In what ways and for what reasons did the First World War lead to economic and social changes? Specific examples should be given from one or more European countries for the period 1914 to 1930

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May 2003

In what ways and for what reasons did the First World War lead to economic and social changes? Specific examples should be given from one or more European countries for the period 1914 to 1930.

Between 1914 and 1930 many changes took place overall in Europe. Such changes took place because of the outbreak of war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia because of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, causing the First World War which involved most of the European powers because of the alliance systems.

The country which resulted to be the most affected in the First World War was Germany. This was because it was the country which all the allied country’s agreed upon had the fault to the war and the most affected by the Treaty of Versailles of 1919. Germany was affected both economically and socially because of many terms left by the Treaty of Versailles. Among these terms was the loss of land (which led to other losses such as population), the cut back in military, reparations and as mentioned beforehand and the Guilt War Clause.

Controversy which began after the immediate signing of the Armistice, was that the majority (if not all) of the German former soldiers opinioned that they did not loose the war, that they in fact had been cheated. This arose suspicion within Germany since many people blamed the Kaiser, others Jews or Communists, this causing a mass social disorder.  

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Other aspects of the German society changed drastically due to the First World War was the percentage of women entering the workforce which increased to a 37% due to the lack of workers since men were off fighting in war and because of the decrease in economy. Post war, the figures of women working did not change due to the fact that since Germany was to blame for the war and had to pay reparations because of the Treaty of Versailles, women became important in the German economy. Women not only became significant to the Germany economy by increasing ...

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