3. GERMANY 1918-45 THE WAR YEARS 1939-45

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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!

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.