HISTORY IGCSE REVISION CARDS - 012. THE SECOND WORLD WAR BROUGHT LITTLE CHANGE TO THE NAZI ECONOMY.

1. ‘THE SECOND WORLD WAR BROUGHT LITTLE
CHANGE TO THE NAZI ECONOMY.’ HOW FAR DO
YOU AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT?
YES, THE WW2 BROUGHT LITTLE CHANGE TO THE
NAZI ECONOMY
‘To start with there was little change in the German economy.
Germany had been preparing for war since the mid-1930s and
policies such as autarky, conscription and massive
rearmament had been in place for several years.
The early part of the war went well for Germany and it took the
resources it needed from the countries which it conquered. This
meant that although civilians faced some rationing, there was
still a supply of consumer goods.
Germany forced workers from conquered lands to work in
German factories and on farms, so there was not a labour
shortage in Germany because of the war.’
NO, THE WW2 BROUGHT MAJOR CHANGE TO THE
NAZI ECONOMY
As the war progressed, and started to go badly in the East, the
economy began to change. Civilians faced greater hardships
from 1941 and women were conscripted into the labour force
in increasing numbers.
In 1942, Albert Speer was put in charge and he focused all his
efforts on the armament industries. By 1944 tank and aircraft
production had trebled. Allied raids began to damage German
factories and raw materials were in short supply.’