2-WWII+USSR+HF

Carlos Scott __How may the Home Front’s awareness of the war’s objectives and nature be characterized? How did propaganda affect the mindset at home?__

The Home Front was very successful in order to be aware of the war’s objectives. The Soviets were so used to shortages and coping with economic crisis in the past which allowed Soviets to help out the troops in the war.It also brought similar restrictions on food.The government implemented rationing in 1941 and applied it to bread, flour, cereal, pasta, butter, margarine, vegetable oil, meat, fish, and sugar throughout the Soviet Union. Despite the harsh conditions, the war led to an increase in Soviet nationalism and unity. Soviet propaganda was also a major factor as they toned down extreme Communist rhetoric of the past as the people now rallied to the belief of protecting their country of Soviet Union against the German invaders. In addition, ethnic minorities thought to be collaborators were forced into exile. Religion, which was previously shunned, became a part of a Communist Party propaganda campaign in Soviet society in order to mobilize the religious elements. Soviet Union propaganda used women, more specifically mothers in order to be characterized as “Mother Russia.” The purpose of this was to promote the manifestation of the Soviet state's wartime renunciation of appeals to Marxism-Leninism and the increase in nationalism. “Mother Russia” functioned in Soviet propaganda both as national symbols and as the reworked and re imagined connection between home and nation, between love for the family and devotion to the state.

__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.__

The Soviet Union had twice or three times the number of both tanks and aircraft as the Germans had, but their aircraft was mostly obsolete. The Soviet tanks were about equal to those of the Germans. A greater disadvantage to Hitler’s chances of victory was that the German intelligence service underestimated the troops that Stalin could bring up from the depths of the Soviet Union. Although the Germans succeeded in shattering the original Soviet armies by their technique, they unfortunately found their path blocked by another army. Soviet Union had a large amount of troops to counterattack Hitler and his army. Germans also believed that within three to six months of their invasion, the Soviet regime would collapse from lack of domestic support but they were surely wrong. Economically, the bulk of Soviet industry and agriculture was either destroyed or captured by Germany. However, thousands of factories were moved beyond the Ural Mountains along with over a million workers. Tools and machines were moved, along with the blueprints and skilled engineers. Soviet Union as a whole become dedicated to the war effort. Conditions were severe however. In Leningrad, under German siege, over a million people died of starvation and disease. Many factory workers were teenagers, women and old people. Despite harsh conditions, the war led to a spike in Soviet nationalism and unity. Soviet propaganda toned down socialist and anti-religious rhetoric of the past as the people now rallied by a belief of protecting their motherland against hated German invaders. Ethnic minorities thought to be collaborators were moved into exile. And finally, religion, which was previously shunned, became an acceptable part of society.

__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.__

The Home Front in the Soviet Union had many positives and negatives. The Soviet Union had benefits and costs in creating the Home Front during World War II. Women and the young were huge contributions to the Home Front because the Soviet Union mobilized eleven to twelve million young people into the armed forces. In that eleven to twelve million people, there was roughly one million women who served. Women were just as important as men in the war effort. Women accepted male roles and succeeded profusely. Woman were an icon for the war efforts in the war. The Soviet Union created “Mother Russia” in order to enjoined women to become the "mothers of the new revolutionary order" and the "housewives of the nation.” This act emphasized the persistence of femininity in wartime, and the press represented women both as central to the war effort and as tied it to the private, emotional affection and love of family. Apart from women, Soviet Union was highly equipped with military equipment. The Soviet Union had twice or perhaps three times the number of both tanks and aircraft as the Germans had and the Soviet tanks were about equal to those of the Germans. However, the Soviet aircraft was obsolete. World War II delivered harsh conditions, but despite those conditions, the war led to an increase in Soviet nationalism and unity. In addition, Soviet propaganda toned down socialist and anti-religious rhetoric of the past as the people now rallied by a belief of protecting their motherland against hated German invaders. Citizens of the Soviet Union had to sacrifice food and water and cope with shortages in order to help with the war but the Soviets were so used to shortages and coping with economic crisis in the past. (World War I) This allowed Soviets to help out the troops in the war. The Soviet Union suffered economically because Soviet industries and agriculture was either destroyed or captured by Germany. However, thousands of factories were moved beyond the Ural Mountains along with well over a million workers. Tools and machines were moved, along with the blueprints and skilled engineers. Furthermore, Soviets were affected greatly as well. In Leningrad, under German siege, over a million people died of starvation and disease. Many factory workers were teenagers, women and old people. And in the war, the worst cost for the Soviet Union was that the Germans believed that within three to six months of their invasion, the Soviet regime would collapse from lack of domestic support.

__How can life for women & youth on the Home Front be characterized? Use case studies to illustrate.__

In the first year of war, the Soviet state mobilized eleven to twelve million young people into the armed forces. In that eleven to twelve million people, there was roughly one million women who served. Women quickly became the majority of the civilian workforce. There were connections between the Soviet insistence on both the vulnerability and self-reliance of women as well as the American and German portrayals of female war workers that accepted women in male jobs while maintaining a feminine identity. The press of the Soviet Union presented the endangered family as an inspiration to serve, the peaceful world of women and children emerged as a vital source of Soviet identity and as a source of Soviet society. The use of emotion associated with women gained new public status for the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union created “Mother Russia” in order to enjoined women to become the "mothers of the new revolutionary order" and the "housewives of the nation.” This act emphasized the persistence of femininity in wartime, the press represented women both as central to the war effort and as inextricably tied to the private, emotional world of the family.

"World War II, Homefront." //- Encyclopedia Article //. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. .

Kirschenbaum, Lisa A. //JSTOR //. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. .

"Invasion of the Soviet Union, 1941." //Invasion of the Soviet Union, 1941 //. City of Coppell, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. .