Germany at War Did Hitler want War? What was the experience of War like for Germans? Was there any opposition to Hitler?

Hitler’s Attitude to War Hitler believed that the only way to achieve his aims was through war LEBENSRAUM: Living space in the East TRIUMPH OF THE ARYAN RACE – Holocaust ; Greater Germany DESTRUCTION OF VERSAILLES – Anschluss 1938 ‘War is a continuation of policy by other means’

Germany at War Germanys experience of War broke down into two distinct periods:  BLITZKRIEG  TOTAL WAR

1) BLITZKRIEG ‘Lightning war Germans used tactics called Blitzkrieg – ‘Lightning war’ – The use of surprise and supreme force to win They used this to invade Poland in 1939, then later most of Europe including France in 1940

The German people had been worried about the possibility of war but they were hugely happy with all Hitler’s conquests Germany could even grow richer and more powerful with each new conquest

TOTAL WAR In 1941 things started to change for Germany  Military defeats in Africa and Stalingrad in Russia hit Germany for the first time  Casualties began to increase significantly with heavy fighting in Russia  Civilians began to suffer from intensive bombing, rationing, long factory hours and food shortages

1945 DEFEAT In May 1945 Hitler committed Suicide and Germany at last surrendered