The Impact of Total War on the German people, 1943–1945 (OCR GCSE History B (Schools History Project)): Revision Note

Summary

Nazi successes on the battlefield at the start of the war became known as blitzkrieg - or lightning war. The failure of the Nazis to defeat the Soviet Union and Britain, together with America's entry into the war, meant the Nazis needed a new tactic. This was known as Total War. This required the German people to dedicate all their activity to winning the war. It required them to work harder, for longer and to go without even more things.

This tactic was not enough, despite the propaganda that assured the German people that Total War would lead to Total Victory, British, American and Soviet soldiers were soon fighting on German soil.

All males between 16 and 60 were forced to join the army to defend Germany and the Volkssturm was formed, but they were unable to stop the Allied forces' advances. The propaganda inflicted on the German people had been so effective that many people still expected Hitler to deliver victory even when it was clearly impossible. The result was appalling suffering, death and destruction for the German people.

Why did Nazi Germany move towards 'Total War' in 1943?

• The first few years of World War 2 had seen a series of victories for Hitler's armies

  • This began to change in 1943

  • The German army suffered serious defeats in Stalingrad against the Soviet Union and in North Africa against the British

• The Nazi response to these defeats was to shift German society and the economy to 'Total War'

  • This would require even greater sacrifices by the German people to achieve victory

• The changes included:

  • The immediate end of anything that did not contribute to the war, such as magazines, professional sports, and leisure activities

  • The production of all civilian clothes and furniture ended

  • Millions of women were told it was their duty to work in the factories

  • Food rations were reduced even further

Propaganda policies and 'Total War'

• The Nazi Party realised that increased sacrifices required by Total War, combined with the aerial bombing of Germany's cities, could create opposition to their rule

  • They launched an enormous propaganda campaign

    • This aimed to persuade people that the sacrifices and suffering were worth it

  • Goebbels' speech was transmitted on the radio and shown in cinemas

  • Towns and cities were plastered with posters promoting the benefits of Total War

The creation of Volkssturm

• By October 1944, the military situation had become disastrous for the Nazis

  • Soviet Armies were approaching Germany from the east

  • The American and British Armies were approaching Germany from the west

  • Millions of German soldiers had already been killed

  • There were not enough soldiers to defend Germany from invasion

• As a result, Hitler created the Volkssturm or People's Storm

  • All males aged between 16 and 60 who were not already in the Army were forced to join

  • They were given four days of training and any weapons, often very old, that were available

  • They had no uniforms but wore an armband to identify them as members of the Volkssturm

How did the policy of 'Total War' result in the Nazi surrender of Germany in 1945?

• By the early months of 1945, British, American and Soviet troops had all crossed Germany's borders

• The defeat of Nazi Germany was inevitable

  • Britain and America launched bombing raids that included a thousand planes and many of Germany's cities were reduced to rubble

  • The Germans fought on despite the enormous losses and impossibility of victory

• Many people had been convinced by Total War propaganda that told them suffering and sacrifice were necessary

  • They had faith that Hitler would deliver victory in the end

• Other people were still too scared to go against the Nazis

  • The result was that the German people suffered appalling suffering and losses that could have been avoided if Hitler had surrendered