The German Home Front 1939–45

The first detailed, illustrated description in English of wartime life in Germany, and the tentacles of the Nazi state as they affected every man, woman and child.

German families suffered the same hardships as British - labour conscription, extra civic duties, severe shortages of food and necessities, disrupted transport, homelessness and evacuation, separation from loved ones and, for many, bereavement.

However, there were important differences. The dictator for whom many had voted was leading them to ruin; unequalled death and devastation ensued from Allied air raids; and every aspect of life was caged around with repressive decrees that began to replace the true rule of law well before September 1939.

This book outlines and illustrates the living conditions of German civilians in World War II, and the Nazi state's basic structure.

“"Brian L Davis'The German Home Front 1939-45chronicles German civilian life during the war and the duties and challenges of living in a Nazi state..." -California Bookwatch(December 2007) "Author Brian Davis takes what seems to be a very confusing mix of bureaucracies and makes sense of them... A truly interesting and somewhat unique look at warfare and the organization of the German state during the Second World War. Highly recommended." - Scott Van Aken,modelingmadness.com(October 2007)”

"Brian L Davis' The German Home Front 1939-45 chronicles German civilian life during the war and the duties and challenges of living in a Nazi state..." --California Bookwatch (December 2007)

"Author Brian Davis takes what seems to be a very confusing mix of bureaucracies and makes sense of them... A truly interesting and somewhat unique look at warfare and the organization of the German state during the Second World War. Highly recommended." --Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (October 2007)

Brian Leigh Davis is one of the world’s leading experts on the insignia and regalia of Nazi Germany. He lives and works in Surrey. He has previously written three Men-at-Arms books about flags of the Third Reich.

Malcolm McGregor spent four years at art school and then went on to work in advertising for ten years. He started freelancing in 1966 and contributed uniform illustrations to Blandfords and several Orbis publications and also provided the figure paintings for War Monthly magazine. He previously illustrated for Osprey the three book series on the Flags of the Third Reich (Men-at-Arms 270, 274 and 278), and Elite 98: British Commanders of World War II. Malcolm sadly passed away in January 2010.

At the outbreak of war in 1939 Germany was committed to the concept of Blitzkrieg - a swift and decisive war. Yet, the reality became something very different as every corner of German society was hit by the realities of war. This book details the critical civilian support that was necessary to maintain Nazi control of the civilian population and includes first-hand accounts of the experiences of civilians who suffered at the hands of their own government as well as enduring the deprivations and fears of wartime life. With analysis and descriptions of civil and home services, from air raid wardens to postwomen, this book provides a detailed, lavishly illustrated description of wartime life in Germany, exploring the tentacles of the Nazi state as they affected every man, woman and child.

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