Zack: Does Germany Could Win In World War II?

Does Germany Could Win In World War II?

PKDT MUHAMMAD ZAKWAN ABD GHANI

READING FROM: GERMANY

INTRODUCTION

Germany was defeated in World War I and they were forced via the Treaty of Versailles to pay heavy reparations to the victors. Severe inflation and depression followed. As a result of the Treaty of Versailles and the economic disasters that followed, the German people became very resentful towards the victors of World War 1, namely France and Great Britain.[1] After Germany became united as one country, they were becoming one of the wealthiest and powerful countries in the world. Their industries were mainly based on stuff like steel and coal which played big parts in the lead up to becoming the best industrial. Since they became so strong, they wanted more colonies, more land and more money. They thought they deserve colonies like any other countries. So the Germans started the war on the upper hand[2]. But as the war started, all started to go wrong for Germany because they are miscalculation for their economic effectiveness.

Germany loses in World War Two. Germany is never fully mobilizing their economy to the needs of war. It is generally believed that, the German economy started to prepare for war almost immediately upon Hitler coming to power. It is too late compare Soviet Union and United States. There was prepared for war since the end of World War I. By the time, Germany became bogged down in USSR. [3] It became all clear how the Germans had miscalculated their economic position.

ECONOMIC FACTOR GERMANY LOSES IN WW2

The Soviet Union was the single most important factor in the defeat of Nazi, Germany. Germany essentially lost the Second World War and loss can be directly attributed to the different economic and industrial factors of both the Soviet Union and the Third Reich.

To win in an armed conflict, a nation must be able to optimally supply one’s own forces both in offensive and defensive situations. Germany was able to supply her forces with military supplies in the early years of the war, when they are fought a series of small, quick action campaigns. But after 1942, Germany could no longer provide her armed forces with the needed military supplies. Quick campaigns gave way to a prolonged war. The Soviet Union however could supply her army with the needed materials and the United States was indeed the global Arsenal of Democracy.

Since Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party came to power in 1933, Germany was both economically and militarily preparing for war. German military officials studied the failures of the last World War, recommended corrective measures and developed new combat techniques, which would deliver a proverbial deadly knockout punch as early as possible in any future conflict. German propaganda specialists made sure that all of Germany’s future opponents also believed that Germany was militarily superior to one and all.

In reality, Germany was not prepared for war in 1939. The German economy of the 1930’s continued to satisfy both civilian and military requirements, even after September of 1939 when production should have shifted to military needs. He should be satisfying the civilian population at home by not placing restrictions on their consumer product consumption, while at the same time satisfying the production needs of Germany's military forces. In fact, Germany was not too ready for total war production until 1944. This indicates that German economic and military resource management efforts were not optimally configured for a nation at war previous to that time, and in 1944, the tide had already long since turned. Germany produced 30 million tons of steels but only 8 million tons of that was directed towards military production efforts such as airplanes, guns, munitions, supplies, tanks, fleet and so on. The tables have shown the Germany steel production allocations for the fourth quarter of 1939.

TYPE	STEEL EXPENDITURE
Heer	3.060.000 tons
Marine	1.250.000 tons
Luftwaffe	2.220.000 tons
Military construction	2.060.000 tons
Total military	8.590.000 tons
Civilian sector	7.320.000 tons
Export	1.730.000 tons
Total civilian	- 9.050.000 tons
Total steel	17.640.000 tons

German steel production allocations for the fourth quarter of 1939[4]

From 1939 to 1941, Germany used her now well refined Blitzkrieg tactics to conquer Poland, Denmark, Norway, the Benelux nations, France, the Balkan, and so on[5]. The end goal was to obtain a German victory through the utilization of the minimum quantities of men, materials and supplies as possible, and in the shortest time. This worked quite well in the early years of WWII. If there was a chance to win the war, it was most probable during the summer and fall of 1941 provided that the existing resources were not squandered or misused.

