Hello and welcome to a History of Europe, Gubattles podcast.

My name is Cardo Eilat, and today I'll be continuing the story of the First World War.

So far, in previous episodes, we've talked about the origins of the war

and the first two years of actual fighting in 1914 and 1915.

And today we move on to the year 1916, in particular the battles of Vodun and the Somme. Europe.

Europe entered the year 1916 exhausted by one and a half years of conflict, of a scale hitherto unimaginable, and there was still no end in sight to the war.

As countries became forced to pour their entire resources into a struggle for victory, the war had a profound

effect on citizens at home, as well as those on the front line.

Most accepted without complaint, the profound hardship incurred.

The expected financial collapse did not occur, and there was understandably considerable economic

turbulence.

Wright's the historian, Michael Howard, insurance rates were pegged government loans were over-subscribed

printed currency replaced gold labor shortages produced soaring wages and government contracts

created unprecedented prosperity for some sections of the business classes.

By the end of 1915, the mutual placade between the bligerents was beginning to bite.

Exports declined, prices rose, inflation resulting from the growing flood of paper money,

affected people's living standards.

The combined pressures of the blockade and the demands of the armed forces resulted in growing shortages of food, fuel and transport, and during 1916, the civilian population began to seriously

suffer.

Everywhere government the civilian population began to seriously suffer. Everywhere, governments assumed powers over the lives of their citizens to an unprecedented

degree.

In Britain, as an example, a defence of the Realm Act was rushed through Parliament and the

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