Explain the effects of the Second World War on the lives of the German people. (AQA June 2016)

The war was damaging for many nations around the world. David Sharp states that Germany was turned into a “grieving populace” due to the effects of the Second World War on the German people, which worsened as the war progressed.At the start of the war many Germans fled from western regions bordering France and fled east, into mainland Germany, although many returned when fighting did not begin immediately with France. Then they had to cope with aerial bombardment. Initially, the British targeted industrial and military targets, but changed their strategy to one of ‘area bombing’ in 1942, using incendiary bombs to cause huge firestorms as seen in Hamburg, Darmstadt and Dresden. Between 300,000 and 400,000 Germans were killed as 61 cities were attacked, causing mass evacuation and overcrowding as 3.6 million homes were destroyed. Non-combatants were equated with soldiers due to the concept of Total War. World War Two was the first total war, as each member of the population played a role in the war and it was believed that targeting civilians would break their morale, causing the war to end faster when they rose up against to government and called for an end to the conflict. Half of the bombs dropped hit residential areas. However, the war effort continued, partly due to propaganda that downplayed the impact that the bombings had.Furthermore, between 1944-1945 the Soviet Union advanced through eastern Germany and people were forced to fled westwards to avoid the brutality of Soviet soldiers. By the end of the war, 8 million slave labourers became refugees or were expelled from Germany. Those who remained in Germany were also impacted by food shortages, as Germany followed a policy of autarky. Initially, rationing was kept to a minimum as Hitler knew this would cause political unrest, after France was defeated by Germany in June 1940, consumer goods were brought over which helped reduce shortages. However, autarky and rearmament meant consumer goods were already expensive and scarce before the war. The main restrictions began in 1942 despite being rationed in 1939, but chronic shortages kicked in by 1944. The diet became monotonous , relying on bread, potatoes and preserves and there were meat shortages from America (meat rations dropped from 750 grams a week in 1939 to 250 in 1945). Fewer shortages to industries involved in the war effort, pregnant women and blood donors, but Jewish people had theirs cut. Food consumption fell 25% by 1941. Rationing cards not recognised by 1945. Clothing and cigarettes were also restricted.Overall, the war became increasing damaging on the everyday lives of German people. It impacted them in terms of food, housing and killed thousands of people.