HOME FRONT

The Effects of World War I on Opposing Home Fronts Kendall Jaye Smith State University of New York at Oswego

HOME FRONT The Effects of World War I on Opposing Home Fronts

Imagine a time when the entire world is at odds. Each country must choose a side, or shall they stay neutral. Two countries, Germany and the United States, experienced this terrible turmoil. War can affect a countrys citizens who are fighting and those maintaining the home front. Although the U.S. and Germany entered WWI at different times, they dealt with similar effects on their individual home fronts. The home front can be defined as, the civilian sector of a nation at war when its armed forces are in combat abroad. (Home front, 2013) The term abroad, as seen in the definition above, shows how the home front exists all over the world, not just in one particular nation. They were not strictly a European or United States wartime phrase. In a war such as WWI, the home fronts of countries all over felt the pressure of wartime, often affecting the soldiers at war. WWI had significantly impacted Germany and the United States both abroad and on their home fronts. Germany entered the war in the year 1914, three years before the United States. The morale of Germanys home front started off great. All major political sectors supported the war at first, including the socialist party. The spirit of the German people in 1914 can be described as overwhelming and enthusiastic. (Spirit of 1914, 2013) However, the economy of Germany was not prepared to support such major war efforts. Germany did not plan on mobilizing its civilian economy for the war efforts. This caused things on the home front to weaken quickly. In an article written by John Terraine entitled, An Actual Revolutionary Situation, John Terrain speaks of how food became an obsessive subject in Germany. The winter of 1916 to 1917 were extremely tough on the home front. Mr. Terraine also said with the shortage of food continuing, it became an industrial agitation. (Terraine, 1978) The German army also started to cut rations

HOME FRONT

for soldiers. Although these problems sustained, the German Railroad Network was the largest in Europe. (Terraine, 1978) However, there was a shortage of coal throughout Germany, which didnt help their cause. Even though the beginning of the WWI was met with support from Germany, there was opposition to the war as well. Strikes became prevalent with messages opposite of what the government and political figures believed. Many of these strikes focused on the food shortage, starvation and the desire for higher wages. The citizens were demanding food. John Terrain states, the Ruhr area was the first to be affected by the strikes in Germany. (Terraine, 1978) The female citizens of Germany experienced quite a large amount of change during WWI. Despite all the problems on the home front, German women entered the work force for the first time. This was a major change to the German societal structure. German woman, however, were not in the nations armed forces. They started to take paid jobs in the factories, these positions were normally held by men. Also, the women took on volunteering positions as well. Woman replaced men in many jobs they would not have done or had a chance to do before the war. (Goff, Moss, Terry, Upshur & Schroeder, 2008) By 1917, more than half the workers in factories were women. According to textbook, 702,000 women were employed in the armaments industry. This was a 500 percent increase over 1913. Many of these workers were young women of society. Moreover, 100,000 railroad workers were women. This was also a surprising 1000 percent increase over the year 1914. (Goff, Moss, Terry, Upshur & Schroeder, 2008) In a surprising eye-opener, Germany had a connection to the United States. This is even more so unexpected because the countries are on opposite ends of the world and the war. German Americans, on the home front of the U.S., were nervous about the form a treatment they might receive from other Americans during this time of war. (Luebke, 1974) However, the ties

HOME FRONT between these citizens and Germany, also known as their loyalty to the European country, were extremely weak. By 1917, Germany already had been excluded almost entirely from national discourse on the subject of the war. (Luebke, 1974)

Continuing with the United States, just like with the case in Germany, support for the war was overwhelming at first. As previously stated, the United States entered the war three years after their German opponents. This declaration of war came in the year 1917 and President Woodrow Wilson led the country. The question circling the U.S. became would the citizens of the free world fight for what they believe in? The answer was a definite yes. Confusion was a large part of the beginning or WWI for the United States. This was due to little planning before entering the war. (Kennedy, 2013) War bonds and victory gardens were a large part of war efforts in the United States. The food developed in the U.S. was pushed to be grown in the victory gardens. This initiative showed people how to budget their food, which managed to help the countrys food distribution and pricing. This clearly differs from the problems Germany had encountered with food and starvation on their home front during the war. Organizations all over the U.S. also contributed to war efforts on their home front. The Boy Scouts of America helped pass out pamphlets, sell war bonds, and helped drive national support. Just like in Germany, there was resistance to the war on the U.S. home front as well. The resistance mostly came from the west and the Midwest. Also, the opposition to the war was running on conspiracy theories, focusing on the U.S. possible owning money to the European allies. (American entry into, 2013) Women in the United States saw a major change in their societal roles, just like those in Germany. Nevertheless, there was a large difference; women in the U.S. were involved in the armed forces. There were 21,480 United States Army nurses during WWI and they were all

