Socio-economic + political effects of WW1 Flashcards
Q1: What were six economic effects of WW1?
The value of the mark lost 75% of its value between 1913 and 1918.
The financing of the war through printing money and borrowing led to inflation.
Agricultural production fell.
Only 16% of the war cost was met by taxation, with the expectation of receiving “booty” from victory.
The Auxiliary Labour Law of 1916 gave the government harsh powers over labor.
Industry “sharks” made vast profits during the war, leading to anger among the middle class.
Q2: What were five effects to living conditions WW1?
Food and fuel shortages, particularly the “turnip winter” of 1916-17, led to declining living conditions.
There was an increase in civilian deaths from starvation and hypothermia, with 121,000 deaths in 1916 rising to 293,000 in 1918.
Deaths in children under one increased by over 50% over the war years.
The 1918 influenza epidemic killed more people than WW1 casualties, due to the low resistance to disease from the decline in living conditions.
Real earnings fell 20-30%, with longer working hours for wages below the inflation rate, leading to social and economic challenges for the working class.
What were the political effects to WW1? What broke down, who got increasingly more control, what were formed?
The unity of Germany broke down in 1917.
Ludendorff and Hindenburg had increasingly more control over the government and blocked several compromise peace opportunities, leading to growing war criticism and resentment among the middle class.
In April 1917, radicals opposed to the war formed the USPD, and in September 1917, nationalists including Wolfgang Kapp formed the Fatherland Party, which wanted an “annexationist” victory and had 1 million members by 1918.
Q4: Was WW1 supported within Germany initially? And why?
WW1 was initially supported within Germany, by majority of Germans and even the Marxist SPD abandoned internationalism to support the war effort. The government also acknowledged the working-class as important and promised great rewards when the war was won in order to increase support.
How much value did the mark lose 1913-
1918 , 75% of its value
What in WW1 led to inflation? How much of the war was met by taxation? Why didn’t that figure matter to the government.
The financing of the war through printing money and borrowing led to inflation during WW1. Only 16% of the war cost was met by taxation, with the expectation of receiving “booty” from victory. This figure did not matter to the government because they expected to recoup their costs through the acquisition of territory and resources from a victory in the war.
Production of what fell during WW1? What act gave the government in WW1 harsh powers over something, when and details?
Agricultural production fell during WW1. The Auxiliary Labour Law of 1916 gave the government harsh powers over labor, allowing them to conscript workers and control wages and working conditions.
What shortages were there in WW1? What was a period of significant lack called, and when was it? The consumption of what had dropped to what percent of the pre-war level?
There were food and fuel shortages during WW1. The “turnip winter” of 1916-17 was a period of significant lack. Meat consumption had dropped to 12% of the pre-war level during this time.
What was the increase in civilian deaths between which two dates in WW1? From what did the increase occur?
There was an increase in civilian deaths from 121,000 in 1916 to 293,000 in 1918 during WW1. The increase occurred from starvation and hypothermia.
Deaths in what age group increased by what percent over WW1?
Deaths in children under one increased by over 50% over the war years.
What killed more people than WW1 casualties? When did it occur, and why?
The 1918 influenza epidemic killed more people than WW1 casualties. It occurred in 1918 and was a result of the low resistance to disease due to the decline in living conditions.
How much did real earnings fall in WW1 and why?
Real earnings fell 20-30% during WW1, due to longer working hours for wages below the inflation rate.
Who was getting increasing control over the government in WW1 and when? What did they do, was there backlash, particularly from which group and why?
Ludendorff and Hindenburg had increasingly more control over the government in WW1, starting in 1916. They blocked several compromise peace opportunities, leading to growing war criticism against total war and resentment among the middle class (social status decline from low income0
What two groups formed over WW1 and when? What did they want?
In April 1917, radicals opposed to the war formed the USPD. In September 1917, nationalists including Wolfgang Kapp formed the Fatherland Party, which wanted an “annexationist” victory.
How many members did the Fatherland party have by 1918 after its creation in September 1917?
The Fatherland party had 1 million members by 1918 after its creation in September 1917.
