war economy

• Germany's victories at the beginning of the war showed the economy had not been overstrained and was successful
• economic decrees issued Dec 1939: programmes for war production
• German military expenditure doubled 1939-41
• Food rationing introduced at start of war and clothes rationing in Nov 1939
• armaments production low: number of planes decreased from 8290 in 1939 to 10780 in 1941. number of tanks in June 1941 only 800 for invasion of Russia
• lack of central control over production
• Dec 1941 the rationalisation decree
• Feb 1942 Speer introduced policy of 'industrial self-responsibility' to ensure mass production
• Speer exploited resources they already had: prisoners in concentration camps used as workers, women in arms factories, skilled workers no longer conscripted, anything that did not contribute to war effort eliminated. Professional sport ended March 1943, magazines closed, non-essential businesses shut
• Speer's policy appeared to be successful: tank production rose by 25%, ammunition production rose by 97% and total arms production increased by 57%
• Party Gauleiters influence at local level, SS did what they wanted and wanted personal gain, conquered territories could not be economically exploited, impact of allied bombing
• in May 1939 24.5 million men employed in economy but by 1940 fallen to 20.5 million as 4 million employed in armed forces.
• Goering had a morphine addiction from 1939 and unable to work effectively; he spent lots of war time neglecting duties
• 600,000 people killed from bombing which had an effect on the economy
• The blanket bombing in Germany can be seen to have failed as did not decreae war effectiveness
• Goering became 'economic dictator'
• Strength through joy wanted to win support however working hours rose from 43 hours in 1933 to 47 in 1939
• debate 'guns or butter'; resulted in growth of wartime black market
• Speer successful as after 6 months tank production rose by 25%, ammunition by 97% and total arms by 57% however chaotic state meant hard to produce war goods
• production per worker under speer increased by 60%
• Party Gauleiters prevented Speer's ordered being carried out so economic ability could not reach full