IGCSE History: World War I – British Blockade
The Effects of the British Blockade: (1917-18)
The British Blockade was most useful in the final 18 months of the war:
- This was when the Germans really started running out of resources.
- Previously they had enough resources and were not as bothered by the blockade.
- Denmark and Sweden agreed to limit their exports of dairy products and iron ore to Germany.
- The USA joined the Allies in April 1917 and ended all trade with Germany.
- The blockade was important in the eventual defeat of Germany.
The blockade ensured that:
- Germany was short on Iron ore and chemicals with which to make weapons and gas.
- In spring 1918 Ludendorff gambled everything on an outright victory before Germany was starved out of the War.
- Food shortages caused a series of revolutions from October to November 1918 in which the Kaiser abdicated to Holland and the SPD came to power.
