3.3.1

The Impact of the Naval Blockade

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The Impact of the Naval Blockade

The British naval blockade backed up the Allied advance on the Western Front. This made their victory inevitable.

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The blockade

  • The Allied blockade against Germany restricted ships supplying goods to the Central Powers.
  • Although the Germans had launched a U-boat campaign against Britain, it was far less effective.
  • The impact of the blockade on Germany was enormous.
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Historical debates

  • Historians have said that around 425,000 German civilians died because of the starvation and disease caused by the blockade.
  • Some argue that starvation on the home front forced German defeat in 1918.
  • The blockade made the ‘turnip winter’ of 1916-1917 worse in Germany. This was when Germany was suffering because of a failed potato harvest.
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Historical debates

  • Many historians disagree by saying Germany had new resources from Russia and starvation was reduced by the rationing system.
  • This blockade had a material effect on Germany but also contributed to a growing sense of war weariness and resentment against the military leadership.

Jump to other topics

1The Causes of the First World War

2The First World War: Stalemate

3Ending the War

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