2-WWII+Germany+HF

Germany Home front World War 2: (Paul Won-Brock 2) How may the Home Front’s awareness of the war’s objective and nature by characterized? How did propaganda affect the mindset at home?
 * During the World War 2, in Germany’s home front, the use of propaganda was significant. Dr Joseph Goebbels was in charge of propaganda. Goebbels official title was Minister of Propaganda and National Enlightenment. As Minister of Enlightenment, Goebbels had two main tasks: to ensure nobody in Germany could read or see anything that was hostile or damaging to the Nazi Party and to ensure that the views of the Nazis were put across in the most persuasive manner possible. To ensure that everybody thought in the correct manner, Goebbels set up the Reich Chamber of Commerce in 1933, which dealt with literature, art, music, radio, film, newspapers etc. Nazi Germany also introduced a system of censorship. You could only read, see and hear what the Nazis wanted you to read, see and hear. In this way, if you believed what you were told, the Nazi leaders logically assumed that opposition to their rule would be very small and practiced only by those on the very extreme who would be easy to catch. For example, the Nazis controlled film production. Films released to the public concentrated on certain issues: the Jews; the greatness of Hitler; the way of life for a true Nazi especially children, and as World War 2 approached, how badly Germans who lived in countries in Eastern Europe were treated. Also to ensure that everybody could hear Hitler speak, Goebbels organized the sale of cheap radios. These were called the "People's Receiver" and they cost only 76 marks. Goebbels believed that if Hitler was to give speeches, the people should be able to hear him. Hitler put up loud speakers in streets so that people could not avoid any speeches. Cafes and other such properties were ordered to play in public speeches by Hitler.

What were the direct contributions of the Home Front to the war effort? This needs to go beyond a cursory statement of, “They supplied soldiers, grew food, made armaments, etc.” You should consider support not only in patriotic or industrial terms, but also political, social, economic, cultural/intellectual, moral/religious, emotional, etc. terms.
 * There many direct contributions of the Home Front for the Germany military. First, due to the German Propaganda, and due to the failure of World War 1, Hitler and his army received direct support from many of the citizens, which ultimately boosted the morality of the German Army. Also, much of the spending and the money were spent for improving the German military. Just like how it was during World War 1, there were many factories opened up just to supply the German military with weapons and such. Not only that, but the youth and the women played a big role in contributing to the war effort. When Hitler imposed a rapid industrialization plan in Germany to strengthen the economy and, during the war, to make weapons and ammunition, they needed much assistance in doing so.. Part of this economic success was also due to the Hitler Youth. In these youth groups, the children were taught to be extremely hardworking and obedient, and to always do what is best for the German nation. When the industrialization plan was underway, it was the German’s unsurpassed work ethic and compliance that built the factories as quickly as possible and that worked countless hours to increase production. Without the complete dedication of the Germans that was eventually established through the Hitler Youth, Nazi Germany would not have been as successful as it was.

What were the costs & benefits of the war to the Home Front, to include but not limited to goods/services/resources? Use a case study to illustrate.
 * For Germany, the impact of World War 2 on the home front was rather detrimental then beneficial. Prior to World War 2, Germany was already suffering from the effects of its defeat in WWI during the 1920s and early 30s. They were suffering from economical collapse and much more. Germany was utterly devastated during the World War 2. Allied fighter jets bombed cities, killing many, including civilians. Many of the German men were forced to fight to defend nation, which ultimately led to high loss of life. The nation was financially destroyed, due to the Nazi's desperate spending to feed the war machine, even down to the final days. (Germans spent much of their spending supplying supplies for military such as weapons and such). Its captors partitioned the nation, tightly controlling all aspects of life in Germany, while also implementing punitive sanctions. The nation was also disgraced due to the atrocities carried out, especially the Holocaust. Germany and its citizens basically had to start over from less than nothing. Germany would not be unified again until 1990.

