Living in Germany Around 1941 Essay

A) Explain why the encroachment of the USSR alterd the lives of those living in Germany around 1941-42. (12 Marks) The invasion of the USSR in the summer months was that of great confidence and assertiveness that they were on the front foot from the German nation. During these summer months, the Russians had been pushed linchpin by the Germans to what many thought of as the state of warmheartedness of the USSR Russia. Obviously when the Germans had advanced 20 miles short of the central of the most powerful enemy theyve faced yet, the German people had a right to be happy with their recent progress in the war. This changed their lives by braggart(a) them more confidence in that they mat they could defeat the Russians as they were pushing them back towards the capital.However, after the spend set in the attitude of the German people to the progress being made in the war changed. Before the war the Germans had demolished smaller countries such as France and Poland, meaning that the German people felt that losing was almost alien to them. But when the Russians kicked back against the Germans on the Eastern Front on December fifth 1941 outside of Moscow, the German retreat began. More and more soldiers fell, and the Germans were never able to recover the ground that they had lost. overdue to the soldiers diminishing, letters had to be written back to rural Germany to nonify those whom had relatives/friends in the war. When the letters started to come deep and fast, the German people now had a hint of doubt in their mind.I like to find of it as a seed that was planted- the plantation is from the initial invasion of the USSR, and when more and more letters and stories came back from the Russian lines the tree grew. Eventually, the doubt that was once a seed at the start of the invasion of Russia, had now to the full flourished into a vast tree of doubt, sho inveigleg us how the German lives had changed through doubt and disturbance that gradually built up through the invasion of Russia, from going and destroying France and Poland to being pushed back from the Russians. Some historians could set up that the battle of Stalingrad had the biggest effect of the German people around 1941. I would say that it was the turning point in the entire war, as it caused the realization from the German people that they were not going to win the war. This contrasts to before the war, where, as said, the German people didnt have many qualms about minor losses because they believed they knew they were going to win in the first place.However during Stalingrad this changed where a quarter million Germans were surrounded, field marshaled, and eventually forced to surrender- this continue on to 1942 where the German soldiers were freezing, and running low on ammunition. The news of this was tried to be kept chthonian wraps by some of the hierarchy in the German army, as it would prove low for morale. However the contrive spread through the press and a flurry of letters of death being sent home. This fully confirmed to the German citizens that the Germans were now on the back foot changing their lives, as they now had to be preparing for a loss, instead of a victory. Although it is not directly coherent to the invasion of the USSR, it could be said that the bombings that part came about from the invasion of Russia changed the lifestyles and actions of the German people.Before the bombings, William L Shirer reported The atmosphere was so peaceful and calm. The washup beach at Wannsee jammed with thousands. Hundreds of sailboats and canoes on the Havel. Families picnicking under the trees this tells us that the German people were once not bothered as much by the war, and it continued to be business as usual for the German citizens. I can contrast this when the bombings continued to develop on 16th and 17th of January 1943.The German people were now saying that the English are clearly superior in the air, and that the German Luft waffe is impotent at the moment and has no possibility of retaliating appropriately I think that this is a perfect example of the change from the Germans being confident and carrying on with their normal day to then beginning to doubt the German favourable position in the war, showing us how much their attitude has changed from pride to dread in a subject field of three years. Even though the bombings werent as connected to the Germans invading Russia, it could be said that had not the Germans invaded Russia then the bombings may not have been present/ been less relentless.