HISTORY DETECTIVES Churchill’s Efforts to Feed Germany after the Great War

S C O T T M A N N I N G

Mr. Manning ([email protected]) is a business analyst living in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania.

ith America’s entry severity of their situation. into the First World After serving as Minister of WWar in 1917, the Allies Munitions from July 1917, finally had enough ships and man - Churchill became the Secretary of power to implement a full naval State for War and Air on 9 blockade on Germany. The effects January 1919. His main task was were mounting on 11 November developing a demobilization plan 1918, when Germany surrendered for three and one-half million and signed an armistice, with an British soldiers on the continent, agreement to work out a formal all anxious to return home. treaty later. During his first week in office, The Treaty of Versailles was Churchill met with his military not signed until 28 June 1919, army commanders and drafted a and during the preceding seven plan. Throughout the rest of months, the people of Germany January, he labored to get his plan continued to starve. It is estimated approved by the British cabinet that 100,000 died during this and even traveled to Paris to meet time. 1 Churchill has been accused with Prime Minister David Lloyd of ignoring pleas for help from George, who was attending the Germany, most recently by Patrick J. The Secretary of State for War with Chief of peace conference. Imperial General Staff Field-Marshal Sir By December 1918, prior to Buchanan, who claims there is “no Henry Wilson (right) inspecting British occu - supporting evidence that Churchill pation forces, Cologne, August 1919. Churchill’s arrival, the War Office ever made any sustained effort to end Between them is Sir Archibald Sinclair, had received several reports of food 2 WSC’s Military Secretary. Sinclair, later Lord 3 the starvation blockade.” Thurso, who was leader of the Liberal Party, shortages in Germany. The following The truth is that the German 1935-45, and served as Churchill’s month, British officers were sent to people had several champions who Secretary of State for Air in the World War II investigate. On 12 January, the Coalition government. Photo from the toiled to end their plight and one of Sinclair collection and Martin Gilbert, German government stated that they them was Winston Churchill. But it Churchill: A Photographic portrait (1974). had been able to make do since the took time for him to recognize the Armistice, but that their food sup -

FINEST HOUR 145 / 24 Reprinted by permission. Text copyright © Scott Manning 2010. plies were about to “come to an Germans in the zone of our occupied with raw materials, and to raise the end.” 4 The War Office continued to armies.” 10 blockade. They think that Germany send officers and to receive reports As Churchill received further is on the verge of a complete col - until May. reports from his officers and other lapse….” 17 Churchill did not fully appre - ministries, he forwarded them to the With the bulldog tenacity for ciate conditions in Germany until the War Cabinet. 11 On March 14th, he which he was already famous, last weeks of February. On the last compiled the reports in book form Churchill was determined to make day of that month he openly voiced and forwarded a copy to Lloyd something happen. On 10 April he his concerns about the situation to George, asking permission to publish forwarded another report to the War the War Cabinet, with the Prime it. 12 Nine days later, after no Cabinet stating that many Germans Minister in attendance, urging response, he telegrammed the Prime were “literally starving,” that it was “winding up all military matters with Minister, asking again for permission essential to give them “some hope of the least possible delay.” 5 He said that to publish, with an aim to “induce a the future security and of at least a all “intelligence received by him was more humane feeling about the partial recovery.” 18 to the same effect, that cruel priva - Germans.” 13 Lloyd George tele - The next day he gave a speech tions were being suffered” by phoned later that day, saying he had at the Aldwych Club, appealing pub - Germany, and that he “wished to see no objections. 14 licly to help Germany. Referring to Germany treated humanely and ade - Food from the Allies finally his neglected Germany book, he said quately fed, and her industries arrived in Hamburg on 26 March, that the officers all agreed that “the re-started.” 6 but it was not enough. Churchill most vital step we ought to take Churchill then took his con - continued to pester the Prime immediately to secure victory is to cerns to the House of Commons. At Minister. On April 7th he feed Germany.” 19 He urged his audi - the end of a lengthy demobilization telegrammed: “I feel it is my duty to ence not to let their “eyes be blinded report on March 3rd, he brought up tell you that all my military advisers with false counsel.” 20 The situation “another matter which calls for very without exception agreed that the was grave, and the government’s prompt settlement…the speedy interior situation in Germany is responsibility was “to disarm enforcing of the Peace Terms upon approaching a catastrophe.” 15 Germany, to feed Germany, and to Germany.” 7 In early April, the War Office make peace with Germany.” 21 Churchill discussed British offi - published Reports by British Officers Churchill’s speech was carried cers’ reports which revealed “the great on the Economic Conditions by The Times the next day. He asked privations which the German people Prevailing in Germany, December, that it be shared with German dele - are suffering” and “the danger of col - 1918 - March, 1919. Distributed to gates to the peace conference because lapse of the entire structure of Parliament, press, and public, the 94- he was “concerned to see reports that German social and national life under page document provided ten reports they are beginning to despair of the pressure of hunger and malnutri - from seventeen British officers, saving their country from tion.” 8 In a poetic analogy, Churchill including one Brigadier General, Bolshevism.” 22 compared Europe to the Titanic , and unanimously concluding that Still Churchill was not satisfied. each country to a compartment in Germany needed food. He wanted to address the press the ship. The ship did not sink Unfortunately, few took notice. directly and “make them realise how immediately, he said; instead it “had Churchill complained to a newspaper foolish it is to go on saying that the compartment after compartment editor, “I cannot understand why the German is only pretending, when invaded by the sea.” 9 His message was German White Book I published last conditions are so desperate.” 23 clear: Germany’s collapse would sink week has scarcely been noticed by the On 16 April, Churchill pub - the rest of Europe. Press. The situation in Germany is lished Further Reports by British Although Churchill’s words very serious indeed and can only be Officers on the Economic Conditions were reported by several newspapers, relieved by food and raw materials.” 16 Prevailing in Germany, April, 1919, he was not convinced that people in The next day, Churchill again an 18-page follow-up, concluding Britain understood the seriousness of appealed to Lloyd George: that “the most vital need is food” and the situation. He wanted the British “All the soldiers are agreed that that the food must be sent immedi - officers’ reports published, and was the most important military action ately in large quantities or the relief “anxious that a wise and humane required from the allies is to feed would only be temporary. 24 policy should be adopted toward the Germany, not only with food but The report also said there >>

