What was the Volkssturm?
- The people’s army which consisted of German citizens and was created in 1945 when the German front was threatened by the arrival of the soviets and the allies
- It was the final sign of the volksgemeinschaft
What was the effect of allied firebombing of Germany?
It damaged morale in Germany as property and lives were taken and ruined. Caused severe housing problems and killed many citizens
What was ‘Total War’?
The Nazi incentive to put all expenditure into the war effort
All people were to work towards the war effort and almost all firms not linked to the war was closed
How was the everyday life of the German people affected in World War 2?
- Severe rationing from 1944 onwards
- Firebombing destroyed housing and property
- All businesses not related to the war were shut down
How did different groups in Germany have contrasting experiences during WWII?
- Soldiers had the best rations, followed by workers, and then ordinary civilians
- Wealthy members of society and Junkers did not suffer from rationing to a great extent
Did the church oppose the Nazis or the War?
- Only individual’s opposition eg. Cardinal Galen on euthanasia programme and in WW11 denounced Gestapo lawlessness
- No unified opposition
What was the White Rose Group?
Were an intellectual, non-violent Nazi resistance group led by Hans and Sophie Scholl who took part in opposition to the Nazi’s through leaflets and graffiti.
-They were eventually arrested by the Gestapo and beheaded
What effect did the White Rose Group have?
- They gathered large amounts of publicity and tried to reveal, to the allies, the atrocities the Nazis were committing
- Gained no physical support
What was the July 20th Bomb Plot / Operation Valkyrie?
- Claus Von Stauffenburg tried to assassinate Hitler and take over Germany
- The plot failed as Hitler survived the bomb and the members of the conspiracy were arrested and executed
Why did Germans fight until the end?
- Fear of Soviet control of Germany
- Nazi indoctrination and belief in the war effort
- Hope for the super weapon
Why did Germany lose the war?
- Germany had an inferior armed forces and economy to the Soviets and the Allies
- Failure of German army in Stalingrad and Russia
- Hitler’s poor decision making
What was the role of Hitler in Germany’s defeat?
- He chose to invade Russia
- Ideology got in the way of victory as Germany spent a lot of time and money on ideological goals rather than on how to win the war
