Total War Flashcards
When was DORA passed?
November 1914
What general rights did DORA give the government?
Suspension of civil liberties–nationalisation of coal mines, government control of railways, censorship of newspapers, books, letters
How were DORA’s powers extended in 1915?
Reduction of pub opening hours, reduction in alcoholic content of drinks
How were DORA’s powers extended in 1916?
Introduction of daylight savings to increase productive hours, especially in agriculture
What instigated the change in Britain’s lassiez-faire attitude to munitions and war production?
Spring 1915–shortage of shells
What was the difference in British and German shell production by spring 1915?
Britain was producing 700 shells per day vs. Germany’s 250,000
When was the Ministry of Munitions created, and whom by?
July 1915, by Lloyd George, new Minister for Munitions
What did the Munitions of War Act 1915 involve?
Government control of key factories, Leaving Certificate from employer necessary to leave job-otherwise, could not find new job for 6 weeks
What did the National Registration Act 1915 involve?
Register of all adults with employment details; indication of willingness to work in areas of national importance
How successful were British efforts to boost munitions production?
1914-15–army producing 1,000 artillery pieces, 6,000 grenades
1915-16–army producing 5,000 artillery pieces, 27 million grenades
How did Lloyd George resolve issues relating to labour?
Attempted to prevent strikes, increase cooperation between unions and employers; encouraged collective pay bargaining; supported awards; set up tribunals to manage potential industrial disputes
How did Lloyd George address union concerns for dilution?
Unions were concerned that it allowed unskilled workers being paid less to take skilled jobs; Lloyd George promised it would only last for duration of war
What did the Rent Restrictions Act 1915 do?
Pegged rent to 1914 levels
When was the Rent Restrictions Act introduced?
1915
What was evidence of industrial relations being strained by the end of the war (due to discrepancies between wages and cost of living)
1914-18–trade union membership doubled
How many working days were lost to strikes in 1915?
3 million
How many tonnes of imports were u-boats destroying per month by the end of 1916?
300,000 T of imports per month
Why were the British concerned for food production in 1916?
Poor harvest and panic buying, as Britain only had 6 weeks’ supply of wheat
What happened with regard to food intake in Britain by December 1916?
Britons encouraged to voluntarily restrict food intake, but not legally enforced
What happened with regard to food intake in Britain by 1917?
Rationing–began with sugar; extended to meats, fats, jam
Who replaced British PM Asquith in December 1916?
Lloyd George
When was Asquith replaced by Lloyd George?
December 1916
Was the British democratic system still effective in wartime?
Yes. Some discontentment/industrial disputes, but little support for challenge to democracy. Some tension between Lloyd George and Haig’s costly strategy, but traditional balance between political and military still maintained
What was one of the major differences between Britain and Germany at the start of the war?
Germany began on a war footing–accepted need for total war from the start
What demonstrated the extent of government control in Germany?
By 1918, 258 laws which imposed restrictions on virtually all facets of life, from restaurant opening hours to length of women’s dresses
How was production and labour controlled in Germany at the beginning of the war?
War Raw Materials Dept–KRA–led by Rathneau; determined production of key raw materials, controlled labour, established raw materials companies to replace imported materials
What changed with regard to war production in Germany by 1916?
Hindenburg demanded control of all war matters and created the Supreme War Office
What did Hindenburg attempt to do upon creating the Supreme War Office?
Ordered program to set aircraft production at 1000 per month, but shortages of goods and short supply of labour by this point
When was the Patriotic Auxiliary Service Law introduced?
December 1916
What did the Patriotic Auxiliary Service Law 1916 seek to achieve?
Conscription of labour service–men 18-60 (but eventually virtually all Germans and POWs) conscripted into war jobs;
What were the negative impacts of the Patriotic Auxiliary Service Law in Germany?
Curtailed ability to change jobs-IR soured. Destroyed systems of resource allocation and diminished supply of essential provisions, such as food or consumer goods, to the home front
How much food did the Germans import prior to the war?
Prior to war, had imported over 1/3 food needs
When were food shortages in Germany first witnessed?
1915-food shortages in urban areas critical; food riots in over 30 cities
When was rationing introduced in Germany?
Bread rationed from early 1916; rations further cut in April 1917 after failure of harvests
What was the nutritional content of rations like in Germany by 1917?
Official rations for civilians provide half average daily requirements
What were conditions like for civilians in Germany by 1918?
Widespread starvation
What happened to the political system in Germany upon the outbreak of war?
Transfer of political power to the military at the start of the war. Effective in servicing battlefront but not homefront
What was evidence of civilian discontentment in Germany during the war years, and what were its consequences?
Increase in socialist, anti-war movements, e.g. Rosa Luxembourg-evidence of disillusionment, increasing desire for peace; engendered November Revolution
What were political conditions in Germany like by the end of the war?
Breakdown of established social order; chaos-growing disorder led to the creation of the republican government by the end of the war.
How was the British war effort primarily financed?
War savings certificates, bonds, borrowed from the US. Increase in tax and lowered tax thresholds
What was the increase in British taxation from 1914-1918?
Compared to 1914, income tax in 1918 had increased 800%
How did the Germans finance the war effort?
Quantitative easing and borrowing
What were the negative impacts of the Germans’ engagement in quantitative easing?
By 1917, purchasing power of wages on home front 50% prewar level
What percentage of war needs could Germany finance from taxation by 1915?
16%
By how much did the German deficit increase from 1914-1918?
Increased 6-fold
