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The Impact of War and Defeat on Germany 1939-1949 (Consolidation of the…
The Impact of War and Defeat on Germany 1939-1949
War Economy and Total War
Growth of Nazi Economy
Early German victories through
Blitzkrieg
suggested economy was not overstrained.
Economic decrees in
December 1939
outlined vast programmes for war production
Military expenditure doubled between
1939
and
1941
Food rationing at beginning of war from
some
goods
Clothes rationing
November 1939
Soap rationed and toilet paper not available.
Labour force mobilised for war
Civilian consumption declined
Planes
increased
from:
8,290
in
1939
to
10,780
in
1941
Tanks for invasion of Russia only
800
more than for invasion of West
Poor co-ordination
Numerous agencies (Ministries of Armaments, Economics, Labour) all with different interests and demands
By
1941
, economic mobilisation for total war had failed to achieve the required levels of armament production
Total War
End of
1941
, Germany was at war with
Britain, USA and USSR
. Armament production lower than
just
Britain
In
December 1941
Hitler issued the
Rationalisation Decree
February 1941
, Albert
Speer
appointed minister of armaments. Introduced policy of
'industrial self-responsibility'
.
Prisoners in
concentration camps
used as
workers
Women employed in
arms factories
Skilled workers
no longer conscripted
Anything not contributing to war effort eliminated:
Professional sports ended in
March 1943
Magazines not essential to war
closed
Non-essential businesses
shut
Was Speer's Policy a Success?
Tank
production rose by
25%
Ammunition
production rose by
95%
Total arms
production rose by
59%
Could have produced
more
however:
Party Gauleiters influence at local level meant orders weren't always carried out
SS did what they wanted and exploited land for personal gain
Conquered territories weren't exploited economically
Allied bombing
Bombing, anti-Semitism and Genocide
Bombing
Air raids against Germany began in
1940
and by
1942
they were frequent and intense
Many
left
cities and moved to
rural
areas
Air raid on
Hamburg
in
1943
created a firestorm which killed
30,000
people
In
1945
, the intensity increased and
150,000
were killed in Dresden, with
70%
of properties destroyed
Nearly as many civilians were killed by bombing as soldiers were killed from the war
Impact of Bombing
Blanket-bombing of Germany has been
condemned
since the end of the war. Some historians questioned
effectiveness
as economic production figures show a
failure
Argued the bombing prohibited Germany reaching
full economic potential
. Caused industrial production and a break down in communications
Germany forced to move workers to construct
anti-aircraft batteries
and
underground sites
which limited production
Morale
Despite bombing and awareness of
pending defeat
from
1943
, morale was good and the fight continued until the end in
May 1945
Reasons for morale remaining
high
:
Some shared Hitler's belief of a
1,000 year Reich
Gestapo
forced
people to keep fighting
Some thought Germany would develop a super-weapon and win the war
As in Britain, bombing united people
Anti-Semitism: Genocide
Occupation of Poland in
1939
brought
3 million
Jew under Nazi control. Resettlement was difficult due to war and therefore
Ghettos
were created.
1941
In
June 1941
after the invasion of Russia, SS
Einsatzgruppen
followed behind the army rounding up Jews.
Carried out mass-shootings, murdering
700,000
Jews between
1941 and 1942
September 1941
, Jews had to wear the
yellow Star of David
.
The Final Solution
Agreed at
Wannsee Conference
in January
1942
. Changed from resettlement to extermination
Planned to use gas, and resulted in construction of termination centres like
Auschwitz
Along with the
6 million
Jews killed,
political opponents, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, gypsies, anti-socials and Russian POW's
were also
killed
Was The Final Solution Planned?
Suggested implementation was haphazard as there is no written orders for the extermination of Jews.
Potsdam and the Establishment of the Soviet Union
Potsdam Conference
Allies agreed to split Germany into 4 zones at
Yalta
conference in
February 1945
. Attended by Soviet leader
Stalin
, Prime Minister
Churchill
and President
Truman
What was agreed?
Germany to be administered under joint Allied control in 4 zones. Berlin, located in the Russian zone, also to be divided.
Germany to be de-militarised,
de-Nazified
and democratised
Elections to be held, starting locally, to give Germany 'the chance to rebuild its life on a democratic and peaceful basis'
Poland gained much former German land; the
Oder-Neisse
line formed border between Soviet Union and Polan
Germans in Poland, Hunagry and Czechoslovakia repatriated to Germany
Economy to be run as one unit, each occupying force to take reparations from their own zone.
