conscription (WW2)

• German use of conscription?

  German conscripts were trained by the regular army and able to form effective units as part of Germany’s blitzkrieg assaults in 1939/40
• Soviet use of conscription?

  The Soviet Union reinstated conscription, also adopting universal military training. Their conscripts were vital in sustaining the war effort (they suffered over 5 million casualties during the Barbarossa Campaign). The Russian conscripts played a key role in the defeat of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad
• Why were conscripts loyal?

  Levels of nationalism and fears for national survival ensured loyalty among conscripts – with all major belligerents relying on conscripts to help them sustain the war effort and meet the demands of a total war. Even in the face of extreme struggles, conscript soldiers showed immense bravery and the ability to learn and develop into effective fighting forces
• Impact on nature?


  The size and loyalty of conscript soldiers certainly prolonged the conflict. Despite horrific conditions and extreme casualty figures, the Wehrmacht and the Red Army fought to the bitter end on the Eastern Front