Impact Of WWI

Question 1

Economic

Answer 1

16% of the 8.4 million cost of the war was met by taxation
War bonds - bought by citizens to fund the war
Printed money
KRA - war raw materials unsuccessful

Question 2

Social

Answer 2

2 million soldiers killed and 4.2 wounded
16% of those conscripted
Living standards fell by 20-30%
Shortages - turnip winter
Ersatz food - lack of potatoes
Spanish flu epidemic killed between 20-40 million
Deaths due to starvation and hyperthermia rose to around 300,000
Infant mortality increased by 50%

Question 3

Political

Answer 3

Burgefriede - political truce
‘I know no parties no more, only Germans’
1917 USPD
Peace resolution - attempt to negotiate a peace settlement
Centre and left won the vote 212-126
Spartacist league wanted social revolution
Strikes - Berlin for 5 days with half a million workers

Question 4

Silent dictatorship

Answer 4

Government because autocratic snd militaristic
Kaiser sidelined by the military
Hindenburg and Ludendorff running silent dictatorship
Bethmann forced out of office
Military gov increased political and social tensions
-passed down several opportunities for a negotiated peace
-auxiliary service law introduced to militarise society
-Hindenburg and Ludendorff forced Bethmann out of office