How did the Second World War change life inside Nazi Germany?
The impact of the war on the home front, rationing and the war economy, the effect of Allied bombing, the move to total war, the changing role of women and workers, and the collapse of the Nazi regime by 1945.
A focused answer to the German home front in OCR's Living under Nazi Rule depth study, covering the impact of the war, rationing and the war economy, Allied bombing, the move to total war under Speer, the changing role of women and workers, and the collapse of the Nazi regime by 1945.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this dot point is asking
This dot point examines how the Second World War changed life inside Nazi Germany, the home front. You need the impact of rationing and the war economy, Allied bombing, the move to total war, the changing role of women and workers, and the collapse of the regime by 1945. It completes the depth study by showing how the war that the Nazis launched eventually destroyed them.
Rationing and the war economy
Allied bombing
Total war and the changing role of women and workers
The collapse of the regime
Try this
Q1. Who reorganised the German economy for total war as armaments minister? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Albert Speer.
Q2. Explain how the Second World War changed the role of women in Germany. [Short explanation]
- Cue. The earlier Nazi ideal of women in the home was reversed by the needs of total war, so women were drawn back into factories and war work to keep the economy and arms production going as men were called up.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR SHP 20184 marksDescribe two ways the Second World War affected life on the German home front.Show worked answer →
The world depth study opener (4 marks, two features, 2 marks each). Reward two distinct, developed effects.
Effect one. Rationing and shortages: food, clothing and fuel were rationed from 1939, and as the war went on shortages grew severe, especially after defeats cut supplies.
Effect two. Allied bombing: from 1942 the bombing of German cities killed tens of thousands, destroyed homes and factories, and forced millions to flee or shelter, badly damaging morale.
Top marks. Two separate effects, each with a precise supporting detail.
OCR SHP 202116 marks'Allied bombing was the main reason Nazi Germany was defeated on the home front.' How far do you agree with this interpretation?Show worked answer →
The world depth study interpretation judgement (16 marks, AO4). Argue both sides with precise support and judge.
Support for bombing. Allied bombing destroyed cities, factories and transport, killed civilians, and damaged morale and war production, contributing to collapse.
Other factors. The strain of total war, severe shortages and rationing, military defeats abroad (Stalingrad and the two-front war), the over-stretching of the economy, and the loss of resources all undermined the home front.
Judgement. Weigh bombing against the wider strain of total war and military defeat, concluding (for example) that bombing was a major factor but worked together with defeat abroad and economic exhaustion, with a supported judgement.
Related dot points
- The Nazi consolidation of power in 1933 to 1934, the Reichstag Fire, the Enabling Act and the Night of the Long Knives, the creation of a one-party state, and the role of the SS, Gestapo and concentration camps in controlling Germany.
A focused answer to the Nazi seizure of total power in OCR's Living under Nazi Rule depth study, covering the consolidation of 1933 to 1934, the Reichstag Fire, the Enabling Act, the Night of the Long Knives, the one-party state, and the role of the SS, Gestapo and concentration camps.
- The work of Goebbels and the Ministry of Propaganda, the use of radio, film, rallies and the press, Nazi control of culture and the arts, the role of the Church, and how successfully the Nazis won the loyalty of the German people.
A focused answer to Nazi propaganda in OCR's Living under Nazi Rule depth study, covering Goebbels and the Ministry of Propaganda, the use of radio, film, rallies and the press, control of culture and the arts, the Churches, and how far the Nazis won the loyalty of the German people.
- Nazi policies towards young people through the Hitler Youth, the League of German Girls and schools, Nazi policies towards women and the family, the impact on employment and daily life, and how far young people and women supported the regime.
A focused answer to Nazi social policy in OCR's Living under Nazi Rule depth study, covering policies towards young people (the Hitler Youth, the League of German Girls and schools), policies towards women and the family, the impact on employment and daily life, and how far young people and women supported the regime.
- Nazi racial ideology, the persecution of Jews from the boycott of 1933 through the Nuremberg Laws and Kristallnacht, the persecution of other groups, the ghettos and the Final Solution, and the responsibility for the Holocaust.
A focused answer to Nazi persecution in OCR's Living under Nazi Rule depth study, covering Nazi racial ideology, the escalating persecution of Jews (the 1933 boycott, the Nuremberg Laws, Kristallnacht), the persecution of other groups, the ghettos and the Final Solution, and the question of responsibility for the Holocaust.
- Opposition from the Churches, young people such as the Edelweiss Pirates and the White Rose, opposition from within the army including the July Bomb Plot, the reasons opposition was limited, and how the Nazis dealt with resistance.
A focused answer to opposition in OCR's Living under Nazi Rule depth study, covering resistance from the Churches, young people (the Edelweiss Pirates and the White Rose), the army and the July Bomb Plot, the reasons opposition was limited, and how the Nazis crushed resistance.