The German Home Front

1. The German Home Front

2. Aims: • Identify the main effects of the First World War on German civilians.

3. The Success of the Naval Blockade • When war broke out in 1914 the British navy imposed a naval blockade on Germany. Why? • This had a huge impact on the people of Germany and the war effort • There was not enough fertiliser for crops • Metals were in short supply • There was a shortage of coal which was needed for gas and electricity. Germans faced many lengthy power cuts. • There was not enough cotton or leather for clothes and shoes.

4. Food Shortages • Between 20-30% of Germany’s food was imported before the war so the British blockade could have little impact. • Yet rationing was introduced in 1915 – it covered bread, then milk, cereals, fruit, eggs, fish, coffee, tea, butter, meat. By 1916 there were severe food shortages. • So why were food shortages a huge problem in Germany during the First World War?

6. The ‘Turnip Winter’ • In the winter of 1916/1917 food shortages were so bad that many Germans that many were forced to survive on turnips – food that would normally be given to animals. • A typical adult was taking in around 1100 calories per day – about half of the recommended daily intake. • One German remembers their daily meals during the war; “In the morning we had turnip soup, at midday we ate turnip cutlets, in the evening we had turnip cakes.”

7. The Effects of Food Shortages in Germany • Rationing was introduced in 1915 and was much more severe than it was in Britain. • The Germans developed ‘ersatz’ food or food substitutes to try and overcome the shortages they faced e.g. chicory was used to flavour coffee. • Any piece of spare land was also used to grow potatoes and vegetables.

8. The Effects of Food Shortages • Many Germans suffered from malnutrition and it is estimated that over 750,000 people died of starvation in Germany during the war. • In 1918 a flu epidemic spread across Europe. It became known as the ‘Spanish Flu’ and thousands of people in many countries died especially those weak from hunger. • It is estimated 3-6% of the world’s population – 50-100 million people died from Spanish Flu. • In Germany around 150,000 people died from Spanish Flu.

10. The German Home Front Read Heinemann pages 78 – 81 and answer the following questions in sentences. • Give four examples of the types of shortages which Germany faced because of the naval blockade. • When was rationing introduced in Germany? • Give three reasons why food shortages in Germany were so severe. • What was the Winter of 1916/1917 known as and why was this the case? • How many died in Germany as a result of starvation and which other outbreak added to the number of deaths? • Which decision made in August 1916 resulted in less men working on the land to produce food?