The Germans as other Europeans went to war enthusiastically in August 1914. In Germany, more than in many other belligerent countries, the "August experience" had the impact of melting down entrenched social barriers. Romantic German nationalists had dreamt of just such an emotional moment for decades. The resulting horror of the War which continued for 4 years was a sobering education in war to the German people. After all that suffering, the Russian surrender seemed to signal that victory was within reach. The German people were astonished to find General Eric Ludendorf on October 4, 1918 had requested a truce. Rationing had reached critical levels. 3 Nevertheless, the collapse of the Western Front surprised most Germans. Defeat changed the
