Total War

What was 'total war'?

'Total war' meant that all Germany's people and resources were needed to fight their way to victory.

What was 'total war' like for Germany in the Second World War?

Germany faced a growing shortage of labour. To tackle this problem, 5 measures were introduced:

• ❖ Workers were recruited from occupied countries. By 1944 there were over 7 million prisoners of war working in German industry.
• ❖ From January 1943 onwards, men (16-65) and women (17-45) had to register for work.
• ❖ Small businesses that were classed as non-essential were closed and their employees deployed for war work.
• ❖ Holidays were banned from August 1944 and the working week increased.
• ❖ Women were allowed to help with the war effort from 1943.

What other measures did Germany use for 'total war'?

There were 3 key other measures:

• ❖ Places of entertainment were closed, except for cinemas which continued to show propaganda films.
• ❖ There was a reduction in postal services.
• ❖ The formation of a Home Guard, or Volkssturm, in 1944 of boys from the Hitler Youth and men unfit for the regular army.

Who was in charge of the economy during 'total war' in Germany?

There were 2 key figures in charge of the economy during the Second World War:

• ❖ Göring was in charge of the Four Year Plan from 1936 to 1940, which aimed to make Germany self-sufficient for 'total war'. However, by 1941 the army faced shortages in armaments.
• ❖ In 1942, Albert Speer was appointed minister for armaments and war production to ensure the army had sufficient supplies.

What did Albert Speer do for 'total war'?

Albert Speer, as minister for armaments, made 3 key changes:

• ❖ He increased the department's control of the war economy and used slave labour to increase production.
• ❖ He stopped the production of consumer goods.
• ❖ All factories focused on producing goods for the war effort. The production of munitions increased rapidly under Speer.