-
Germany mobilises for War
When the army was mobilised for war in 1914, the army took most of the horses that the farmers used for pulling ploughs, and they conscripted many of the farmers themselves. farmers used for pulling ploughs, and they conscripted many of the farmers themselves. The army needed the horses for transporting armaments and supplies, and they needed the men to fight in the army. -
Period: to
Food Production and Famine
The army took large numbers of farm animals and killed them to feed the army. As a result, German agriculture suffered and became far less productive after 1914 than it had been before the war. Germany began to rely on importing food from European countries. However, they could not import enough food as a result of the British naval blockade. By 1918, there was famine in Germany and the people were starving. -
Military defeat
By the summer of 1918, the British army had learned how to combine artillery and infantry in a combined attack. Allied commanders understood how technology could be used effectively, together with a combined artillery and infantry attack. This was shown clearly at the battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918. Germany’s allies surrendered: Bulgaria made peace with the Allies in September 1918, Turkey in October 1918 and, on 4 November, Austria-Hungary also surrendered. -
Period: to
Influenza
In the summer of 1918, a severe form of ’flu affected most of the countries in the world. It spread through Germany where the people, already weakened by hunger, died in their thousands. On just one day, 1722 Berliners died from ’flu. Altogether, there were about 400,000 civilian deaths in Germany before the ’flu virus disappeared in 1919. Starving and desperate people rioted against the government that they believed had betrayed them. -
Period: to
Political Turmoil
There were riots and revolts in three main centres in Germany. These centres were the Kiel canal; Munich; and Berlin. -
German navy rebels
On 29 October 1918, sailors in ships of the German navy, moored on the Kiel canal, rebelled. They had heard a rumour that they were to be sent out for one last battle with the British Royal Navy. They believed that to do this would be suicidal. They refused to obey orders and joined a movement on 4 November that promised to set up soldiers’ and workers’ councils in rebellion against the existing government. -
Setting up of the Bavarian Democratic and Socialist Republic
In Munich on 8 November 1918, a revolutionary movement set up a Bavarian Democratic and Socialist Republic. -
Berlin riots
In Berlin there were strikes and riots in the streets. On 9 November 1918, the Kaiser escaped to Holland and a new government was set up. Wilhelm II formally abdicated on 28 November. -
Armistice
Germany asked the Allies for an armistice, and on the 11th hour of the 11th month in 1918, the war ended.