- Manpower shortage: As the war progressed, Germany faced an increasingly acute manpower shortage. This was due to a number of factors, including:
- The high number of casualties suffered by the German military.
- The diversion of manpower to the war effort, away from the civilian economy.
- The increasing number of German men who were either killed, wounded, or captured.
- Economic problems: The German economy was also severely strained by the war. This was due to a number of factors, including:
- The high cost of the war, which led to massive government deficits and inflation.
- The disruption of trade, which led to shortages of essential goods.
- The loss of territory, which deprived Germany of valuable resources and industrial capacity.
- Allied bombing: The Allied bombing campaign against Germany caused widespread destruction and disrupted the country's infrastructure. This made it difficult for the German government to maintain control of the country and to produce war materials.
- Invasion: In 1944, the Allied forces invaded Normandy and began to push into Germany from the west. In addition, in 1945, the Soviet Union launched a major offensive into Germany from the east. These invasions stretched German forces thin and made it difficult for them to defend the country.
Problems faced by Italy:
- Military unpreparedness: Italy's military was not prepared for war. The Italian army was poorly trained and equipped, and the Italian air force and navy were weak.
- Economic weakness: Italy's economy was also weak, and the country was heavily dependent on imports of raw materials and food. This made it difficult for Italy to continue fighting the war as the Allies blockaded the country and cut off its supplies.
- Political instability: Italy's political system was unstable, and the country suffered from a lack of national unity. This made it difficult for the Italian government to make and implement effective decisions during the war.
- Allied invasion: In 1943, the Allied forces invaded Italy and began to push north. The Italian military was unable to stop the Allied advance, and the country was soon occupied by Allied troops.