Britain and Total War
Britain and Total War
Reasons for delaying total war
Nature of British society
Britain was a parliamentary democracy with a free press and strong union movement. There was no tradition of conscription and although government controls were quickly put in place, Britain did not assume organisation for total war in 1914.
‘Business as usual’
Britain’s official response to the war was ‘business as usual’. This is because many in Britain believed the war would be over very quickly. It was assumed Britain’s market would handle the increased demands brought on by the war by handing out lucrative contracts to private firms.
Misunderstanding of the war
Many believed that the war would be a rapid war of movement. Such as war would require great levels of artillery and munitions. This view had to change once the war became deadlocked on the Western Front.
Government Controls
List the ways in which the British Government increased control over the British people * Civil rights suspended, Britain put under virtual martial law. Police had the right to stop and question citizens, suspects could be imprisoned immediately. * Kite-flying and feeding bread to animals became illegal. * Needed official permission to buy binoculars. * Pub opening hours limited, beer prices increased and alcohol content of beers and spirits was reduced. * Daylight saving was introduced in the hope of lengthening working days.
Government Controls over Food Britain’s situation compared to Germany’s | How serious did it get in Britain? | What steps did the government take? | Germany’s living standards had collapsed. However, Britain’s had not. Nutrition and diet had actually improved for the British during the war. | | Food restriction were introduced due to a poor harvest and the impact of Germany’s sub campaign. Lord Devonport, the new food controller asked British people to limit their consumption per week to 115 grams of sugar, 1.8 kilograms of bread and 1.1 kilograms
Reasons for delaying total war
Nature of British society
Britain was a parliamentary democracy with a free press and strong union movement. There was no tradition of conscription and although government controls were quickly put in place, Britain did not assume organisation for total war in 1914.
‘Business as usual’
Britain’s official response to the war was ‘business as usual’. This is because many in Britain believed the war would be over very quickly. It was assumed Britain’s market would handle the increased demands brought on by the war by handing out lucrative contracts to private firms.
Misunderstanding of the war
Many believed that the war would be a rapid war of movement. Such as war would require great levels of artillery and munitions. This view had to change once the war became deadlocked on the Western Front.
Government Controls
List the ways in which the British Government increased control over the British people * Civil rights suspended, Britain put under virtual martial law. Police had the right to stop and question citizens, suspects could be imprisoned immediately. * Kite-flying and feeding bread to animals became illegal. * Needed official permission to buy binoculars. * Pub opening hours limited, beer prices increased and alcohol content of beers and spirits was reduced. * Daylight saving was introduced in the hope of lengthening working days.
Government Controls over Food Britain’s situation compared to Germany’s | How serious did it get in Britain? | What steps did the government take? | Germany’s living standards had collapsed. However, Britain’s had not. Nutrition and diet had actually improved for the British during the war. | | Food restriction were introduced due to a poor harvest and the impact of Germany’s sub campaign. Lord Devonport, the new food controller asked British people to limit their consumption per week to 115 grams of sugar, 1.8 kilograms of bread and 1.1 kilograms