Transcript Invasion of the Soviet Union 1941

Invasion of the Soviet
Union 1941-42 and total
war
As you watch the WW2 in colour documentary
‘World War Two: Germany invades Russia
1941’, make notes on the following:
1. What was Operation Barbarossa?
2. Why was it launched?
3. What impact did it have on Germany?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIqINNdqvCU
(51mins)
Invasion of the
Soviet Union 1941-42
and total war
Mood in summer 1941
‘In domestic politics the mood and
bearing of the population is still
depressed, worried, full of
mistrust, annoyance and
frustration, although the food
supply situation has improved
somewhat. There is no lack of
loud expressions of indignation
and bitter complaints from the
population. These continue to be
about illicit trading, hoarding,
‘good contacts’, the behaviour of
the better-off and of Party
comrades.’
From an SD report from Stuttgart,
July 1941
‘The events in the east are causing
people a great deal of concern.
While nobody doubts that the
Soviets will be defeated, they had
not reckoned with such a tough
opponent. People are anticipating
heavy losses, including on our
side. And expecting the exhaustion
of our reserves of human material,
which for months will make it
impossible to achieve our real war
aim of finishing off England.
There is concern about a new
wartime winter involving very hard
work with minimum food.’
From an SD report from Liepzig,
August 1941
What can we learn from these 2 sources about the mood of the German people in
the summer of 1941? Tone, language, purpose?
Operation Barbarossa
• Germany invaded Russia in June 1941 but failed to achieve a
quick and decisive victory. The German people began to realise
that the war could drag on for some time and the civilian
population would be subjected to increasing strain
• Success in November 1941 (Russian forces pushed back to
within 20miles of Moscow) induced a temporary mood of
optimism in the civilian population, however by the winter of
1941-2 the full extent of Germany’s problems became apparent
– a series of military setbacks had led to a change in the public
mood, rising casualty figures and letters home from soldiers on
the eastern front awakened civilians to the reality of the war they
were engaged in
Changing public
opinion
• An SD report from January 1942 stated that ‘Faith in the
Fuhrer is unshakeable’ – nevertheless, references to scepticism
about propaganda in SD reports became a regular theme for
the rest of the war – an early sign that confidence in the regime
was beginning to erode
• Summer of 1942: victories for Axis forces in North Africa and
the Soviet Union
• Autumn 1942: more bad news – defeat at El Alamein, Sixth
Army trapped and forced to surrender to Soviet forces in
January 1943 at Stalingrad
• However, even before this shattering defeat, there was a
growing mood of apprehension, demoralisation and scepticism
among the German population
Mood in 1942/43
‘The announcement of the collection of
winter things has produced a great
response among all sections of the
population and is still at the forefront
of people’s concern. It is unanimously
reported that the announcement
aroused great astonishment in view of
the fact that recently the good and
adequate provision of winter clothing
for our soldiers has been repeatedly
reported in the press and various
newsreels. The announcement was
clear confirmation of the fact that
accounts of men on leave from the
front about the lack of equipment
capable of coping with the Russian
cold were accurate and were not, as
one would have assumed from the
propaganda to the contrary, long out
of date.’
From an SD report, January 1942
‘At the moment the whole nation is deeply
shaken by the impression that the fate of
the Sixth Army is already sealed and by
concern about the further development of
the war situation. Among the many
questions arising from the changed
situation, people ask above all why
Stalingrad was not evacuated or relieved,
and how it was possible, only a few months
ago, to describe the military situation as
secure and as not unfavourable. In
particular, people discuss, with a marked
undertone of criticism, the underestimate
of the Russian combat forces through
which now for the second time a severe
crisis has been triggered. Despite their
readiness to subject themselves to the
introduction of total war, many compatriots
say that this step was taken very late.
Fearing that an unfavourable end to the war
is now possible, many compatriots are
seriously thinking about the consequences
of defeat.’
