Beating Hitler – a Soviet Victory
Nazi Germany was defeated by the Soviet Union.
The British and Americans and their allies made a substantial contribution, but without the German defeats on the Eastern Front, it is unlikely that Hitler would have lost. This certainly was the view of the Germans at the time.
Beating Hitler – a Soviet Victory
Everyday life in Germany during the war
Some aspects of life in Germany changed immediately upon the outbreak of war on 1 September 1939; others changed more slowly.
Everyday life in Germany during the war
Dictatorship
Adolf Hitler, leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party (the Nazi Party), became Chancellor of Germany in 1933. Shortly afterwards he abolished democracy and ruled as dictator until his suicide in 1945. During his time as leader (Führer) he concentrated in his hands complete authority over the state. The Nazi Party was intolerant of individual self-expression; everything was subordinated to the dictates of the Party, and Hitler ruled the Party. All offices were subordinate to his position and had to depend on his instructions.