

• Living standards:

  Nazi economy not really ready for a war on 1939.

  Rationing introduced very early on, but the German population still continued to be adequately fed - even up to early 1944 - with rations about calorific minimum (but diet restricted to staples like bread). In the final year of the war food rationing led to real shortages.

  Consumer goods struggled from the start. Coal was reserved for industrial production, which meant less for domestic heating.

  In the last 12 months of the war, small luxuries like magazines and sweets were stopped.

  Black market flourished.
• Workers:

  Workers in high-demand war industries were exempt from conscription.

  In order to maintain productivity, bonus and overtime payments were reintroduced. However, workers were not able to feel any real benefit because of the gov's increases in taxes.

  From 1942, the demand for labour was extended when Speer directed the economy to ficus fighting a 'total war'.

  • Working hours increased from 52 to 60 in 1944
  • Non-essential businesses were closed in 1943

  In 1944, there was a complete ban on holidays, all bonuses were stopped and rewards were limited to just an increase in rations.
• Women:

  At the start of the war, because of the decline of consumer industries, the number of female workers actually decreased. Also, less incentive to work as families of conscripted soldiers received benefits.

  'Total War' called for an increase in the conscription of female workers. But, Hitler wanted to retain the domestic roles of women to maintain civilian morale.

  1943: conscription to work for women aged 17-45 (many exemptions, limiting impact).

  Nazis caught in the contradictions of their own ideology of female work.

  By 1945, women made up 60% of workforce.
• Youth:

  Decline in education and academic standards.

  Age of military service reduced to 17 in 1943, and lowered to 16 in 1945. For young people there was no avoiding the increasing demands of war.

  Increase in groups outside of the Hitler Youth (e.g. Edelweiss Pirates). Various gangs rounded up by the Gestapo - most notoriously, the Edelweiss Pirates were publicly hanged in Cologne.
• Morale and propaganda:

  Early Nazi military victories were very easy to exploit as propaganda for the war. However, it became very difficult for Nazi propaganda to disguise the reality of the situation from the winter of 1942-43.

  The German surrender at Stalingrad was a strategic disaster and a damaging blow to the confidence of the German people.
• Effects of bombing:

  400,000 Germans were killed, as well as 60,000 foreign workers and PoW.

  500,000 people were disabled and severely injured.

  3.6 million homes destroyed (20% of total housing)

  Decrease in morale, increase in propaganda.