World War II German Homefront: 1943

Germany World War II 1943
Figure 1.-- This German family was photographed in 1943, probably January. Like most Germans, the War had not yet touched them heavily. At the same time this photograph was taken soimewhere in Germany, the Sixth Army was being destroyed by the Soviet Red Army as the Stalingrad pocket far to the East collapsed. Click on the image to see the writing on the back.

Unlike occupied countries, German civilians in 1943 had not yet felt the full brunt of the War. The exploitation of occupied areas had kept the German people fed. The disasters in the East began to force more severe rationing. The United States joined the strategic bombing campaign in 1943, beginning daylight bombing. The first American strike was Wilhelmshaven, but only with 50 bombers--a small firce by World War II standards (January). The Stalingrad pocket finally surrendered (February 1943). Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels in a speech at the Berlin Sportpalast, declared a 'Total War' against the Allies (February). Stalingrad was a long way away from Germany, but from that point and throughout the year, the battles began being fought closer and closer to Germany, something Gobbels' relentlessly optimistic propaganda could not hide. Hitler had hoped to maintain living standards by pillaging the East. This failed and food rations were cut, although no one was going hungary. And more men were conscripted. But compared to what the Germans were doing in occupied countries, the impact on German civilians was light. The effective German air defense system limited damage, although a few cities were devestated, most prominently Hamburg (July). Much of Germany, however, was still untouched except for families losing loved ones at the front--primarily meaning the East. Children were among the most affected. A major evacuation of children began from the cities, but it was not voluntary like the British evacution and they were not placed in homes, but rather in group homes set up in hotels and oher facilities in the countryside run by the Hitler Youth (HJ). Teachers went along, but in most cases given the HJ priorities, very little schooling took place. More bad news arrived with the German surrender in Tunisia (May), the defeat at (Kursk), and the Allied invasion of Italy and the Italians going over to the Allied side (September). The RAF began the boming offensive on Berlin (November).







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Created: 8:38 AM 1/17/2019
Last updated: 8:38 AM 1/17/2019