Many economies of Europe were somewhat saved by the resurgence and growth of various industrial sectors. Although industries such as textiles and shipbuilding were effectively diminished forever, construction industries and their suppliers grew. Bricks and tools were needed, and a guaranteed outflow of resources was essential, as demand was high. Therefore some industries were able to capitalise in the aftermath of the war.
Most currencies in Europe went through a period of “invisible devalue”. This theory used by many economic historians suggested that in the immediate aftermath of the war where no trading or saving took place, the currency was effectively useless. It served no purpose as issues such as grief and death took precedence.
The First World War was also the catalyst that brought about the rise of communism. Russia’s failure in the war handed the Bolsheviks a chance to seize power. Lenin’s War Communism economic strategy alienated Russia from mainland Europe and trading al but ceased between West and East. In terms of the bigger picture this contributed to the decline of the Europewide economy and further dented the economies of countries who were active trading partners with Russia.
In terms of its social impact the First World War is arguably the biggest event in history that has shaped European society as we know it today. In particular, the lives of women changed during the war. As men were sent to the front line, many jobs were left that had to be filled. The need for vital ammunitions and administrative work left millions of jobs open for women across Europe. In Germany the percentage of women in the workforce during the war was 37%, over 10% more than in 1913. Essentially however, this figure remained high even in the post war years as women’s value to society was firmly established. At the very least, women were needed to help with the reconstruction in their countries. Their perceived ability to undertake administrative tasks successfully meant that many women were employed. During the preceding years, in Russia, Germany and France women became as important as men in the job sector of their respective economies.
Socially this had a major effect on Europe as women became far more independent. Their own salaries and the decline of the reliance on a husband meant women lived the lives that they wanted to live. In terms of demographics, women started to give birth later and enjoyed the social aspect of their lives far more. The traditional family was somewhat split as children now witnessed both mother and father working for the first time.
The effect of this freedom for women was a factor in establishing the “Golden Twenties” across Europe. As Europe rebuilt itself after the war, signs of prosperity began to emerge in the twenties. People enjoyed disposable incomes again as well as longer leisure time and essentially stability. Psychologically it was seen as a period that was even better to live in than pre war Europe. In reality this was not necessarily true in all cases, as the war still lived rife among most people’s minds. Anything was better than the war, and signs of prosperity and enjoyment of life again were thrived upon.
Across Europe in the immediate aftermath of the war there was a vast mixture of feelings. In Germany the Treaty of Versailles caused much humiliation. Germany was forced to accept responsibility for the outbreak of the war and the subsequent death toll, not to mention losing the majority of its Army and military strength. In a strange way it can be argued that this exaggerated the nationalist pride among the German people. Although they had been humiliated and lost the war, they were effectively alone and only had one another. Therefore solace was found in keeping faith with the motherland and each other. It was through this attitude that Hitler’s rise to power was so prominent. He promised to make Germany a power once again and this won the hearts and minds of many people across Germany.
Similarly in Russia, the need to represent the people gave way to the rise of Lenin and communism. Had the war not taken place it could well be the case that communism may never have really materialised in the manner it did. Society in Eastern Europe may not have had to suffer the oppression that they did during the communist years. However it’s important to remember that post war, the majority of Russian society (peasants and soviets) did back communism as the way forward.
Through winning the war the allies felt a stronger national pride. People, inspite of the grief and destruction, were happy that the war was over and moreover their country had won.
The culmination of these factors however had a negative effect on the wider European society. Europe was more divided at the end of the war than it ever had been before. For centuries prior to the war, globalisation and increased mobility through better infrastructure brought Europe closer together. Inspite of people’s obvious national loyalty, there was a sense that Europe was a power and people were part of it. The war put an abrupt end to any feelings regarding a strong united Europe. Only in the past few years through the Euro and talk of a “United States of Europe” has the “European Society” begun to emerge again.
