The impacts of the war on Germany: social, economic and political Flashcards
Burgfriede
A political truce agreed between all the parties and laws for necessary loans were passed. Even the Social Democrats offered support for a defensive war - many socialists were patriotic, by showing patriotism in the hour of need they thought they could gain recognition politically
Kaiser quote about Burgfriede
“I know no parties anymore, only Germans”
Doubts about the war?
It was only during 1916, after the loss of Verdun and the Somme that doubts were being expressed - the Burgfriede had lasted well over 2 years.
German economic limitations
The long, drawn-out war created economic strain:
1) German banks and export industries became disrupted.
2) Germany’s capacity to produce enough food to feed the population was limited.
3) The ability to import raw materials was severely curtailed: materials such as oil, rubber, nitrates, copper and mercury were vita; for war production.
KRA (War Raw materials department) (economic)
Walther Rathenau worked to create this within the War Ministry. It oversaw a range of companies involved in raw materials. Within 6 months the KRA successfully organised provision for most essential supplies and prevented the looming munitions crisis.
Labour (economic)
Labour was effected by the War Ministry in deciding who should be conscripted, there was also need to prevent industrial unrest, this led to the creation of the local War Boards.
Labour in the short term? (economic)
In the short term, the measures to regulate the war economy were reasonably successful. However when military victory was not forthcoming, two important economic weaknesses continued to erode Germany’s capacity to maintain fighting. These ere the government budget and the provision of food.
Finance (economic)
The debt rapidly increased once the war started. The sae of war bonds represented the only real attempt to narrow the gap between income and expenditure. The idea of raising taxes on income and industrial profits was rejected on political grounds. The cost of war was simply to put to one side until the end of the war.
How did Germany pay for the war? (economic)
Altogether, only 16% of the cost of war was met from taxation; the rest was met from funding such as war bonds and printing more money. Printing more money meant that more money was in circulation which started inflation and also devalued the mark internationally.
Food (economic)
Germany could not feed itself - the effects of the blockade and the conscription of so many abled-body men led to reduction in grain supply and production
Food - nutrition office (economic)
Set up to regulate food supplies, but it met massive resistance from the agricultural lobby and its measures proved useless. Production continued to decline and, because insufficient food was made available, a black market flourished.
Auxiliary Service Law (economic)
Supreme Army Command, by the end of 1916 wanted to intensify the war effort with clear targets. The Hindenburg Programme aimed to increase arms production, while the ASL was supposed to achieve the ‘mobilisation of the entire civilian population’, it curtailed the freedom of workers to choose their jobs.
Failure of the Auxiliary Service Law and the Hindenburg Programme?
Both fell short of their objectives and the problems of labour and production continued to hinder the German war effort.
‘Total War’ (economic)
Forced Germany to use state power as a means to mobilise its economic potential.
Limits to Total War
Limits to how far this policy could go due to key interest groups. Ironically, authoritarian Germany failed to achieve the same degree of mobilisation.
