
Reichs & Republics | The German History Podcast· Folge 3
Episode 3: The Turnip (and Crow) Winter of 1916/17
Dienstag, 31. März 2026 · 58 min
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Shownotes
In this episode, Katja and Chris explore the brutal reality of the 'Turnip Winter' of 1916/17, when the German civilian population was forced to endure extreme hunger, freezing temperatures and a collapsing food system. They explore how the British blockade, disastrous harvests and government mismanagement forced people to survive on animal fodder such as turnips (and crow). The episode reveals that food shortages weakened Germany not only physically, but also shattered morale, fuelled social tensions and played a decisive role in the country's eventual defeat in the First World War.
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Host: Katja Hoyer & Dr Christopher Dillon
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