From an SD report, 28th January 1943
What can we learn from these 2 sources about (a) the effectiveness of Nazi
propaganda and (b) attitudes towards the regime at this crucial stage in the war?
Defeat at Stalingrad
• This represented a major turning point in the war, both
militarily and on the home front
• War-weariness, which had been growing since the end of 1941,
now became more evident
• Criticism of propaganda increased and the Hitler Myth began
to lose some of its potency
• On the other hand, there was undoubtedly a deep well of
patriotism and willingness to endure hardship and sacrifice on
which the regime could draw as it, belatedly, attempted to gear
the nation up for total war
Workers, women and
youth
• Using p.123-126 of the blue AQA textbook, make
notes on the impact on the following groups
following the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941:
1. Workers
2. Women (look at source 7 – which aspects of this
report would have been particularly worrying for the
Nazi regime?)
How far is it true to say that the German
people were increasingly reluctant to support
3. Youth
the Nazi regime between September 1939 and
early 1943?
The start of total war
• Invasion of the Soviet Union in
1941 put the German nation
under severe strain
• Dec 1941 they realised they were
in for a long struggle and by
January 1943 it had become a
struggle for survival
• Goebbels speech in Feb 1943 calls
for the nation to engage in total
war
• However, regime had been slow to
adjust to demands of total war and
even the measures implemented in
Jan 1943 fell far short of a strategy
that would achieve the total
mobilisation of Germany’s
population
‘The measures which we have
already taken and which we
must take will be animated by
the spirit of National Socialist
justice. We respect neither
station in life nor occupation.
Poor and rich, exalted and
lowly must be made use of in
equal measure. Every man will,
in this serious phase of our fatal
struggle, be induced to fulfil his
duty to the nation; if necessary,
he will be forced to do so.’
Goebbels’ total war speech, Feb
1943
total war
Although the total war measures were generally welcomed,
and there was a positive response to Goebbels’ speech, the
military situation continued to deteriorate and there was a
growing distrust of Nazi propaganda. With Hitler
appearing less frequently in public and making only rare
radio broadcasts, the Hitler myth also began to decline
propaganda
• How do we find out about wartime public opinion in a
totalitarian state?
• Nazi state was extremely concerned about public attitudes –
propaganda
• On the one hand might provide us with some useful information
– SD reports –but as Goebbels remarked these were notoriously
unreliable
• SOPADE reports – useful source
• Difficult to make generalisations – however, common theme
that:
• ‘Nazi regime was unable to create a uniform public opinion.’
• ‘Was constant criticism and complaint which became more
pronounced as war continued.’ (Martin Kitchen)
propaganda
• How did German propaganda change from
1939 onwards?
• What methods/tactics did German propaganda
take during the war? What were the most
popular types?
• How did public opinion change during the war?
Think about reactions to defeats/victories
• What do the SD reports suggest public opinion
was like during the different stages of the war?
1941
• Growing dissatisfaction
throughout the Reich over
the war – encouraged Hitler
to cease attacking the
churches
• This dissatisfaction came
from soldiers letters or those
returning from the front and
the impact on public
attitudes was far greater than
propaganda churned out by
the regime. Why?
Propaganda/ideology
vs. reality
• Resistance offered by the
Red Army contradicted the
idea that it was a Bolshevik
‘rotten structure’
• SD reports highlighted that
the party was losing support
during the war – with
attendance at meetings,
activities down
• However, Hitler was able to
stay immune from direct
criticism – Hitler Myth
(Kershaw)
1942
• Hitler’s speech on
Heroes’ Memorial Day –
in which he claimed the
‘Bolshevik hordes’ will be
destroyed over the course
of the summer was well
received
• Also highlighting that he
had the potential to
galvanise the country
• Thus making Stalingrad a
focus for public opinion
homework
1. Notes on Bombing Raids (see PPT and work on
moodle)
2. Check your notes against the checklist – anything
missing let me know first lesson back
3. Read over past war questions (use the note from the
revision guide to help you think about how you’d
answer the questions )
Due: next lesson (16/04)