WW1 - the home fronts

The process of total mobilisation began early in Germany and took aspects of the economy into consideration. This preparation for the impact of war included the establishment of the War Raw Materials Department in 1914, the aim of which was to deal with conservation of resources, production, state control of substitutes and the planned distribution of goods. Additionally, other special state corporations were established, such as the Supreme War Office. Directed labour was also introduced, and this included the implementation of the Patriotic Auxillary Service Law, under which men aged 17-60 were liable to be called for labour service. The German government also was able to effeciently organise the mobilisation of women to replace lost labour in the workforce.

In Britain, the government released DO

Another factor contributing to a loss of support from the German public was the decision by the government to conscript teenage boys and elderly men, which was a reflection of the ineffeciency with which troops were dealt with from the outset. As Germany had put all of its troops into battle early due to a belief that the war would be over by Christmas, as time progressed there was a desparation to maintain the numbers needed for the armed forces.

Carr believes the effects of ‘…the state…intervening so actively in the regulation of the economy (was that) ordinary Germans began to blame it for its manifest failure to protect their living standards in the second half of the war.’

Despite the early organisation of industry in Germany, the German economy was soon to be burdened with the creation of the Hindenburg Program in 1916, enabling Britain to gain an advantage. This civilian organisation was given extensive powers over labour, manufacturing and transport and resulted in the breakdown of food distribution, deterioation of the transport system and growing anti-war sentiments due a decline in living standards.

Some topics in this essay:
Source Germany, Lloyd George’s, German Empire, Lloyd George, Russian Revolution, Hindenburg Program, Germany Britain, Air Force, Realm Act, Service Law, war effort, living standards, home front, german government, decline living, maintaining war effort, causing discontent, breakdown food, food distribution, total war, lloyd george, decline living standards, breakdown food distribution, war effort home, effort home front,