The collapse of Imperial Germany
Reasons why Germany faced military defeat in WW1:
Germanys failure to achieve a rapid victory in 1914. Germanys military strategy was
built on the notion of a quick victory to avoid a long-drawn-out conflict with the allies
but by autumn of 1914 the Schlieffen plan failed.
Stalemate. Germany was forced to fight the war on two fronts, the east and the west,
and the balance of military power resulted in a war of stalemate.
Strength of allies. Britain and France were major colonial powers and could call on
their overseas empires for personnel, resources, and supplies. Also strengthened by
USA entering war in April 1917.
Limitations for the German war economy. Germany was unprepared for the costs of a
long war.
Failure of the final offensive. A chance for Germany to escape military defeat came
when it imposed the severe Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on Russia in March 1918. This
enabled Germany to launch a final major offensive on the western front but it lost
momentum.
Socio economic effects of the first world war:
‘Turnip Winter’
-very cold winter 1916-1917
-Failure of potato crop
‘starvation & hypothermia’
-Civilian mortality
-death from starvation and hypothermia increased from 121,000 in 1916 to 293,000 in 1918
-infant deaths rose 50%
‘Spanish flu’
-influenza epidemic
-1918 Europe hit
-killed between 20 & 40 million
’50-75%’
-inflation
-workers forced to work longer but wages fell
-prices doubled but wages only rose 50-75%
‘Social discontent, sharks and middle class’s
-social discontent grew in final war years
-anger against arms dealers (sharks)
-resentment grew in minds of middle class
Felt social status had been lowered due to income decline.
Reasons why Germany faced military defeat in WW1:
Germanys failure to achieve a rapid victory in 1914. Germanys military strategy was
built on the notion of a quick victory to avoid a long-drawn-out conflict with the allies
but by autumn of 1914 the Schlieffen plan failed.
Stalemate. Germany was forced to fight the war on two fronts, the east and the west,
and the balance of military power resulted in a war of stalemate.
Strength of allies. Britain and France were major colonial powers and could call on
their overseas empires for personnel, resources, and supplies. Also strengthened by
USA entering war in April 1917.
Limitations for the German war economy. Germany was unprepared for the costs of a
long war.
Failure of the final offensive. A chance for Germany to escape military defeat came
when it imposed the severe Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on Russia in March 1918. This
enabled Germany to launch a final major offensive on the western front but it lost
momentum.
Socio economic effects of the first world war:
‘Turnip Winter’
-very cold winter 1916-1917
-Failure of potato crop
‘starvation & hypothermia’
-Civilian mortality
-death from starvation and hypothermia increased from 121,000 in 1916 to 293,000 in 1918
-infant deaths rose 50%
‘Spanish flu’
-influenza epidemic
-1918 Europe hit
-killed between 20 & 40 million
’50-75%’
-inflation
-workers forced to work longer but wages fell
-prices doubled but wages only rose 50-75%
‘Social discontent, sharks and middle class’s
-social discontent grew in final war years
-anger against arms dealers (sharks)
-resentment grew in minds of middle class
Felt social status had been lowered due to income decline.
