Germany at War 1939–1945

The war was the logical culmination of Nazi ideology — Lebensraum, racial empire, and the destruction of 'Judeo-Bolshevism.' Was Germany's defeat inevitable, or could the war have ended differently?

Key Definition: Blitzkrieg ('lightning war') used rapid, concentrated attacks with tanks, motorised infantry, and close air support. Spectacular in 1939–41 but inadequate for prolonged attrition.

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The Course of the War

Phase 1: Blitzkrieg (1939–1941)

Campaign	Date	Result
Poland	Sept 1939	Conquered in five weeks
France	May–June 1940	Defeated in six weeks
Battle of Britain	July–Oct 1940	Germany's first failure
Balkans/North Africa	1940–41	Supporting Italian allies

Phase 2: Barbarossa and Turning Point (1941–1943)

The invasion of the USSR (22 June 1941) was the most significant decision. Initial successes were spectacular, but the campaign failed due to vast distances, Soviet resilience, the Russian winter, Hitler's interference, and underestimation of Soviet capacity.

Stalingrad (Aug 1942 – Feb 1943) was the decisive turning point: the 6th Army surrendered — over 800,000 Axis casualties.

Exam Tip: Some argue the turning point came earlier (Moscow, Dec 1941) or later (Kursk, July 1943). Evaluate different candidates.

Phase 3: Defeat (1943–1945)

Event	Date	Significance
Kursk	July 1943	Largest tank battle; Germany retreated
Allied bombing	1942–45	Cities destroyed; 3.6m homes; 7.5m homeless
D-Day	6 June 1944	Two-front war
July Plot	20 July 1944	Failed assassination of Hitler
Fall of Berlin	April 1945	Hitler's suicide, 30 April
Surrender	8 May 1945	VE Day

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The Total War Economy

Speer's 'Armaments Miracle'

Product	1942	1944	Increase
Aircraft	15,400	39,800	+159%
Tanks	9,300	27,300	+194%
Ammunition	Index 100	Index 306	+206%

Adam Tooze argues this has been overstated — it reflected late mobilisation. Germany's fundamental problem was resource insufficiency: it could not match the USA, USSR, and British Empire combined.

Forced Labour

By 1944, ~7.7 million foreign workers and POWs — ~25% of the workforce. Conditions ranged from harsh to murderous.