HOME FRONT women. The Womens Suffrage Movement in America helped sell war bonds, coinciding with the Boys Scouts of America, as well as conserving food for the country. (Women in world,

2013) Women in the U.S. also sent supplies to Europeans in need. Dr. Anna Shaw, the Womens Committee of the Council of National Defense, coordinated womens war efforts. (Women in world, 2013) The citizens of the U.S. saw a large increase in support for womens suffrage during WWI. This also assisted in the process of getting the 19th Amendment of the U.S. constitution passed. Although the women took over the jobs once held by men who were now fighting in the war, they were paid less than the male employee was. The movement towards womens equality in the United States was also on the rise during the First World War. In fact, there were many prominent female figures in Americas society during World War I. In 1917 World War I Army nurses Edith Ayres and Helen Wood became the first female members of the U.S. military killed in the line of duty. It is Important to remember women held no rank in the U.S. Army even though they were involved. (Women in military, 2013) They were killed on May 20, 1917, while aboard the USS Mongolia with Base Hospital #12, which was on its way to France. During a practice drill the ships crew fired the deck guns, and one of the guns exploded. This discharged shell fragments across the deck and killed Nurse Ayres and her friend Nurse Helen Wood. (Women in military, 2013) Another prominent woman in the United States during the First World War was Opha Mae Johnson. On August 13, 1918 Opha became the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps as part of the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve. (Women marines:,) About three hundred women joined the United States Marine Corps. They took over clerical duties from battle ready soldiers that were headed overseas. The women were nicknamed Marinettes. (Schwartz, 2011)

HOME FRONT A major effect of war on the home front is the number of casualties that pile up in all countries involved. This fact is tragic, but true. During WWI, Germany and the United States both experienced a number of fallen soldiers as well as civilians. With a population of 65 million people, Germany suffered 2.1 million military deaths. As well as, 430,000 civilian deaths due to wartime causes, especially the food shortages and starvation impacting the German citizens. In

addition about 17,000 killed in Africa and the other overseas colonies. (Grebler & Winkle, 1940) America saw smaller amount of death upon their people during WWI compared to Germany. The United States had a population of 92 million citizens at the start of the war, which are 27 million more citizens than Germany. During the course of the First World War, the U.S. experienced 116,708 military deaths. Along with 757 direct civilian deaths due directly to military actions. That makes the total death count, 117,465 people, from the United States. The U.S. deaths accounted for .13 percent of the countries total population while Germanys deaths were 3.82 percent. (Leland & Oboroceanu, 2010) The U.S. also saw 205,690 wounded military members where as Germany had a massive 4,247,143 wounded military men. (Leland & Oboroceanu, 2010) Looking at the number of civilian deaths further proves the impact war can have on the home fronts of countries involved in the war. However the effects on Germany and the United States differed, they had similar effects on their individual societies. They saw the outcome of wartime on their economies, citizens and national support. However, WWI ultimately effected the home front in a major way. The First World War caused a connection between two opposing countries that experienced first hand how wartime can impact a society as a whole.

HOME FRONT

Works Cited:
American entry into world war i: Public opinion, moralism, and national interest. (2013, November). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_entry_into_World_War_I

Goff, R., Moss, W., Terry, J., Upshur, J., & Schroeder, M. (2008). The twentieth century and beyond: A brief global history. (7th ed., p. 113). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company.

Grebler, L., & Winkler, W. (1940). The Cost of the World War to Germany and Austria-Hungary, Yale University Press.

Home front. (2013). Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/home front?s=t

Kennedy, D. (2013, November). United states in world war i. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_in_World_War_I

Leland, A., & Oboroceanu , M. (2010). American war and military operations casualties: Lists and statistics .Congressional Research Service, Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf

Luebke, F.C. (1974). Bonds of Loyalty: German-Americans and World War I

Schwartz, H.E. (2011), Women of the U.S. Marine Corps: Breaking Barriers Capstone, p. 12.

HOME FRONT

Spirit of 1914. (2013, June 21). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_of_1914

Terraine, J. (1978). 'An Actual Revolutionary Situation': In 1917 there was little to sustain German morale at home. History Today, 28(1), 14.

Women in military service for america memorial foundation:resourceshistorical frequently asked questions. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.womensmemorial.org/H&C/Resources/hfaq.html

Women in world war i. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.nwhm.org/onlineexhibits/progressiveera/worldwarI.html

Women marines: (excerpt from warrior culture of the u.s. marines, copyright 2001 marion f. sturkey) . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/women_marines.htm