History revision – Germany at war (5)
The war 1914-16
- In 1914 all the political parties in Gr promised their support for the war by consenting
to the policy of Burgfriede (Fortress Peace)
o Parties felt that the war was one of defence and was thus of national interest
- SPD leaders couldn’t ignore that their supporters wanted to defend the Fatherland
against the perceived threat of Russia – put aside their pacifist approach and
consented to Burgfriede
- However, by 1916, OHL moved to policy of Siegfriede
o SPD opposed and said it wasn’t in nations interest
However, OHL weren’t worried – they had complete control of Gr and felt
that SPD and NL were able to do very little
- 4th August 1914, Wilhelm insisted Gr had done all it could to avoid war in a speech to
the Reichstag, and said that Gr could now draw its sword with a clear conscience
- All party leaders agreed to a political truce for the duration of the war
- Reichstag passed war credits – financial bills that enabled the Gr government to fund
the war – and then adjourned leaving conduct of war to the government
- 3rd August 1914 Schliffen plan put into operation but ran into problems and was ended
on 12th September 1914
o Br supported Fr
o Belgium didn’t lay down and allow Gr to walk through – fought which slowed Gr
advances
o Ru quickly mobilised its troops – war on two front
- Failure of Schliffen plan committed Gr into a long war of attrition on a large scale
Allied and Central Power strength
- After Gr’s failure of a quick victory in 1914, Gr became part of a war of attrition for
which it was both militarily and economically underprepared
- However, Gr still had a fine army and the world’s 2 nd largest navy
- Central powers were also able to move men, using railway networks, from one front to
another when necessary
- Although allies had more men, Ru forces were poorly equipped and poorly led
- As a result of Gr advance in 1914, Fr lost its main industrial area which impacted its
ability to produce equipment required for war
- October 1914, Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers and Bulgaria joined in 1915
- However, on balance, Allies were stronger
- Ru army was largest in EU, Br had strongest navy and both Br and Fr could call on
their large empires for support if necessary
- Allied naval blockade began in 1914 and ensured Gr unable to obtain necessary food
- Allies meanwhile were able to continue trade worldwide
- Gr overseas possessions were quickly taken by others – exception of East Africa
- 1915, Italy joined war on allied side
Domestic impact of war
- Despite failure to secure quick victory, very few opposed the war in 1914-15
- Gr’s remained united against the perceived threat posed by ‘barbaric’ Ru
- Lulled into false sense of security by official propaganda, most Gr’s remained
confident of victory
The war 1914-16
- In 1914 all the political parties in Gr promised their support for the war by consenting
to the policy of Burgfriede (Fortress Peace)
o Parties felt that the war was one of defence and was thus of national interest
- SPD leaders couldn’t ignore that their supporters wanted to defend the Fatherland
against the perceived threat of Russia – put aside their pacifist approach and
consented to Burgfriede
- However, by 1916, OHL moved to policy of Siegfriede
o SPD opposed and said it wasn’t in nations interest
However, OHL weren’t worried – they had complete control of Gr and felt
that SPD and NL were able to do very little
- 4th August 1914, Wilhelm insisted Gr had done all it could to avoid war in a speech to
the Reichstag, and said that Gr could now draw its sword with a clear conscience
- All party leaders agreed to a political truce for the duration of the war
- Reichstag passed war credits – financial bills that enabled the Gr government to fund
the war – and then adjourned leaving conduct of war to the government
- 3rd August 1914 Schliffen plan put into operation but ran into problems and was ended
on 12th September 1914
o Br supported Fr
o Belgium didn’t lay down and allow Gr to walk through – fought which slowed Gr
advances
o Ru quickly mobilised its troops – war on two front
- Failure of Schliffen plan committed Gr into a long war of attrition on a large scale
Allied and Central Power strength
- After Gr’s failure of a quick victory in 1914, Gr became part of a war of attrition for
which it was both militarily and economically underprepared
- However, Gr still had a fine army and the world’s 2 nd largest navy
- Central powers were also able to move men, using railway networks, from one front to
another when necessary
- Although allies had more men, Ru forces were poorly equipped and poorly led
- As a result of Gr advance in 1914, Fr lost its main industrial area which impacted its
ability to produce equipment required for war
- October 1914, Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers and Bulgaria joined in 1915
- However, on balance, Allies were stronger
- Ru army was largest in EU, Br had strongest navy and both Br and Fr could call on
their large empires for support if necessary
- Allied naval blockade began in 1914 and ensured Gr unable to obtain necessary food
- Allies meanwhile were able to continue trade worldwide
- Gr overseas possessions were quickly taken by others – exception of East Africa
- 1915, Italy joined war on allied side
Domestic impact of war
- Despite failure to secure quick victory, very few opposed the war in 1914-15
- Gr’s remained united against the perceived threat posed by ‘barbaric’ Ru
- Lulled into false sense of security by official propaganda, most Gr’s remained
confident of victory