Politically the war had profound impacts that have lasted up to today’s world. In Germany for example the defeat in the war led to the Weimar Republic being created and the subsequent rise of Hitler and Nazism. People in Germany wanted change after the humiliation of losing the war. As is common in most countries after a major regime change or loss of a war, radical nationalism grew. Hitler was the epitome of this in Germany and promised to make mother Germany powerful once more (by restoring its Army). Had the war not taken place or not been lost by Germany, Hitler would never have gone down in history as arguably the most brutal dictator of the twentieth century.
In Russia a similar pattern developed. People wanted change after the bloody war that Russia effectively got nothing out of. Discontent with the Tsarist regime, Soviet workers in Petrograd demanded change. Communism was seen as the only theory that supported them and their support was given to Lenin and his party. Like Germany it can be argued that a different outcome in the war or no war at all may never have let communism come to the forefront of world politics (at least not in the immediate aftermath of the war).
The war effectively created a new Europe. Borders changed across the continent thus raising political power in some regions whilst taking it away in others. Poland grew politically to such a point that Nazi invasion of it in 1939 was seen as such a major issue that the Second World War begun.
Germany suffered the worst border change. Much of it was lost to Poland and France as well as the South-Eastern Balkan states that it bordered. In addition to the loss of land, its Army was cut down to a mere 250,000 troops and Germany lost its air force.
Effectively the political landscape of Europe changed, as did its power. The west now had far more control over Central and Eastern Europe. Not so much in terms of its power over the regions, but purely in terms economic and political stability.
In addition the USA forged close allegiances with France and Britain, something that was to play a major part helping them win the Second World War.
As they forged close political ties, their economic sector benefited through vast trading and investment. This helped rebuild their devastated countries and ensured capitalism remained strife.
In general terms it would be fair to say that the end of the war created window of opportunity for radical political ideas in Europe that may not have had a chance of succeeding otherwise. Communism and Fascism, not to mention radical nationalists like Mussolini owed their existence to the desire for change in the immediate aftermath of the war – political instability was strife across regions that suffered most.
In conclusion it can be argued that the First World War had major long term impacts in the way Europe was shaped, possibly even more so than the Second World War, as that did not contribute as heavily in the long term to the way the world is shaped today.
The war opened the door for Communism and the rise of Hitler and Mussolini. These two factors alone critically shaped the world we live in today and what events have taken place since 1918. In my opinion, the emergence of the USA as a major world power was helped by the war. The USA helped in the war without any physical or real economic damage the war brought Europe and the USA closer in real economic terms.
Socially the war did destroy Europe yet it can be argued that issues such as higher employment for women and the beginning of a new prosperous era in the twenties owed themselves to the outbreak of the war. Women’s rights were now stronger than ever before and a new society was emerging as a result – the equal society.
Economically, the war devastated Europe. Every European economy suffered through the war and trading amongst European countries never really recovered. Through the political change in Europe, the economy suffered and this effectively allowed the USA to catch up and overtake the European economy in the preceding years of the war.
Although many short term problems were created by the war, in my opinion, the long term problems far outweighed those in the short term. These long term factors effectively led to the Second World War and the outbreak of the Cold War. Effectively the war shaped the Twentieth Century as we now know it.
Bibliography
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Internet website: . Found by searching “impact of the first world war” into a Google search bar.
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The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Britain, Roderick Floud and Paul Johnson. Cambridge publication, Volume II. Chapter 3,
How the economy suffered? (After the First World War)
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European Warfare, J Black
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‘Social consequences of World War 1: The case of Germany’, A. Marwick, Total War and Social Change
- The chronicle of the Twentieth Century
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Facing Total War: German Society 1914-1918, J. Kocka
Word Count: 2,233
Source taken from internet website: . Website gives a brief explanation on the impacts of the war in Germany
The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Britain, Roderick Floud and Paul Johnson. Cambridge publication, Volume II. Chapter 3, How the economy suffered? (after the First World War)
Source taken from internet website: . Website gives a brief explanation on the impacts of the war in Germany
