Did WW2 change life in Nazi Germany

• How Important was the Second World War for the Collapse of Nazi Germany


  Many Germans approved of the Nazis’ actions at the outbreak of war in September 1939. Even by 1941, support for the Nazi Party remained high. Using blitzkrieg (intense military campaign intended to bring about a swift victory) tactics, the German Army was able to defeat the French in six weeks. The Nazis had forced the British Army out of Europe. Many European countries had fallen under Nazi control.
• How Important was the Second World War for the Collapse of Nazi Germany

  Operation Barbarossa was a turning point for success of war+public opinion. Poor German tactics+planning led to Germans losing faith in govt. The defeat at Battle of Stalingrad in 1942 signified this would not be a quick war as the Germans hoped for. By this point, all areas of society felt impact of war. Rationing, shortages of resources, high levels of casualties+aerial bombings angered German public. Despite a Nazi propaganda campaign in 1943, an increased number of Germans began to oppose the regime. 
• How important was the Second World War for the Collapse of Nazi Germany


  By 1944, Germany faced a war on two fronts it couldnt win. April 1945: Hitler+Goebbels committed suicide+Germany surrendered. Many historians debate about if Nazi Germany would’ve collapsed without WW2. Some historians state Germany’s economy was failing by 1939, causing discontent with German public. They argue Hitler catalysed plans to invade Poland to win back public support. Other historians claim the Nazi Party had strong support before war. It was only the impact of total war that weakened regime+decreased support.
• Changes to the economy- Hitlers aims


  Hitler wanted a more thorough economic policy

  He put Goering as Minister of the Economy

  Hitler’s 4 main objectives for economy:

  • Achieve autarky
  • increasing farming output
  • increase rearampnet
  • implemenet more govt control on industry
• Changes to the economy- 4 year plan

  • The Four Year Plan began in 1936-39. Goering:
  • Established the Reich Food Estate to guarantee prices for farmers
  • Increased ersatz goods
  • govt set production targets for industry 
  • Used enslaved labour from
  • People in concentration camps+ people from newly-occupied German territories
  • Intention to focus industries on rearmament
• Four year plan criticism

  • Business leaders did not support plan
  • Excessive rearmament decreased Germany’s standard of living
• Nazi War Economy

  • Some say the Nazi economy was a weakness of WW2 because
  • Germany had not achieved autarky
  • Germany’s economy couldn’t support war effort
  • Germany had shortages in fuel, coal+food.
  • Battles reduced their war supplies
  • The government relied on enslaved labour in ghettos+concentration camps
  • By 1944, one-quarter of Germany's workforce was enslaved
• Nazi economy focus 


  the Nazis focused their whole economy on rearmament. When war began in 1939, Nazis had underfunded key industries eg food production. As a result, people experienced shortages+economy collapsed.
• Support during War of Nazi party

  1939-41 Increase

  • Germany defeated France
  • German citizens had access to new goods

  1939-41 Decrease

  • Development of black markets (illegal)

  1941-3 Decrease

  • Unsuccessful invasion of USSR.
  • Britain began to bomb Germany causing high casualties

  1943-4 Increase

  • propaganda production to increase support for war effort

  1943-4 Decrease

  • Women forced to work
  • Britain’s bombing increased

  1944-5 Decrease

  • Hitler created Volkssturm; an armies civilian militia of young+elderly men. failed in battle
  • Hitler+Goebbels committed suicide, marking end of Nazi regime
• How WW2 Impacted groups


  women:

  1944: forced by govt to contribute to war. Life on Home Front was hard. Women died from aerial bombings +suffered poor living conditions from rationing +shortages

  jewish people:

  Nazis put Jewish people into ghettos+lots died of starvation+illness. Einsatzgruppen killed lots more Jewish people. 1942:Nazis gained over 3 million Jewish people from Poland. Final Solution created extermination camps. At Auschwitz, 1.1 million people were gassed. In some areas of Eastern Europe, Nazis murdered all Jewish people. six mill Jewish people died during Holocaust
• How WW2 impacted groups


  young people:

  WW2 affected young people differently. The indoctrinated Hitler Youth enthusiastically helped with the war effort. They helped put out fires after British aerial bombings. However, youth opposition groups expanded. Some young people hid ‘enemies of the state’ to protect them from harm. The Nazis forced other young people to help war effort. The Volkssturm enlisted children as young as 12 in 1945