The German strike of January 1918 was a strike against

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

which spread across the

German Empire The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...

. It lasted from 25 January to 1 February 1918. It is known as the "Januarstreik", as distinct from the " Jännerstreik" which preceded it spreading across

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...

between January 3 and 25, 1918. The strike began in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

on 28 January and spread across the rest of Germany, but finally collapsed. The strike was caused by food shortages, war weariness and the

October Revolution The October Revolution,. officially known as the Great October Socialist Revolution. in the Soviet Union, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was a key moment ...

in Russia, which raised the hopes of revolutionary Marxists in Germany.

Berlin

400,000 workers went on strike primarily in the munitions and metal plants.

References

{{reflist 1918 labor disputes and strikes 1918 in Germany Politics of World War I January 1918 events