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FEEDING GERMANY... 6. Ibid. 17. Companion IV, Part 1, 612. was “little danger at present from the 7. Robert Rhodes James, ed., 18. F. L. Carsten, Britain and the old mobile army. The General Staff is Winston S. Churchill: His Complete Weimar Republic: The British powerless, and old regular officers are Speeches 1897-1963 , 8 vols. (New York: Documents (New York: Schocken Books, being dismissed.” 25 The fear of hostil - Bowker, 1974), III: 2684. 1984), 21. 19. Complete Speeches, III: 2773. ities breaking out again (the main 8. Ibid. 9. Ibid. 20. Ibid. reason for continuing the blockade) 10. Telegram, Churchill to General 21. Ibid. was diminished. The report was Bartholomew, 7 March 1919. Chartwell 22. Churchill to Director of carried by several papers, including Papers 16/15B/250. Military Intelligence, 12 April 1919. 26 The New York Times . 11. See for example E. F. Wise’s Chartwell Papers 16/16A/33. Churchill continued to pester “Note of Food Supplies for the Left Bank 23. Churchill to Director of the Prime Minister, the highest- of the Rhine,” Churchill to War Cabinet, Military Intelligence, 12 April 1919. ranking person to whom he had 6 March 1919. Lloyd George Papers Chartwell Papers 16/16A/26. access, until the blockade was finally F/8/3/26. 24. Army, Further Reports by lifted on 11 July 1919. 27 12. Telegram, Churchill to Lloyd British Officers on the Economic What is most remarkable about George, 14 March 1919. Lloyd George Conditions Prevailing in Germany. April, Churchill’s efforts to feed the Papers F/8/3/32. 1919. (London: HMSO, 1919), 18. 25. Ibid. defeated was that he was not deterred 13. Telegram, Churchill to Lloyd George, 23 March 1919. Chartwell 26. The New York Times, “Aid for by his lack of authority over the Papers 16/5/110. Germany Declared Urgent: British White blockade or the armistice terms, or 14. Telephone message, Lloyd Paper Shows Economic Conditions as over the peace negotiations. After his George to Churchill, 23 March 1919. Found by Investigator,” 17 April 1919. demobilization plan was in place, he Chartwell Papers 16/5/111. 27. The blockade of Germany was focused on hard issues like the 15. Telegram, Churchill to Lloyd eliminated only when the Reichstag rati - Bolshevik revolution in Russia. Yet George, 7 April 1919. Chartwell Papers fied the Treaty of Versailles on 11 July when Churchill discovered the drastic 16/6/49. 1919. C. Paul Vincent, The Politics of situation in Germany, he appealed 16. Churchill to John Spender, Hunger: The Allied Blockade of not only to all levels of government, editor of the Westminster Gazette , 8 Germany, 1915-1919 (Athens: Ohio but to the press and public as well. April 1919. Chartwell Papers 16/6/51. University, 1985), 115. The German people suffered severely during this period; but they had an advocate in Winston Churchill. , Curt Zoller’s Annotated Bibliography of Works About Sir Winston S. Churchill, at 410 1. Suda Bane and Ralph Lutz, eds., pages, is the most comprehensive The Blockade of Germany after the bibliography of works about Armistice 1918-1919 (Stanford: Stanford Churchill. It includes frank, forth - University Press, 1942), 791. 2. Patrick J. Buchanan, Churchill, right reviews on 700 books Hitler, and the “Unnecessary War”: How specifically about WSC. Also listed Britain Lost Its Empire and the West are works substantially about Lost the World (New York: Crown Churchill, articles, lectures, Publishing Group, 2008), 391. reviews, dissertations and theses. 3. See “Recent Reports Regarding The book was a Farrow Award Situation in Germany,” issued on 31 winner in 2004. Selling for up to December 1918. War Office Papers $189 on the web, it’s indispensable 144/6/128-37. for the serious Churchill library. 4. Notes on the Meeting of the SPECIAL! We will include Curt’s Armistice Commission held on January 12, unabridged Addendum (specify 1919. War Office Papers 144/7/146-47. whether you want this by email or hard copy): $65 postpaid in USA. 5. Meeting Minutes. Martin TO ORDER: Send check payable to The Churchill Centre, 200 Gilbert, ed. Winston S. Churchill: West Madison Street, Suite 1700, Chicago IL 60606 USA. Or phone toll- Companion Volume IV, Part 1, January free (888) WSC-1874. Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, Amex 1917-June 1919 (Boston: Houghton and Discover. Postage extra outside USA. Mifflin Company, 1978), 557.

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