Impact of the War Economy on the People

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Reaction to War in Germany

On the 3rd of September 1939, after Germany's invasion of Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany.

Prepared for war

The 4-year economic plans put together by the Nazi government focusing around armaments and autarky had put Germany in a good position economically and militarily.
The historian, Nicholas Stargardt reports that most people supported the Nazi war effort, either because they supported the Nazi party, or they feared that Germany would be destroyed if they lost the war.

Why did some German people support World War 2?

Hitler had successfully taken control of Austria in the Anschluss of 1938 and Czechoslovakia in 1939, whilst politicians like Neville Chamberlain had appeased him.
Hitler's propaganda and the 'cult of personality' had helped to create blind support in the Nazi leader.

The influence of fear and the police state

Even if people did not privately support the war, the mediums for expressing this were limited.
The Gestapo had 200,000 informants and political opponents of the Nazi Party were often executed or sent to concentration camps.

The Impact of the Second World War

The Second World War had a huge impact on the German economy between 1939 to 1942. Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of the Soviet Union) and Total War are viewed to be the turning points.

Rationing

Food rations were set up in 1939 before the war had even begun.
Clothes, soap, fuel and petrol were rationed after the war began.
Shortages of some rations only became noticeable in the winter of 1941 - 1942, as the German army struggled to battle on the Western Front and against the Soviet Union in the East at the same time.

Loot from the army

As the German Army conquered new countries, they would send their loot (stolen goods) back home.
- This led to a black market (system of illegal trade) for luxury goods.
But the German people still sent 1.5 million fur coats and 67 million woollen garments to German soldiers.

Albert Speer

The Second World War touched the German population more than any war had done before.
The Four-Year Plan had been created in 1936 with the aim of improving Germany's autarky (self-sufficiency) in farming, armaments, and other key industries.
Goring, who was in charge of the plan did not succeed. In 1941, the Army was experiencing shortages in armaments and weapons.
Albert Speer became Germany's Minister of Armaments in 1942.

'Total War'

By 1943, Germany’s economy was geared to ‘total war’.
- All businesses were dedicated to the war effort, otherwise, they were closed.
- Workers were transferred to war work, which helped to improve the situation in Germany.
- All leisure establishments were shut down. Only cinemas stayed open to show propaganda (information designed to influence people) films for morale (public confidence).
- Services such as the postal service were stopped.

1Dictatorship

1.1Hitler & The Nazi Party in 1933

1.1.1The Origins of the Nazi Party

1.1.2Hitler & The Growth of the Party

1.1.3The 1932 Election

1.2Establishing Dictatorship, 1933-1934

1.2.1Establishing Dictatorship

1.2.2Achieving Total Power, July 1933 - August 1934

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

1.2.4Grade 9 - Dictatorship

2Control & Opposition

2.1The Machinery of Terror

2.1.1Police State & Legal System

2.1.2The Gestapo & SS

2.1.3Concentration Camps

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Control & Opposition

2.2Nazi Propaganda

2.2.1The Effectiveness of Nazi Propaganda

2.3Opposition to Nazi Rule

2.3.1The Left

2.3.2Church Leaders

2.3.3Youth Groups

2.3.4Support for Nazi Rule

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Propaganda & Opposition

2.3.6Grade 9 - Propaganda & Opposition

3Changing Lives, 1933-1939

3.1Work & Home

3.1.1Work

3.1.2Home

3.2The Lives of Young People

3.2.1Education

3.2.2Youth Movements

3.3Nazi Racial Policy

3.3.1Racial Policy

3.3.2Persecution of the Jews

3.3.3End of Topic Test 0 Changing Lives

3.3.4Grade 9 - Changing Lives

4Germany in War

4.1The Impact of War

4.1.1Impact of the War Economy on the People

4.1.2Impact of Total War on the People

4.2Growing Opposition from the German People

4.2.1Opposition from the People

4.2.2Opposition from the Army

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Germany in War

4.2.4Grade 9 - Germany in War

5Occupation

5.1Nazi Rule in Eastern and Western Europe

5.1.1The Start of World War 2

5.1.2Western Europe

5.1.3Eastern Europe

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Occupation

5.2The Final Solution

5.2.1Ghettos & Executions

5.2.2Death Camps

5.2.3End of Topic Test - The Final Solution

5.3Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.1Collaboration

5.3.2Accommodation

5.3.3Resistance

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.5Grade 9 - Occupation

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