Explain why the Nazi Regime proclaimed “Total War” in February 1943. (12 Marks) One factor behind why the Nazi regime went ahead with total war was because it offered a chance to revive public morale following the defeat at Stalingrad. The public morale down at this point however going to war with allies seemed the perfect opportunity in regaining the trust of people in the regime. Josef Goebbels speech proved to be a great example in uplifting the people’s moods in regards to total war. His powerful speech was influential and enabled the German public to feel more optimistic within the war as well as regime.
The political scene in the USSR also changed for the better during the war—while initially the military reported directly to the Kremlin, Stalin soon appointed an able-bodied leader to the military, Marshal Zhukov, and this allowed the military greater flexibility and, in turn, greater success in battle. The production power of the United States, which made up for slow troop turnouts, was a driving factor in the success of the Allies. FDR’s New Deal policies were partly to
You’d be scared that there is an attack coming your way. 2. How did the naval arms race encourage the development of the alliance system the way it did? Be sure to refer to Great Britain, France, Germany, and Russia, as well as each of the alliance groups specifically. The navel arms raced encouraged the Development of the Alliance system, Because the joining of The different countries meant even more power to both Germany and Great Britain.
This view is largely accredited because Pitt came into office in a difficult time but events around him seemed to benefit him rather well. Britain was entering the industrial revolution at the time, industry rose up and trade would boom due to expansion of the industries at home and abroad, the advancements of technology meant that Britain was going through a natural change that arguably Pitt was able to captain through leading to better fortunes. The natural opposition from the Whig party against the king led by Charles Fox meant that Pitt naturally had the Kings support against any opposition which could be thrown at him, the king would back him up. The American Revolution and his lack of connection to it meant that he was seen as a new politician not one of the previously failed governments who’s lack of control and rule in a situation. And lastly the regency crisis of 1788 meant that Pitt could use this to gain favour with the king and gather support from his own party and draw it away from the opposition.
The First World War increased rather than narrowed political divisions within Germany. How far do you agree with this judgement? Although initially it seems that the First World War narrowed the existing political divisions in Germany of the pre-war decade, as the war progressed, the resentment grew, in part because of the huge losses and the economic crisis that hung over the country. Therefore because of this the political divisions increased, to the point that by the end of the war the polarisation of German politics was clear. To begin with, despite the demonstrations against war held on the 28th and 29th of July in Berlin, with crowds of 100,000 strong, once the war had broken out there was a general consensus on the side of national duty and what was considered to be morally right, largely because the government presented it as a defensive campaign against Slav aggression.
4a) Study sources A and B. Compare these sources as evidence for the appeals made to the electorate in the campaign leading to the General Election of 1945. Source A is based largely on the Public Priorities of 1945, it represents greater prosperity, welfare provision and Peace. At this time the war was won and the Germanys had surrendered in May 1945 which is the same month and year as Source A. As the war had just ended people were looking to a government who could relate with them and what the Labour government promised seemed to be ideal.
This is because all wars are won on politics, if the government have the support of the people; the likelihood is that their war effort will be successful. It also highlights the key man that turned the screw of public opinion, Walter Cronkite. As seen in C, Cronkite exclaimed to the whole country “What the hell is going on? I thought we were winning this war.” This obviously had a massive affect on opinion, and polls show a drop around the time of this exclamation. This was as Hall rightly says in C, a “Rude awakening to the realities of the war that prompted a re-evaluation of the nation’s commitment.” This is similar to Source A in the way that it refuses to focus on the statistics of the offensive, but look at the consequences of the assault, with the privilege of hindsight.
Growth of support for facism was a reason for Mussolinis appointment as Prime Minister,however there were many other reasons for Mussolinis appointment as PM, but growth of support was very important for him. The war and the mutilated victory, had an affect on Mussolinis appointment as PM. The main reason wad that the nationalists were bitterly disappointed that italy didn’t make any gains during the war. The nationalists claimed that Italy had been betrayed by the Liberal government, this shows that the nationalists might have wanted to overthrow the Liberal government and therefore supported Mussolini before he was appointed. This links into the title point that Mussolini had a wide support base and that it was growing.
Additionally there were developments that occurred without war, which illustrates that involvement in war was not the only cause for change. Therefore war was an important catalyst and factor to significant changes but was not the sole cause of change. The war that caused most change was Word War One due to its role in the February revolution in 1917 and the fall of the provisional government in the October revolution. The defeats of the war dwindled support from liberals and Octobrists for the Tsarist regime, which was further worsened by criticism from organisations including the Central War Industries committee and the union of Zemstva. This formed support and reason for the Progressive Bloc.
Even though that speech failed Roosevelt somehow managed to argue for neutrality but at the same time convince Congress to start building up the arms and increase the military and naval budget by nearly two-thirds in 1938. To keep their promise to Poland Britain and France declared war on Germany when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. In 1940 France fell after a week, leaving the only all that still remained free of German control was Great Britain. Americas started to become alarmed by the speed of the Nazi regimes conquering country after country. With Roosevelt believing that Great Britain was their key for America’s security the U.S. policy started to change.