The effects of World War I, or ‘The Great War’, on Germany were very detrimental to the nation socially and economically. World War I was a series of battles fought from mid 1914 to late 1918, and involved many nations. During the war German daily life was vastly impacted, especially in terms of food and raw material shortages. In the middle of World War I the German economy felt immense pressures and women and the youth became a valuable part of the workforce. After the Germans ‘lost’ the war the harsh effects of Treaty of Versailles were felt. This involved the outcasting from international communities, especially from the Triple Entente, harsh land losses and other social and economic effects. From 1914 to 1919 Germany felt many effects from World War I, which
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This evidently did not happen, as the war waged on for four years. Food shortage was also a very big factor in Germany during WWI. Source M explained how Germans believed shortages would last a few weeks, clearly proven wrong. Germans were eating dogs, rodents, crows, zoo animals and front line troops were given small portions of horse meat, according to The impact of the First World War on Germany, published in 2004 (Source D). Source B explained average food prices rose 446% between 1914 and 1918. This meant that a lot of people could not afford to eat and were unable to help support the war effort. In fact the number of navally blocked or starving reached 294,000 in 1918. Wotherspoon, who published a new article in 2013 about life on the German home front during WWI (Source E), also had insight into food shortages in Germany. In 1915 food shortages reached crisis level and rumours spread farmers were stockpiling food. This caused food riots and disrupted society heavily, having an extremely negative effect. Source K further explained that the conscription of farmers meant a significant downfall in agricultural output into society.
This evidently did not happen, as the war waged on for four years. Food shortage was also a very big factor in Germany during WWI. Source M explained how Germans believed shortages would last a few weeks, clearly proven wrong. Germans were eating dogs, rodents, crows, zoo animals and front line troops were given small portions of horse meat, according to The impact of the First World War on Germany, published in 2004 (Source D). Source B explained average food prices rose 446% between 1914 and 1918. This meant that a lot of people could not afford to eat and were unable to help support the war effort. In fact the number of navally blocked or starving reached 294,000 in 1918. Wotherspoon, who published a new article in 2013 about life on the German home front during WWI (Source E), also had insight into food shortages in Germany. In 1915 food shortages reached crisis level and rumours spread farmers were stockpiling food. This caused food riots and disrupted society heavily, having an extremely negative effect. Source K further explained that the conscription of farmers meant a significant downfall in agricultural output into society.