Figure 1.--America not only provided food to its allies and the Armenians targeted by the Turks, but after the War fed its former enemies, including the Germans and Turks. The Quaker American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) played a major role in this effort. The AFSC began its efforts in Germany before the American Government's effort could begin. As a result, Administrator Hoover asked the AFSC to play an important role in the American effort in Germany. It was known as Quäkerspeisung (Quaker feeding). Here we see part of the food distribtrioj effort.

Highly industrialized Germany was one of the European countrie most vulneranle to food shortages. Germany was not self- sufficent in food production. It imported vast quantities of food from Russia -- before the Communist take over the European bread basket. And also from from other countries through maritime commerce, primarily through the port of Hamburg. Going to war with Russia and Britain which had the naval power to blockade the North Sea (thus shutting down the port of Hamnburg) was thus a very risky undertaking. Kaiser Wilhelm decided to take thst risk, calculating that the powerful German Army could gain a quick victory--as his grandfather had achievd in the Franco-Prussian war (1870-71). He was very nearly correct--almost. This time Germany bit off more than even its Army could achieve--war with Bitain, France, and Russia as well as other contries, and the Miracle on the Marne (September 1914) meant that there would be no quick victory,but rather a war of attriction. The Brutish immediately imposed an air tight North Sea blockade cutting off food and other citically needed resources. Germany did not have the resources the Allies had and could import food and raw materials from America and the Empire. The food situation is the reason that the Germany Army as they marched through Belgium, seized the civilian food supply--creating a humanitarian crisis. This fundamentally changed the image of the German nation around the world, most importantly the United States which had a huge German ethnic population and might have been expected to be sympthetic to Germany. Germany attempted to deal with the food situation, introducing government controls on both food production and dustribution. Many of these policies proved to be badly thought out and only worsened the developing shortages. Germany did not even effectively utilize the capacity of its agricultural sector. Conscripting farm workers and not maintaining inputs into the agricultural sector (fertilizer, livestock, machinery, etc.) mean that harvest levels declined. The Germans produced substitute (ersatz) foodstuffs from a variety of unappealing ingredients. Not only did the Germans not like them, but their nutritional value was negligible. Food shortages began to develop very quickly in Germany and became steadily worse. The Germans expeienced the dreadful Turnip winter (1916). But unlike Belgium, there was no country motivated to help them. Thy had cut themselves off from Russian food and maritime imports because of the British North Sea Blockade. As a result, not only did shortages develop, but significnt malnourishment became a problem by 1916. By the end of the War Germaby was starving along with much of the Continent that the Germans had occupied. America had not attempted to help the Germans duing the War. This changed, however, with the end of the War and the signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty (1919). Some today question the idea that America is an exceptional country. American food aid to Germany is a prime example of just how exceptional America is. Not only dis America save millions of lives in Allied nations, but also millions in enemy nations. The Quaker American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) played a major role in this effort. The AFSC began its efforts in Germany before the American Government's effort could begin. As a result, Administrator Hoover asked the AFSC to play an important role in the American effort in Germany. It was known as Quäkerspeisung (Quaker feeding). Here we see part of the food distribtrioj effort. The American effort in Germany fed over a million children daily. The German food experience during the War was understood by Hitler and would become part of his planning for World War II. He was detemined that there would be no food shortages in Germany again.

Pre-War Food Situation

Highly industrialized Germany was one of the European countrie most vulneranle to food shortages. Germany was not self- sufficent in food production. It imported vast quantities of food from Russia -- before the Communist take over the European bread basket. The black soil area of Russia and the Ukraine produced vast harvests despite the inefficency of Russian agriculture. And also from from other countries through maritime commerce, primarily through the port of Hamburg.

Food Situation: World War I (1914-18)

Going to war with Russia, a source of food, and Britain which had the naval power to blockade the North Sea (thus shutting down the port of Hamnburg) was a very risky undertaking. Kaiser Wilhelm decided to take thst risk, calculating that the powerful German Army could gain a quick victory--as his grandfather had achievd in the Franco-Prussian war (1870-71). He was very nearly correct--almost. This time Germany bit off more than even its Army could achieve--war with Bitain, France, and Russia as well as other contries, and the Miracle on the Marne (September 1914) meant that there would be no quick victory,but rather a war of attriction. The Brutish immediately imposed an air tight North Sea blockade cutting off food and other citically needed resources. Germany did not have the resources the Allies had and could import food and raw materials from America and the Empire. The food situation is the reason that the Germany Army as they marched through Belgium, seized the civilian food supply--creating a humanitarian crisis. This fundamentally changed the image of the German nation around the world, most importantly the United States which had a huge German ethnic population and might have been expected to be sympthetic to Germany. Germany attempted to deal with the food situation, introducing government controls on both food production and dustribution. Many of these policies proved to be badly thought out and only worsened the developing shortages. Germany did not even effectively utilize the capacity of its agricultural sector. Conscripting farm workers and not maintaining inputs into the agricultural sector (fertilizer, livestock, machinery, etc.) mean that harvest levels declined. The Germans produced substitute (ersatz) foodstuffs from a variety of unappealing ingredients. Not only did the Germans not like them, but their nutritional value was negligible. Food shortages began to develop very quickly in Germany and became steadily worse. The Germans expeienced the dreadful Turnip winter (1916). But unlike Belgium, there was no country motivated to help them. Thy had cut themselves off from Russian food and maritime imports because of the British North Sea Blockade. As a result, not only did shortages develop, but significnt malnourishment became a problem by 1916. By the end of the War Germany was starving along with much of the Continent that the Germans had occupied. The German charged that over 0.5 million civilans died during the War as a result of food shortages. That seems like a very large number. There is no doubt the food situation was dire.

