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Description: | The reaction on the Home Fronts of Europe to the strategic stalemate at the end of 1916.
In November 1916 the Battle of the Somme came to an end, having cost 1,250,000 casualties on all sides. There was no victory for any country on any front. "Men began to wonder - how long could it go on ?" The first suggestions were made of negotiated peace, and in all the major political centres there were increasing shortages and war-weariness. In October 1916 Prime Minister Herbert Asquith asked the cabinet members what peace terms would be acceptable to them. The cabinet did not believe Britain could lose the war, but did not see how it could be won. There were already 1,100,000 British casualties, and in January 1916 conscription was introduced to provide replacements - there was little resistance except from "a noisy minority", but of 3,400,000 men of military age still in the country over 2,600,000 were in essential occupations. The submarine war threatened a complete shipping breakdown - 1,500,000 tons were sunk in 1916 and only 500,000 tons built, while 95 new U-Boats were built in 1916 for 25 sunk. Agriculture and fisheries were under stress, and the war was costing Britain five million pounds a day. "The responsibility of those who needlessly prolong such a war," wrote Lord Lansdowne, "is not less than the responsibility of those who needlessly provoke it." In Easter 1916 had come the Rising in Dublin. Moderate Irishmen, who stood aside from the rebellion, were alienated by the British execution of fifteen rebels, and by the trial and execution of Sir Roger Casement. Irish opinion in America was so enraged that Lloyd George suggested immediate Home Rule for Ireland to placate the USA. The indecisive Battle of Jutland on 31st May was portrayed by the press as a British defeat. Lord Kitchener was drowned on a diplomatic mission to Russia. Then came the Battle of the Somme. The year had been one tragedy after another. The Germans had lost 1,500,000 casualties in the year, fighting against growing odds with no major victories. The Austro-Hungarians had broken before the Russian attack and on 27th August Rumania declared war against the Central Powers. By autumn 14 million Allied soldiers faced 9 million from the Central Powers; the Germans began to build the Hindenburg Line on the Western Front to avoid a repetition of the Somme battles. The British blockade was lowering Home Front morale, to Hindenburg's concern. On 21st November Emperor Franz Josef, symbol of Austro-Hungarian unity, died. His successor, Emperor Karl, wanted peace. The last effort of the Russian Empire had been the Brusilov Offensive; Russia had lost 4,500,000 casualties and 2,000,000 prisoners since 1914, and also wanted peace. In France one out of every six of the adult population was in the Army and boys of 17 were being conscripted. On 6th December Germans entered Bucharest having conquered Rumania, and Bethmann-Hollweg used the victory to circulate a peace note to President Wilson and the Pope asking for negotations. "In each country," through disquiet over the stalemate, "ruthless men replaced the more moderate". Lloyd George, determined to wage the war more effectively, replaced Asquith. Bethmann-Hollweg's peace note failed and he too resigned. In future Hindenburg and Ludendorff controlled Germany through figurehead chancellors. The Germans believed unrestricted submarine warfare could win the war for them, but Lloyd George imposed the convoy system on a reluctant Admiralty in retaliation. Shipyard work was speeded up by the use of standard ships; home production of food encouraged; and a Food Controller appointed to check profiteering. In France too the old commander, Joffre, was replaced by General Robert Nivelle. So, at the end of 1916 all sides renewed their determination to fight on, while "the bitterest winter in living memory gripped Europe".
16mm | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Subjects: | Austro-Hungarian Home Front & 1916 31/3(43) 31/3(44) 31/3(41) 31/3(47) First World War | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Shaw, Sebastian | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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