On the Axis side, Hitler, in order to provide a successful campaign, started to practice this "strategic bombing", right after invasion of Poland, bombing cities and civilian population. .
One of the most massive air raid was The Blitz – German bombing of British cities from September 1940. Hitler believed that continuous air bombings would get the English people mentally exhausted and they would surrender as the French people. Luftwaffe (German air force) kept targeting the cultural centers, populated areas, civilian resorts, dockyards and factories. Hitler argued that the massive destruction would first of all, cause a significant damage to their war economy, besides it would also be a fatal blow to the consciousness of British people. Enemy industries, factories and communications would be destroyed, which would effectively affect their means of resistance, reducing their chances of having enough resources to fight back the Nazis. The bombing of residential centers, meanwhile, would collapse the civilian will, which might lead to the desired collapse of production and civil life. .
Hitler's intention was to break the morale of the British people so that they would pressure Churchill into negotiating. However, the bombing had the opposite effect, bringing the English people together to face a common enemy. Encouraged by Churchill's frequent public appearances and radio speeches, the people became determined to hold out indefinitely against the Nazi onslaught. .
The biggest impact of Total War was, without doubt, on civilians. Since cities had so many war-related targets, they appeared to be the targets of repeated heavy bombings: centers of victuals, transportation, factories and even vehicles. Nevertheless, Total war did not imply the near-total mobilization of the population. But as the civilians, as much as the Allies, were longing to end the war as soon as possible, everyone tried to do one's bit to help with the 'war effort.
