Government in Wartime

The Structure of Government During WW2

As in peacetime, the wartime government lacked structure. The Nazi government’s chaos hindered the country’s war efforts.

Lack of clarity

The lack of any clear structure made the government ineffective.
There was no clear decision-making process. As such, it was difficult to hold individuals to account.

The war’s impact on the government’s structures

WW2 exacerbated the government’s existing anarchy.
The demands of the war economy meant new organisations needed to be created.
- E.g. Organisation Todt (a civil engineering and military engineering organisation).
This led to greater complexity and overlap, meaning greater obscurity for the government.

The rise of factionalism

A faction is a small interest group which dissents against the larger group it is within.
Different factions developed within the Nazi government.
- E.g. ministries, the Nazi Party itself, the army.
These factions dissented in their bid to gain power.

Hitler’s Involvement in Wartime Government

Hitler took a personal interest in the government’s military decisions. However, Hitler lacked military expertise and his decisions were not always beneficial for the war effort.

Hitler’s authority

Hitler was determined to personally command the German war effort.
Over the course of the war, Hitler gave himself greater authority.
- In 1941, he became commander-in-chief of the German army.
Hitler wanted to become the generalissimo leading the German war effort.

Distrust of military advisors

Hitler did not trust many of his own leading military experts.

Hitler's expertise

Hitler lacked military expertise. Following the war, leading military men claimed that Hitler’s interference prevented them from getting on with the war.
Largely, Hitler relied on his instinct (which could be very inaccurate).

Hitler’s decision making

Initially, Hitler did make some sound decisions.
- E.g. he drove the campaign plan which the German army used to invade France in 1940.
Hitler wanted to be directly involved in almost every decision. This approach was overbearing and arguably hindered the war effort rather than helped it.
Hitler also delayed difficult decisions.
- E.g. He delayed an attack on Kursk in 1943 by months. This delay gave the Soviet Union more time to prepare.

Weakness of Hitler’s military advisors

Historians have argued that they lacked strategic brilliance and were partly responsible for Germany’s defeat.
- E.g. Hitler trusted Goering in the Battle of Britain. However, Goering’s decision making was flawed.

Hitler’s retreat from the public eye

Following the invasion of the Soviet Union, Germany achieved few victories.
This led to a fall in morale on the home front.
From 1943, Hitler withdrew from the public eye.
Instead, Goebbels assumed a much more prominent position.
- E.g. it was Goebbels, not Hitler, who gave a speech after Germany’s defeat at Stalingrad and called for the people to support ‘total war’.

The Role of the SS During the War

The SS was in charge of Nazi occupied territories during the war.

SS control in occupied territories

The SS was given licence to act how they pleased.
The SS ran territories the Nazis had conquered in Europe.
They operated exploitative policies.

Executing racial policies

In 1944, 900,000 people were in the Waffen SS (the SS’s army organisation).
The Waffen SS were in charge of racial policies.
There was mass killings of Jews (e.g. 90% of Polish Jews were killed).
The Waffen SS also established ghettos and death camps (e.g. Auschwitz-Birkenau).

1Political & Governmental Change, 1918-1989

1.1Creation & Collapse of Weimar, 1918-1932

1.1.1Creation of a Republic

1.1.2Strengths & Weaknesses of Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Overcoming Challenges to the Constitution

1.1.4The Great Depression

1.1.5The Collapse of Democracy

1.1.6The Collapse of Democracy 2

1.1.7Hitler Becomes Chancellor

1.2Nazi Dictatorship, 1933-1945

1.2.1Establishing a Dictatorship

1.2.2Consolidating Power

1.2.3Nature of Government

1.2.4Government in Wartime

1.2.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Political & Governmental Change

1.3Return to Democratic Government, 1945-1989

1.3.1Creation of the FRG, 1945-1949

1.3.2Consolidation Under Adenauer

1.3.3Consolidation Under Erhard

1.3.4Maintaining Stability Under Brandt

1.3.5Maintaining Stability Under Schmidt

1.3.6Maintaining Stability Under Kohl

1.3.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Return to Democratic Government

2Opposition, Control & Consent 1918-1989

2.1Opposition to Government, 1918-1989

2.1.1Impact of Versailles

2.1.2Political Extremism & Crises, 1918-1932

2.1.3Opposition & Dissent in Nazi Germany, 1933-1945

2.1.4Political Dissent from the Left, 1949-1989

2.1.5Political Dissent from the Right, 1949-1989

2.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Opposition to Government 1918-89

2.2Controlling the People, 1918-1989

2.2.1Attempts to Control Extremism

2.2.2Repression, 1933-1945

2.2.3Censorship & Propaganda, 1933-1945

2.2.4De-Nazification Policies of Western Allies, 1945

2.2.5Constitutional & Legal Response to Extremism, 1949

2.3Popular Support, 1918-1989

2.3.1The Nature of Support for the Weimar Government

2.3.2Support for the Nazi Regime

2.3.3The Nature of Support for Democracy, 1945-1989

2.3.4Top Grade AO2/3 - Controlling the People

3Economic Developments & Policies, 1918-1989

3.1Reacting to Economic Challenges, 1918-1932

3.1.1Economic Crises & Government Response, 1918-1923

3.1.2Economic Loans, 1924-1928

3.1.3Policies for Recovery, 1924-1929

3.1.4The Great Depression

3.1.5Change in Living Standards

3.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Reacting to Economic Challenges

3.2Controlling the Economy, 1933-1945

3.2.1Attempting Economic Recovery

3.2.2Creating a Command Economy

3.2.3Change in Living Standards

3.2.4Impact of War

3.2.5Impact of War 2

3.2.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Controlling the Economy

3.3Creating the Social Market Economy, 1945-1989

3.3.1Economic Recovery, 1945-1955

3.3.2The Economic Miracle, 1955-1966

3.3.3Surviving the Recession, 1960-1969

3.3.4The Oil Crisis

3.3.5Integration into the European Economy

3.3.6Change in Living Standards

3.3.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Creating Social Market Economy

4Aspects of Life, 1918-1989

4.1Attitudes Towards Women, 1918-1989

4.1.1Role & Status of Women in the Weimar Republic

4.1.2Impact of Kinder, Küche, Kirche

4.1.3Impact of WW2 on Women

4.1.4Role & Status of Women in the FRG

4.1.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Attitudes Towards Women

4.2Education & Cultural Developments, 1918-1989

4.2.1Education in Weimar

4.2.2Cultural Experimentation in Weimar

4.2.3Education Under the Nazis

4.2.4Nazi Culture

4.2.5Education in the FRG

4.2.6Generational Conflict

4.2.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Education & Cultural Development

4.3Position of Ethnic Minorities, 19189-1989

4.3.1Ethnic Minorities in the Weimar Republic

4.3.2Nazi Racial Policies, 1933-1939

4.3.3Nazi Racial Policies During the War

4.3.4Ethnic Minorities in the FRG

4.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Position of Ethnic Minorities

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Influence of German History

5.1.1Influence of German History

5.2Hitler & Foreign Policy

5.2.1Hitler & Foreign Policy

5.3Contribution of Other Nations to WW2

5.3.1Weak Nations

5.3.2Appeasement

5.3.3The Rise of Fascism

5.4Reasons for Invading Poland

5.4.1Reasons for Invading Poland

5.4.2Top Grade AO2/3 - Historical Interpretation

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