GERMANY 1918-45

THE WAR YEARS

1939-45

THE PERIODS

It helps to divide the war into phases as follows:

1. 1939-41: success

2. 1941-43: problems

3. 1943-44: total war

4. 1944-45: defeat

1939-41

Successful invasions by blitzkrieg (lightning war).

The impact on civilians:• Food, clothes, soap & hot

water were rationed.• Tobacco was scarce.• Imports of goods from

conquered countries were available on the black market.

• There was little hardship & some Germans 40% of Germans were even better off!

Strategic bombing in Poland before the invasion.

1941-43

In June 1941 Hitler attacked the USSR.

• A propaganda war attempted to raise civilians’ morale.

• Many Germans lost friends or relations on the eastern front.

• Wounded soldiers became a common sight.

The Soviet winter of 1941stopped the advance.

Temperatures reached –40C!

1943-44

Total war was begun.• Non-essential businesses

were closed.• Clothing and furniture was

no longer made & people were encouraged to swap or make do.

• Women were brought back to work since men were in short supply.

• Air raids were frequent & deadly but medical help was scarce. In Dresden, 135,000 people were killed & 80% of

the city destroyed in 1 night’s air raid.

1944-45

Allies advance from west, east & south.

• Armament production was increased.

• Theatres were closed.• Volkssturm was formed• The upper age limit for

working women was raised to 50.

• The worst air raids occurred• Law & order broke down &

the black market grew.

MAIN THEMES

Try to remember the following main areas:

• Hardships due to the war.

• The changing role of women.

• The impact of war on opposition.

• Civilians become casualties of war.