How can life for women & youth on the Home Front be characterized? Use a case study to illustrate.
 * Women:
 * The life and the role of women were rather simple on the Home Front in Germany. It was to be good mothers, bringing up children at home while their husbands worked. Under Hitler’s Regime, Hitler did not see a reason why a woman should work. From the earliest years, girls were taught in schools that in order to be a “good” German woman, they must follow a task: They should marry at a young age to a proper German and must keep a decent home for her working husband and also to have children. Prior to World War 2, when Hitler rose to power in 1933, the Encouragement of Marriage Law was passed, which stated that newly married couples would be eligible to receive a government loan of 1000 marks, which was equivalent to an estimate of 9 month average income. An estimate of 800,000 newly married couples took up this offer; however, the loan was not to be simply paid back. When the couple gave birth to one child, it meant that 25% of the loan did not have to be paid back, and when given birth to two children, it meant that 50% of the loan did not have to be paid back, and so on. The purpose of the law was to encourage couples to have as many children as they could, in a sense that as Germany grew, they would require more soldiers and mothers, hence a booming population was needed with young boys being groomed into soldiers and young girls being groomed into being young mothers. After the growth of the population in Germany, during the Weimar Germany period, prior to Hitler’s regime, there were an estimate number of 100,000 female teacher, 3000 female doctors, and 13,000 female musicians. Yet, with Hitler rising up to power, many females lost their job, and by the start of World War 2, there were very few German women who worked full time. However, due to the skill shortage in Germany, a law was passed, stating that women had to do a “Duty Year”, which meant that women could work ‘patriotically’ in a factory etc. in the means of boosting up Nazi Germany’s economy. Also, housewives and mothers’ lives were controlled. Women were not allowed to wear make-up or trousers. They could not perm or dye their hair. They were enforced to wear only flat shoes. Women were encouraged to have a well-built figure as slim women, and they were discouraged from smoking, because it was considered a “Non-German” thing to do so. As for the unmarried woman, they were encouraged to have children. The Nazi’s established a building called Lebensborn, where unmarried women could go and get pregnant by a ‘racially pure’ SS man. The government openly publicized the building and enforced it.
 * Youth
 * The youth of Germany were the chosen ones. They were the future of the German Reich. Their commitment was to be complete. They would be formed into a German in his totality. They would be molded in a physical and intellectual direction as well as cultivated spiritually. The German people would become great in the eyes of the whole world through their achievements. Germans of the future, as they grow up as little boys and //Hitler Jugend// (Hitler Youth) or as young girls and members of the German Girls' League would be educated to recognize German cultural values. They would learn their duties to uphold those values and make Germany great. They would represent the new German order. These were the ideals of the Hitler Youth. The political education of the German youth was to be conceived as a unity of thinking, feeling, willing, and action, which would determine the face of the Third Reich. Hitler's prediction of his //Hitler Jugend// growing up and making the world tremble would come to be true. The German tradition of youths belonging to clubs or groups already existed in Germany before the Nazi Party and the Hitler Youth were founded. During his rule, Hitler imposed a rapid industrialization plan in Germany to strengthen the economy and, during the war, to make weapons and ammunition. This industrialization did in fact improve Germany’s previously damaged economy. Part of this economic success was also due to the Hitler Youth. In these youth groups, the children were taught to be extremely hardworking and obedient, and to always do what is best for the German nation. When the industrialization plan was underway, it was the German’s unsurpassed work ethic and compliance that built the factories as quickly as possible and that worked countless hours to increase production. Without the complete dedication of the Germans that was eventually established through the Hitler Youth, Nazi Germany would not have been as successful as it was. These people made it possible for Hitler to impose his views on the masses and for his ideas to be turned into reality. Hitler attempted to eliminate any opposition in his people by making his ideologies part of everyday life, even for children, and for many years he was very successful.

"World War II Europe: The Road to War." //About.com Military History//. History.com, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. .

"Militarism and War, World War II." //World War II//. Countriesconquest, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. .

Hilde Ravlo, Nils Petter Gleditsch and Han Dorussen //The Journal of Conflict Resolution//, Vol. 47, No. 4 (Aug., 2003), pp. 520-548 http://www.jstor.org/stable/3176207
 * Colonial War and the Democratic Peace**