Total War

Question 1

When was DORA passed?

Answer 1

November 1914

Question 2

What general rights did DORA give the government?

Answer 2

Suspension of civil liberties–nationalisation of coal mines, government control of railways, censorship of newspapers, books, letters

Question 3

How were DORA’s powers extended in 1915?

Answer 3

Reduction of pub opening hours, reduction in alcoholic content of drinks

Question 4

How were DORA’s powers extended in 1916?

Answer 4

Introduction of daylight savings to increase productive hours, especially in agriculture

Question 5

What instigated the change in Britain’s lassiez-faire attitude to munitions and war production?

Answer 5

Spring 1915–shortage of shells

Question 6

What was the difference in British and German shell production by spring 1915?

Answer 6

Britain was producing 700 shells per day vs. Germany’s 250,000

Question 7

When was the Ministry of Munitions created, and whom by?

Answer 7

July 1915, by Lloyd George, new Minister for Munitions

Question 8

What did the Munitions of War Act 1915 involve?

Answer 8

Government control of key factories, Leaving Certificate from employer necessary to leave job-otherwise, could not find new job for 6 weeks

Question 9

What did the National Registration Act 1915 involve?

Answer 9

Register of all adults with employment details; indication of willingness to work in areas of national importance

Question 10

How successful were British efforts to boost munitions production?

Answer 10

1914-15–army producing 1,000 artillery pieces, 6,000 grenades
1915-16–army producing 5,000 artillery pieces, 27 million grenades

Question 11

How did Lloyd George resolve issues relating to labour?

Answer 11

Attempted to prevent strikes, increase cooperation between unions and employers; encouraged collective pay bargaining; supported awards; set up tribunals to manage potential industrial disputes

Question 12

How did Lloyd George address union concerns for dilution?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What did the Rent Restrictions Act 1915 do?

Answer 13

Pegged rent to 1914 levels

Question 14

When was the Rent Restrictions Act introduced?

Answer 14

1915

Question 15

What was evidence of industrial relations being strained by the end of the war (due to discrepancies between wages and cost of living)

Answer 15

1914-18–trade union membership doubled

Question 16

How many working days were lost to strikes in 1915?

Answer 16

3 million

Question 17

How many tonnes of imports were u-boats destroying per month by the end of 1916?

Answer 17

300,000 T of imports per month

Question 18

Why were the British concerned for food production in 1916?

Answer 18

Poor harvest and panic buying, as Britain only had 6 weeks’ supply of wheat

Question 19

What happened with regard to food intake in Britain by December 1916?

Answer 19

Britons encouraged to voluntarily restrict food intake, but not legally enforced

Question 20

What happened with regard to food intake in Britain by 1917?

Answer 20

Rationing–began with sugar; extended to meats, fats, jam

Question 21

Who replaced British PM Asquith in December 1916?

Answer 21

Lloyd George

Question 22

When was Asquith replaced by Lloyd George?

Answer 22

December 1916

Question 23

Was the British democratic system still effective in wartime?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What was one of the major differences between Britain and Germany at the start of the war?

Answer 24

Germany began on a war footing–accepted need for total war from the start

Question 25

What demonstrated the extent of government control in Germany?

Answer 25

By 1918, 258 laws which imposed restrictions on virtually all facets of life, from restaurant opening hours to length of women’s dresses

Question 26

How was production and labour controlled in Germany at the beginning of the war?

Answer 26

War Raw Materials Dept–KRA–led by Rathneau; determined production of key raw materials, controlled labour, established raw materials companies to replace imported materials

Question 27

What changed with regard to war production in Germany by 1916?

Answer 27

Hindenburg demanded control of all war matters and created the Supreme War Office

Question 28

What did Hindenburg attempt to do upon creating the Supreme War Office?

Answer 28

Ordered program to set aircraft production at 1000 per month, but shortages of goods and short supply of labour by this point

Question 29

When was the Patriotic Auxiliary Service Law introduced?

Answer 29

December 1916

Question 30

What did the Patriotic Auxiliary Service Law 1916 seek to achieve?

Answer 30

Conscription of labour service–men 18-60 (but eventually virtually all Germans and POWs) conscripted into war jobs;

Question 31

What were the negative impacts of the Patriotic Auxiliary Service Law in Germany?

Answer 31

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

Question 32

How much food did the Germans import prior to the war?

Answer 32

Prior to war, had imported over 1/3 food needs

Question 33

When were food shortages in Germany first witnessed?

Answer 33

1915-food shortages in urban areas critical; food riots in over 30 cities

Question 34

When was rationing introduced in Germany?

Answer 34

Bread rationed from early 1916; rations further cut in April 1917 after failure of harvests

Question 35

What was the nutritional content of rations like in Germany by 1917?

Answer 35

Official rations for civilians provide half average daily requirements

Question 36

What were conditions like for civilians in Germany by 1918?

Answer 36

Widespread starvation

Question 37

What happened to the political system in Germany upon the outbreak of war?

Answer 37

Transfer of political power to the military at the start of the war. Effective in servicing battlefront but not homefront

Question 38

What was evidence of civilian discontentment in Germany during the war years, and what were its consequences?

Answer 38

Increase in socialist, anti-war movements, e.g. Rosa Luxembourg-evidence of disillusionment, increasing desire for peace; engendered November Revolution

Question 39

What were political conditions in Germany like by the end of the war?

Answer 39

Breakdown of established social order; chaos-growing disorder led to the creation of the republican government by the end of the war.

Question 40

How was the British war effort primarily financed?

Answer 40

War savings certificates, bonds, borrowed from the US. Increase in tax and lowered tax thresholds

Question 41

What was the increase in British taxation from 1914-1918?

Answer 41

Compared to 1914, income tax in 1918 had increased 800%

Question 42

How did the Germans finance the war effort?

Answer 42

Quantitative easing and borrowing

Question 43

What were the negative impacts of the Germans’ engagement in quantitative easing?

Answer 43

By 1917, purchasing power of wages on home front 50% prewar level

Question 44

What percentage of war needs could Germany finance from taxation by 1915?

Answer 44

16%

Question 45

By how much did the German deficit increase from 1914-1918?

Answer 45

Increased 6-fold