Dec 13, 2015
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.