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The Home Front. A. Total War: Political Centralization and Economic Regimentation. Expectation of short war = no long term economic planning & wartime needs EU countries mobilized millions of men Free market capitalism replaced with gov’t regulated economies
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A. Total War: Political Centralization and Economic Regimentation • Expectation of short war = no long term economic planning & wartime needs • EU countries mobilized millions of men • Free market capitalism replaced with gov’t regulated economies • Little distinction between soldiers on battlefield & civilians at home
B. Germany • Most successful planned economy • Walter Rathenau – War Raw Materials Board • Less successful rationing food • German war gov’t under military authority – General Paul von Hindenburg, Erich Ludendorff • Auxiliary Service Law of 1916 – all males 17-60 required to work in war jobs
C. Great Britain • More centralized gov’t & planned economy • Ministry of Munitions created July 1915 – led by David Lloyd George • Also rationed food & imposed rent controls
D. France • Less successful than BR & GR in creating war gov’t • NE FR occupied by GR interference with production • Conflict between military & political leaders • Georges Clemenceau – est. civilian control in 1917
E. Russia, Austria-Hungary, Italy • Much less successful mobilization than BR, GR, FR • Autocratic empires, backwards economies • Russians conscripted millions; armed 1/4th • Ethnic minorities obstacle to internal cohesion • ITL lacked enthusiasm and resources
F. Public Order and Public Opinion • Strike activity increased dramatically • Violence in Ireland Easter Rebellion • Most opposition to war came from liberals and socialists • Mutinies in FR & ITL armies • Nationalistic ambitions from ethnic minorities • Authoritarian & parliamentary gov’ts used force to silence opposition • Propaganda used to create support for war
G. The Social Impact of Total War • End to unemployment – high demand for jobs • New acceptance of trade and labor unions • New benefits to labor movement collective bargaining, increased prestige and enrollment • New roles for women
5. Some male resistance 6. Women’s presence in workforce was temporary 7. Women gained the right to vote in BR, GR, A-H 8. Social class groups equal on the battlefield 9. WWI did not eliminate class conflict
H. The Economic Impact of Total War • Owners of large manufacturing industries $$ from war • Inflation caused inequality • Middle-class hit hard