1. The military

2. The economy

3. Genocide1. Responsibility for the holocaust

4. The Civilian struggle

5. Resistance and repression

6. Defeat

Externally no regard for international opinion (39)

Internally the regime was very aware of the importance of maintaining public opinion.

Declaration of war not met with 1914 response. Rather apprehension and resignation However early victory eased initial fears. The ‘return from France’ episode solidified

Hitler's mystique in many ordinary German.

Rationing from outset of war, however it was always sufficient.

By 1942 consumer goods were in short supply In the final year the situation declined sharply

Food rationing turned to shortage and absence

Clothes rationing ended (with clothes production)

Shoes were considered luxury items

Magazines and sweets were non existent

Under Speer working conditions worsened Working hours increased

Foreign workers were brought in

Non essential businesses were closed Nazi ideology created a classic contradiction when it came

to the position of women. Hitler opposed any move away from traditionalism

German expansion necessitated female labour

Speer suggested female conscription

A necessary compromise came in the last two years of the war when women worked in factories and fields (and at home).

However the regime did not renounce its official anti-feminist stance on women.

During 1942-43 propaganda and censorship could not disguise the reality of Allied bombing.

Berlin was targeted day and night

Fire bombing of Dresden (12 weeks before German surrender) and Hamburg caused significant destruction of the civilian population.

Did the final two years cause dissent or unity? The Youth Increasingly polarised between fanatics and dissenters Youth resistance increased, but so did Gestapo oppression – 12

Edelwiess Pirates hanged in Nov 44. The Church Church attendance increased towards the end of the war as did

the Church's anti-regime rhetoric. Bishop Galen overturned the euthanasia policy in 41

Conclusions From 43 civilians were resigned to defeat By 44 there was a ‘loss of confidence’ in the regime After Stalingrad popular dissent was common