Goebbels declares „total war“

© wdr Goebbels delivering his speech in the Sports Palace in Berlin-Schöneberg

Source: digischool.nl A fanatic audience demanding the total war

In the aftermath of Germany’s defeat in the Battle of Stalingrad, Reich Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels declares „total war“ in a fanatical speech on 18 February 1943. Rapturous cheers by 3,000 hand-picked audience members in Berlin’s Sports Palace accompany Goebbels’ declaration. „Total war – shortest war“, is his turn of phrase. The NS leadership understands this to mean complete mobilisation of all material and human resources in the Reich, the almost complete restriction of cultural activities and even more intense exploitation of territories occupied by German troops. From now on the German population, which has already suffered to extremes under the unlimited bombardments of the allies, is expected to endure even greater sacrifices for the „final victory“. A week before Goebbels’ Sports Palace speech, authorities had already begun to call-up prep school pupils over the age of 15 to help with support operations in the German Air Force.