Chapter 7: The Impact of War
The War
- France and Britain had promised to maintain polish independence as they were not
happy with German expansionism hence when Germany invaded Poland on the 1
September 1939, the war started on the 3rd.
- Initial Victories: Germany had initial victories in the ‘phoney war’ as there was
no real aggression on the western front such as the defeat of the Low
Countries and France. They then embarked on other campaigns which they
lost e.g. the Battle of Britain (1940- GB was a lot more advanced) and
Operation Barbarossa (22 June 1941- they believed they could win this
through blitzkrieg but clearly underestimated the extent of Russia)
- Turn of the Tide- British victory at El Alamein meant that the Soviets forced
the surrender of 300,000 Germany troops from Stalingrad
- Defeat: down to a number of reasons that will be explained later
Nazi War Economy
- December 1939 Hilter passed a series of war economy decrees that covered all
elements of war production. Between 1939 and 1941, military expenditure in
Germany doubled (but tripled in Britain)
- Limitations of economic mobilisation became clear as the western allies were
so much more advanced. German aircraft increased from 8290 in 1939 to
10780 in 1941 and Britain’s was at 20,100
- Total War: the death of Todt brought ‘technocrat’ Speer into play and his
policy of total war. He made use of women and forced labour as well as
ensuring that skilled workers are not conscripted into the military. By 1944,
foreign labour made up 25% of the workforce and were exploited and by
1945, women made up 60% of the workforce
- In Speer’s first 6 months, ammunition production rose by 97%, arms by 57%
and tanks by 25%
- The Racial War: policy of ‘ghettoisation’ started in Poland in areas such as Warsaw,
Łódź and Lublin. In Spring 1940, these ghettos became sealed and the death penalty
to be given to anyone who tries to escape. Low food resources, poor sanitation and
cold conditions meant that many died anyways.
- 16,000 poles were executed in mass shootings organised by the
Einsatzgruppen
- Invasion of Russia meant that Russian Jews were also persecuted, most
notably 30,000 men, women and children slaughtered in Babi Yar
- Gipsies also targeted and deported to Poland after the outbreak of war
- Final solution: seemed to be decided at the Wannsee Conference on the 20
January 1942
The Home Front
- 1944, rations were provided that were 10% above the minimum caloric standard and
by 1945 there was real hunger
- Working hours increased from 52 hours in 1940 to 60 hours in 1944
The War
- France and Britain had promised to maintain polish independence as they were not
happy with German expansionism hence when Germany invaded Poland on the 1
September 1939, the war started on the 3rd.
- Initial Victories: Germany had initial victories in the ‘phoney war’ as there was
no real aggression on the western front such as the defeat of the Low
Countries and France. They then embarked on other campaigns which they
lost e.g. the Battle of Britain (1940- GB was a lot more advanced) and
Operation Barbarossa (22 June 1941- they believed they could win this
through blitzkrieg but clearly underestimated the extent of Russia)
- Turn of the Tide- British victory at El Alamein meant that the Soviets forced
the surrender of 300,000 Germany troops from Stalingrad
- Defeat: down to a number of reasons that will be explained later
Nazi War Economy
- December 1939 Hilter passed a series of war economy decrees that covered all
elements of war production. Between 1939 and 1941, military expenditure in
Germany doubled (but tripled in Britain)
- Limitations of economic mobilisation became clear as the western allies were
so much more advanced. German aircraft increased from 8290 in 1939 to
10780 in 1941 and Britain’s was at 20,100
- Total War: the death of Todt brought ‘technocrat’ Speer into play and his
policy of total war. He made use of women and forced labour as well as
ensuring that skilled workers are not conscripted into the military. By 1944,
foreign labour made up 25% of the workforce and were exploited and by
1945, women made up 60% of the workforce
- In Speer’s first 6 months, ammunition production rose by 97%, arms by 57%
and tanks by 25%
- The Racial War: policy of ‘ghettoisation’ started in Poland in areas such as Warsaw,
Łódź and Lublin. In Spring 1940, these ghettos became sealed and the death penalty
to be given to anyone who tries to escape. Low food resources, poor sanitation and
cold conditions meant that many died anyways.
- 16,000 poles were executed in mass shootings organised by the
Einsatzgruppen
- Invasion of Russia meant that Russian Jews were also persecuted, most
notably 30,000 men, women and children slaughtered in Babi Yar
- Gipsies also targeted and deported to Poland after the outbreak of war
- Final solution: seemed to be decided at the Wannsee Conference on the 20
January 1942
The Home Front
- 1944, rations were provided that were 10% above the minimum caloric standard and
by 1945 there was real hunger
- Working hours increased from 52 hours in 1940 to 60 hours in 1944
