The impact of WWI

By 1917, Germany was suffering from extreme war fatigue due to prolonged conflict, high casualties, and declining morale among soldiers and civilians.
2 million German soldiers died in WWI and 4 million were injured. Those who survived faced limited employment opportunities, while war widows and orphans increased welfare demands, stretching the Weimar state’s capacity to support its people.
Severe territorial losses under the Treaty of Versailles reduced Germany’s land, population, and industrial capacity. Alsace-Lorraine returned to France, the Polish Corridor split East Prussia, and all overseas colonies were removed, weakening national pride and economic reach.
The Allies imposed drastic military restrictions – the army was capped at 100,000 men, conscription banned, and the navy and air force effectively dismantled.
Heavy reparations obligations placed immense pressure on state finances that would later prove to be unsustainable, contributing to fiscal crisis and political bitterness.
The Dolchstoßlegende or “stab-in-the-back” myth took root (suggesting the otherwise undefeated German army was betrayed by cowardly politicians) which weakened trust in democratic institutions and fuelled extremist propaganda.
The British navy maintained a blockade of German ports, stopping food from reaching people. People had to subsist on meagre amounts of turnips and bread, but approximately 750,000 German civilians died from hunger.

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