World War 1

Question 1

What was Burgfreide?

Answer 1

A political truce between all parties

Question 2

Why was Burgfreide significant?

Answer 2

Laws for necessary loans to finance the war were passed unanimously. Even SPD promised to support war. Lasted for the first 2 years and met no real opposition from the people or the Reichstag, however, this began to change following the deaths at Verdun and Somme in 1916.

Question 3

Why did the SPD support the war?

Answer 3

Thought it would give them political recognition and increase the chances of Germany becoming a democracy.

Question 4

When was the Reichstag Peace Resolution

Answer 4

July 1917

Question 5

What was the Reichstag Peace Resolution?

Answer 5

Centre Party deputy, Matthias Erzberger, calls for a negotiated peace without territorial gains. The Reichstag passed peace Resolution by 212 votes to 126.

Question 6

Why was the Reichstag Peace Resolution significant?

Answer 6

Illustrated increasing polarisation between groups who supported peace without victory and those who wanted Siegfried. Also led to the resignation of Benthmann-Hollweg, but made little impact on the Supreme Army Command

Question 7

When was the foundation of the Fatherland Party?

Answer 7

1917

Question 8

What was the Fatherland Party?

Answer 8

Founded by nationalists who wanted Germany to make a ‘victory peace’/Siegfreide with land conquests.

Question 9

What was the USPD, and when was it formed?

Answer 9

Formed by SPD radicals who opposed the war. 1917

Question 10

What was the political fallout of the war?

Answer 10

Led to the Kaiser being forced into abdication. Ludendorff and Hindenburg established a ‘silent dictatorship’ - they held such power that Germany effectively became a military dictatorship. Many soliders were of the opinion that they had not lost the war, believed the army had been cheated.

Question 11

What did food shortages lead to?

Answer 11

Prices were set for goods and the government attempted to regulate supply.

Question 12

What was the significance of the food shortages?

Answer 12

The powerful agricultural lobby resisted and measures proved inadequate. Though there was a better supply of food in the countryside, in the city a black market flourished.

Question 13

When was bread rationing introduced?

Answer 13

January 1915

Question 14

What was the significance of rationing?

Answer 14

People found alternatives (Ersatz) for certain food. For example, Ersatz coffee was made from tree bark, turnips replace potatoes in the ‘turnip winter’ of 1916-7. Daily bread ration was 225g per person, per day in 1915, fell to 160g in 1917.

Question 15

How many people died from starvation and hypothermia in 1916 and 1918?

Answer 15

1916 - 121,000
1918 - 293,000

Question 16

How many people died or were wounded in the war?

Answer 16

Dead - 1.8 million, 16% of all those conscripted died.
Wounded - 6.3 million

Question 17

How did death rates in children and teenagers change?

Answer 17

For children between 1 and 5, rose by 50%
From 5 to 15, by 55%

Question 18

How was trade impacted by the war?

Answer 18

35% of all trade was organised illegally on the Black market

Question 19

How did the government respond to raw material shortages?

Answer 19

Within the War Ministry, AEG owner Walther Rathenau set up the KRA or the War Raw Materials Department - oversaw a range of companies with the aim of acquiring, storing and distributing most vital raw materials.

Question 20

How did the government respond to industrial labour shortages? (WW1)

Answer 20

Working hours increased, local War Boards were created, made up of representatives of management and labour to deal with production. By the end of the war, around 1/3 of the industrial workers were female, but these were mainly women who had been working in other jobs.

Question 21

When were the Auxiliary Service Laws introduced and what were they?

Answer 21

December 1916, made it law for all German males aged 17-60 to work for the war effort if so required.

Question 22

Why were the Auxiliary Service Laws significant?

Answer 22

Implemented to deal with the industrial labour shortages, however, the problem was that there simply weren’t that many men not already in employment or in the army.

Question 23

What concessions were made to trade unions?

Answer 23

They were given the right to collective bargaining. A union official was allowed to sit on the boards that designated workers to various factories. Arbitration boards were set up to mediate in companies with over 50 employees.

Question 24

How did the Government respond to Grain shortages?

Answer 24

Starting with the Imperial Grain Corporation in January 1915, over 40 different bodies were set up by the Bundesrat to administer the rationing and distribution of foods.

Question 25

What was one of the solutions to the grain shortages?

Answer 25

9 million pigs were slaughtered as they consumed grain and other feed. This led to a pork shortage and fertiliser.

Question 26

When was the War Nutrition Office introduced, and why?

Answer 26

1916, to deal with the messes of the earlier corporations. The office had powers to exert control over all other agencies.

Question 27

How did the government finance the war?

Answer 27

They printed more money. Increasing the amount of cash in circulation, led to inflation and lower value of the mark internationally. Germans were encouraged to invest in government funds by buying War Bonds. Believed thier savings were secure as they’d just get it back when the war was won and Germany was granted reparations.

Question 28

When was the British Naval Blockade introduced and why was it significant?

Answer 28

February 1915, severely limited Germany’s ability to import raw materials and food.

Question 29

How did the value of the mark change between 1913 and 1918?

Answer 29

Lost 75% of its value.

Question 30

What happened to real wages throughout the war?

Answer 30

Fell 20-30%

Question 31

What were the total costs of the war?

Answer 31

38 billion dollars.

Question 32

What happened to industrial output between 1914 and 1918?

Answer 32

Fell by over 40%