But in 1941, the Germans came up against a proverbial brick wall. Their summer and fall offensive against the Soviet Union stalled. The winter season arrived with bitterly cold temperatures. Interestingly Germany reduced its military production efforts in the fall of 1941. Both were so sure that Germany had defeated the Soviet Union, and Hitler concurred. In short, the Germans had not adequately prepared for an extended winter campaign. One of the negative consequences was that many Wehrmacht infantrymen and tankers suffered accordingly.

In the end, Germany’s excellent military leadership and her many technical advantages were not enough to overcome the economic advantages of her enemies. From the very beginning, Germany should have been able to exploit many of her economic and technology advantages far more optimally. Placing Herman Goring in charge of domestic economic planning was not the wisest of selections either. While Albert Speer did achieve some very impressive production increases in 1943, 1944 and 1945.[6] Germany lost the Second World War not because of any single military action. They are lost it primarily to a war of economic and human attrition.

GERMANY ECONOMIC FACTORS DETERMINE A NATION’S ABILITY TO WIN OR LOSE A WAR

An economic base must be sufficiently developed to survive a prolonged conflict. The Soviet Union had built up a much more effective and reliable economic infrastructure since the 1920’s when compared to the German economy. It was more optimally geared for mass production of simple, yet reliable military goods and products. Throughout the Second World War, Soviet military forces never really suffered from serious supply problems, Soviet production centers continued to pour out what was needed on the front lines. But the Germans often suffered from supply shortages. In addition to their own production capabilities, the Soviet Union also obtained significant quantities of United States and British lend-lease aid as can be seen a few paragraphs down.

The economic base must be sufficiently developed to survive a prolonged conflict. Until 1943 the German industry was still manufacturing private commodities, fridges, bicycles, motorbikes and cars.[7] He not concentrated just concentrated to steel production. Not only the heavy industrial rising but should be to concentrated agriculture and foods production. In a war, military technology is very important to be a superior in land, air, sea. Germany had a truth way preparation of war but they are not emphasizing to the industrial of food production. Hitler should be consideration in the grand strategy on his nations for food supplies.

Germany also should have been able to exploit many of her economic and technology advantages far more optimally initially after loss in First World War. They took more time to develop their heavy industry such as tank, fleet and other military machinery. In terms of human resources, Germany should have increased the hours of a workday to way beyond a regular “9-5” day early in the war.[8] If Germany starts early best industrial concentrate to the military and food production, they will become the strong economic structure. It was more optimally geared for mass production of simple, yet reliable to the military goods and products.

About the grand strategy, Germany failure to produce at initials the effective by good production in their industry. Germany need more food industrial effective not for machinery or military production. Without food supplies, armies can’t be maneuver. When a state on war, there are need to meet the food needs of its citizens and soldiers. During World War Two, Germany was short of money and food to support their military. Germany also needs allies to support military expenditure during war. Without allies actor cannot be prolong conflict during war. They need allies to help them in various sectors, especially to supply the basic needs of food, coal, and oil.

CONCLUSION

The economic causes answered the question is yes, Germany will win in WW2 if their economic stability industrial production which can run war for the prolong conflict. The good manufactures, and military machinery should be produce initial after lose in WW1. The Germany economic started to prepare for war almost immediately upon Hitler coming to power. It is too late compare Soviet Union and United States. There was prepared for war since the end of World War I. It must also be considered that there were many fatal flaws in the German organization, both economic and strategic.[9] Despite Hitler's early successes, Germany could not sustain a prolonged war and therefore when the element of surprise was eliminated, the victories turned to defeats.

APPENDIX

Graphs have shown Germany GDP Pre-WWI, WWI, Post WWI, WWII and Post WWII. German’s GDP Fall in World War II.

Germany was increased the hours of a workday to way beyond a regular “9-5” day early in the war. Women were not considered as a serious alternative work force until late in the war either. In 1939, German industries utilized 2.62 million women. In July of 1944, German industries still only utilized 2.67 million women. This average was maintained from 1939 to 1944.