Food Shipments: The Armistice (November 1918-July 1919)

The Armistice ending the World War I fighting came into affect (November 11, 1918). The Allies, however, kept the blockade in place to ensure compliance with the terms of the Armistice. The blockade was partially raised (April 1919) which continued until the Versailles Peace Treaty was signed (June 28, 1919). The blockade was finally raised (July 12). This meant that the food shortages Germany suffered from during the War contined even after the Armistice was signed. There are conflicting estimates as to the deaths and impact of the blockde. German historians tended to see the blockade as the cause of the revolution and the fall of the kaiser. [Bell] Other historians see the revolutionary chaos falling the abdication of the kaiser as the cause of the severe food shortages. [Edmonds and Hunt] More recent historians continue to disagree on the secerity of the blockade and the impact on Germany. [Bott, Offer, and Vincent] Some estimates blame the severity of the food situation more on the November Revolution (the socialist seizing power) than the Allied blockade which was not as strict as during the war. One historian believes that another 0.10-0.25 million people died during the armistice period, both from starvation and causes associated with malnutrition. [German Gvernment, p. 42.]. Assessments differ in part depending on whether deaths to diseases which were affected. It is unclear to what affect the statistics may have been affected by war-time and post-War propaganda. The Allies did not block food shipments. The terms of the Armistice did allow food to be shipped into Germany, but the Allies required that Germany both provide the ncessary shipping and pay for it, which in 1918-19 often meant the Governmen dipping its gold reserves. They were unable to secure a loan from the United States. While the blockade remained in force, the food situation was at least in part the responsibility of the German Government. One historian writes that while "Allied warships remained in place against a possible resumption of hostilities, the Allies offered food and medicine after the Armistice, but Germany refused to allow its ships to carry supplies". Further despite the problems facing the Allies, from the German government, "Allied food shipments arrived in Allied ships before the charge made at Versailles". [Marks] This is also supported by who notes that an Allied task force, to help feed the German population, was established in early 1919 and that by May 1919 Germany "became the chief recipient of American and Allied food shipments". [Gläser. pp. 388–391] She further claims that during the early months of 1919, while the main relief effort was being planned, France shipped food to Bavaria and the Rhineland. She further claims that the German government delayed the relief effort by refusing to surrender their merchant fleet to the Allies. Finally, she concludes that "the very success of the Allied food relief effort lost for the Allies a major threat to force Germany to sign the Treaty of Versailles. [Gläser. pp. 388–91.]

American Friends Service Committee

The Quaker American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) played a major role in this effort. The AFSC began its efforts in Germany before the American Government's effort could begin. As a result, Administrator Hoover asked the AFSC to play an important role in the American effort in Germany. It was known as Quäkerspeisung (Quaker feeding). Here we see part of the food distribtrioj effort. The American effort in Germany fed over a million children daily.

Influenza Pandemic (1918-19)

One poorly understood subject is the viras; Flu Pandemic which followed the War and was particularly virulent in 1919. It was commonly called the spanish Flu. Historians continue to debate many aspects of the Pandemic, influding the impct on the war. Some historians believe that the Germans and other Central Powers might have been exposed before the llies which wold discount the Spanish role. This would suggest that there might have been greater casualties as it occured durin the war among a population that had nutritional impairment. The Allies were inflicted with the Pndemic mostly after the war in 1919. We are not sure if the Germans limited information on the extent of the Pandemic because of War-time propgands or if some or mny of the deaths may have been more due to the flue than hinger. Of course there is an overlap because a well-fed person is more resistant to illness. The Allies also appear to have limited reporting on flu deaths. Spain was neutral during the war and there was no war-time restrictions on publishing. Their media thus freely to report on the Flu outbreak. This led to the impression in Allied countries that Spain was where the Pandemic originated which is why it ws widely called the Spanish Flu. Actual forensic science carroed out by a British team led by virologist John Oxford of St Bartholomew's Hospital and the Royal London Hospital, were led to a major troop staging and hospital camp in Étaples, France as being the epi-center of the 1918 flu pandemic. This of course would not explain the reports of an earlier outbreak in the Central Powers. A significant precursor virus was found to be harbored in birds mutated to pigs that were kept near the front to help feed the front-line troops. [Connor] The exact number of Flu deaths is unknown. Some historians estimate that worldwide some 50 million perished. [Kamps and Reyes-Rerán] A more recent study conducted as aesult of inveasing concern with viral diseases reported that, "The 1918 virus strain developed in birds and was similar to the 'bird flu' that today has spurred fears of another worldwide pandemic, yet proved to be a normal treatable virus that did not produce a heavy impact on the world's health." [Handwerk]

