Welcome to "War and its legacy 1939–1955"
In this final chapter of your study on Germany, we are going to look at how the Second World War changed everything for the German people. We will follow the journey from the early victories of the Nazi regime to the total collapse of the country, and finally, how Germany was reborn as two separate nations. Understanding this period is vital because it explains why Europe looked the way it did for the rest of the 20th century.
Don't worry if this seems like a lot of information! We’ve broken it down into bite-sized pieces to help you master the key facts and ideas.
1. The "Good Times" and the Turn of the Tide (1939–1942)
At first, many Germans were actually quite happy with how the war was going. Between 1939 and 1941, Germany used a tactic called Blitzkrieg (lightning war) to quickly conquer countries like Poland, France, and Norway.
Initial Reactions and Gains
The initial reaction to the outbreak of war in 1939 was a mixture of fear and duty, rather than the wild enthusiasm seen in 1914. However, as the German army won victory after victory, support for the war effort grew. Germany began colonisation in the East, taking land and resources from conquered territories to keep the German people well-fed and comfortable. At this stage, many Germans felt the war was worth it.
The Impact on Daily Life
Initially, life in Germany didn't change much. Hitler was determined to keep the "Home Front" happy to avoid the strikes and unrest that happened during WWI.
Example: Luxury goods were still available, and rationing was very light at the start.
Key Takeaway:
Between 1939 and 1941, the war felt like a success. Because the army was winning and food was coming in from conquered lands, most Germans continued to support the Nazi regime.
2. Total War and the Growing Burden (1942–1945)
Things started to go wrong in 1942, especially after the German defeat at the Battle of Stalingrad. The war was no longer "lightning-fast"; it was becoming a long, painful struggle.
What is "Total War"?
In 1943, Joseph Goebbels (the Propaganda Minister) announced Total War. This meant that every single part of German society had to focus on the war effort.
1. Women were told to work in factories for the first time (though many resisted).
2. Non-essential businesses (like cake shops or luxury tailors) were closed.
3. Rationing became much stricter—people were soon eating very little.
The Impact of Bombing
From 1942 onwards, the Allies began heavy bombing of German cities. This was a massive shock to the German people. Cities like Dresden and Hamburg were almost completely destroyed. This led to thousands of deaths and made millions of people homeless.
Quick Review: The Turning Tide
- Winning: 1939-1941 (High support, plenty of food).
- Losing: 1942-1945 (Total War, Allied bombing, low morale).
Key Takeaway:
After 1942, the growing impact of war made life miserable. Bombing and strict rationing meant that the "National Community" Hitler promised was falling apart.
3. Persecution and the Holocaust
During the war, the Nazis' racial persecution escalated from discrimination to mass murder. This is the darkest part of German history.
Escalation to the Holocaust
In the early years of the war, Jews were forced into Ghettoes (cramped, walled-off parts of cities). However, as Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, special squads called Einsatzgruppen began mass shootings. In 1942, at the Wannsee Conference, Nazi leaders decided on the "Final Solution"—the systematic murder of all Jews in Europe using extermination camps (like Auschwitz). This resulted in the Holocaust, the murder of six million Jews and millions of others, including Roma and Sinti people.
Did you know? The Nazis also targeted other groups during the war, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and homosexuals, as they didn't fit the Nazi "ideal" of a German citizen.
Key Takeaway:
The war provided a "cover" for the Nazis to move from persecuting people to the state-sponsored mass murder known as the Holocaust.
4. Opposition and Resistance
Even though the Nazi terror state (SS and Gestapo) was very scary, some Germans did try to oppose Hitler during the war.
Key Groups of Opposition:
1. The White Rose Movement: Students at Munich University who gave out leaflets telling Germans the war was lost and Hitler was a murderer. They were caught and executed.
2. The Edelweiss Pirates: Working-class teenagers who refused to join the Hitler Youth and occasionally attacked Nazi officials.
3. The July Plot (1944): A group of army officers, led by Claus von Stauffenberg, tried to kill Hitler with a bomb. It failed, and the plotters were brutally executed.
Analogy: Opposing Hitler was like trying to stop a runaway train with your bare hands—it was extremely dangerous and very few people felt they could do it successfully.
Key Takeaway:
While opposition during the war existed, it was never enough to topple Hitler. The fear of the Gestapo and a sense of "patriotic duty" kept most people in line until the very end.
5. Defeat, Occupation, and De-Nazification (1945)
In May 1945, Germany was defeated. Hitler committed suicide, and the country was in ruins. This was "Year Zero."
The Allied Occupation
The Allies (USA, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union) divided Germany and the city of Berlin into four occupation zones. They wanted to make sure Germany could never start a war again.
De-Nazification
The Allied policy of de-Nazification aimed to "cleanse" Germany of Nazi influence. They did this through:
- The Nuremberg Trials: High-ranking Nazi leaders were tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Questionnaires: Millions of Germans had to fill out forms about their past to see if they were "true" Nazis.
- Education: Textbooks were rewritten and Nazi films/symbols were banned.
Key Takeaway:
After the war, the Allies didn't just rule Germany; they tried to change the minds of the German people through de-Nazification.
6. The Legacy: Two Germanys (1945–1955)
By 1949, the friendship between the Western Allies (USA/UK/France) and the Soviet Union had broken down. This led to the differing experiences of people in the East and West.
West Germany (FRG)
Supported by the USA, West Germany became a democracy. Through the Marshall Plan (American money), the economy recovered incredibly quickly. People lived in a capitalist society with more freedom and increasing wealth.
East Germany (GDR)
Controlled by the Soviet Union, East Germany became a Communist state. Life was much harder. The Soviets took machinery and resources as "reparations" (payment for war damage), and the secret police (Stasi) watched everyone.
Memory Aid: WEST is BEST (for wealth)
If you struggle to remember which side was which, just remember that the West had the Wealth and the Marshall Plan.
Key Takeaway:
The legacy of the war was a divided nation. From 1945 to 1955, Germans lived in two completely different worlds: the democratic, wealthy West and the Communist, controlled East.
Well done! You've reached the end of the chapter. Just remember: the story of Germany from 1939 to 1955 is a story of a country that went from trying to rule the world to being completely broken and split in two.