As Soviets had fewer resources, they were given 25% of reparations from British and American zones
The Soviet Zone
Demilitarisation
German forces disbanded after surrender in
May 1945
No German government meant there could be no independent German military force
No German military until 1955
De-Nazification
Nazi party disbanded and war criminals were tried at Nuremberg. Soviet Zone interned many formers Nazis, many dying in former concentration camps where they were held
'Normal' Nazis who committed themselves to Communism returned to political life
Soviets argued Nazism came from
capitalism
, therefore it also needed destroying
Large landed estates confiscated and re-distributed among landless agricultural labourers
Former Nazi property was taken; some was taken by the state
Similar process adopted for banks and factories
Some equipment dismantled and taken back to Russia. Russia removed experts to reconstruct technical equipment in Russia
Democratisation
German Communists led by
Walter Ulbricht
arrived in Berlin at the end of April 1945. Planned to gain control in Berlin, but give appearance of democracy
Soviet Military Administration (
SMAD
) issued Order Number 2 on 10 June 1945, licensing the formation of
political parties
. All parties brought together in
anti-fascist bloc
, or National Front, against Nazism in July 1945
KPD
(Communist Party) was established, followed by
Social Democrat Party (SPD)
. They merged in 1946 to form the Socialist Unity Party (
SED
). SPD distrusted communist policy and its army links, but agreed to united as they saw it as the only way for them to influence policy
Liberal parties also merged to form the
Liberal Democratic Party of Germany (LPD)
. The Catholic Centre Party and Protestant parties formed the
Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
Consolidation of the SED and developments in Soviet Zone
SED leading Communist Party in east ran by
Ulbricht
. Claimed to be liberator from fascism and argued ordinary workers and peasants were innocent of Nazism and war guilt. Property belonging to absent factory owners, Nazis, war criminal and
Junkers
were confiscated. Helped SED win popular support
Founding statement of SED claimed it was wrong to impose Soviet systems and called for
'the establishment of an anti-fascist, democratic regime, a parliamentary-democratic republic'
Communist party encouraged development of parties with which they could work with, but
SED
increasingly gained control or other Soviet zone parties. Set up two new parties:
National Democratic Party
, aimed at former Nazis
Democratic Peasants Party
, aimed at peasants
How did the Communists dominate the Eastern Zone?
Communist Party initially didn't have mass support and couldn't control all areas in life. Some East German non-communists appointed as Mayors. However, the party ensured they controlled education and appointment of personnel. This built a group of future reliable supporters in key areas a
Having gained popular support, the SED gradually eliminated other political groups and views
Soviet military command suppressed political party activity in Berlin.
CDU
and
LDPD
activities ended
Free expression severely limited and political dissent restrained
Military government determined appointment and dismissals
The Western Zone 1945-49
Problems in Western Zone
Three western zones:
British, American and French
. This was also repeated for Berlin, held in the Soviet zone. The
Allied Control Council (ACC)
was the military governing body which had unanimous decisions. When decisions were not, each military governor implemented their own decisions, creating different policies
Sever economic problems. Problems were:
Food and fuel shortages
Homelessness
Bereavement
Integration of soldier into civilian life
Refugees
Dealing with impact of genocide
Collapse of currency
Events in Western Zone
1946
USA drew up plans for German reconstruction, Russia and France did not agree. France didn't want a strong Germany and wanted larger reparations, annexed the Saar for short period
1946-47
Severe winter worsened conditions. Weak British economy, with bread rationing at home, meant Britain was unable to fund its zone
1947
Economic recovery essential to prevent crisis and revolution in Western Europe. Food had to be imported, costed
$700 million
per year. Problem worsened as some industry dismantled to pay reparations and there was an influx of refugees. British and American zones
merged
to form
Bizonia
1949
France, after initial resistance, joined British and American zones to form
Trizonia
. New constitution called
Basic Law
adopted in May 1949 to create a West German state
Growing Divisions Between East and West Zones
Disputes developed over Soviet reparations from Western Zones after
Trizonia
formed. Growing division increased after
Truman Doctrine
and
Marshall Aid
Black market grew in west over weak currency.
Deutschmark
established which was essential for aid to be brought in. Soviets refused and were antagonised, starting the
Berlin Blockade
, confirming the division of Germany.
Russia stated 'technical difficulties' (reason for the blockade) would continue until plans for a West German government were abandoned. Russians created their own currency, the East German Mark