American Food Aid (1914-23)

America provided some food aid to Europe during the War. American food aid most notably saved Belgium from starving as the German army seized the civilian food supply. American food also reached Britain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, but getting food into othger areas that badly needed it proved difficult. Dealing with the Germans was difficult. And the British were concerned that in German occupied areas that the Germans would misdirect the food to the German Army. With the armistice the situation changed and American aid began to flow to many other countries affected by the War. There was a special need in Russia an the Ukraine, but for more than 3 years, the Bolsheviks refused to permit American food aid to reach the Russian people. Some today question the idea that America is an exceptional country. American food aid to Germany is aprime example of just how exceptional Ameruca is. Not only did America save millions of lives in Allied nations, but also millions in former enemy nations as well. We are attempting to acertain the precise details.

German Outlook

The Germans were outraged that after the Armistice that the Allies continued the blockade. One authors writes that maintaing the blockade did much to "torment the Germans ... driving them with the fury of despair into the arms of the devil." [Leckie] We notice a great body of literature suggesting that Germany was unfairly stignatized for launching the War and the civilians starved during the war which bordered on a war crime, and then unfairly treated in a vindictice peace--the Vesailles Peace Treaty. We have dealt with some these charges elsewhre. As French Premier Georges Clemenceau waspointed out, "Belgium did not invade Germany." And as much as the Germans complain about Versailles, ratrely do they mention that the peace treaties they imposed on other countries (Romania and Russia) were much more severe than Versailles. Here we want to address the food situation. The Allied Blockade and the impact on food in Germany and Austria-Hungary is important to mention. There is no doubt that the Germans suffered with food shortages during the War. The allied Blockade was a major part of the problem. But another important part of the problem was German and Austrian policies war policies which actually reduced rather than increasing food production. It is notable how one sided the German outlook is. As far as we can tell, the Germans only seem interest in the impact on them and not the impact of German policies on other countries. From the very onset of the War, the German Army seized the Belgian civilian food supply. The only result of tht was the Belgians would hve starved. The Germans could not have not known this. Only anerican food relief could have prevented this. Austrian and German occuption policies in Serbia and Romnialso involved seizing food. It seems to that given the German record in occupied Belgium and other countriies that any German discussion of how thy suffered because of the Allied blockade should include a consideration of their actions in occupied countries.

World War II

The German food experience during the War was understood by Hitler and would become part of his planning for World War II. He was detemined that there would be no food shortages in Germany again.

Sources

Bell, A.C. The Blockade of the Central Empires Restricted use, 1937. Published after World War II (HMSO: London, 1987). Bell relied heavily on German data.

Bott, J.P. The German Food Crisis of World War I: The Cases of Coblenz and Cologne (PhD thesis, University of Missouri-Colombia: 1981).

Connor, Steve. "Flu epidemic traced to Great War transit camp", The Guardian (UK), (January 8, 2000).

Edmonnds, Briadier-General Sir James E. The Occupation of the Rhineland (published for official use only, 1944), published after the war (HMSO: London, 1987).

German Government. Statistisches Jahrbuch fürdas Deutsche Reich, 1921-22 (Berlin: 1922). Also see Gesundheits-Amt. Schaedigung der deutschen Volkskraft durch die feindliche Blockade. Denkschrift des Reichsgesundheitsamtes (Dezember 1918). ("Injuries inflicted to the German national strength through the enemy blockade. Memorial of the German Board of Public Health, 27 December 1918) (Berlin, Reichsdruckerei). The Grman gency preparing the report notes on page 17 that the figures for the second half of 1918 were estimated based on the first half of 1918.

Gläser, Elizabeth. The Treaty of Versailles: A Reassessment After 75 Years. (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1998).

Handwerk, Brian. "Bird Flu" similar to deadly 1918 flu, gene study finds," National Geographic News (October 5, 2005).

Hunt, I.L. The Aamerican MilitaryHpvernment of Occupied Germany )Prepared 1920, published U.S. GPO: Washington, D.C., 1943). Col. Hunt was the civil affairs officr in the American zone of the occupied Rhineland.

Kamps, Bernd Sebastian and Gustavo Reyes-Terán. "Influenza" Influnza Report

Leckie, Robert. Delivered From Evil.

Marks, Sally.

Offer, Avnet. The FirstWorld war: An Agrraian Interpretation (Oxford: 1989).

Vincent, C. Paul. The Politics of Hunger: The allied Blockade of Germany (Ohio: 1985).

Wright, Quincy. A study of War.

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