Ep. 273 – The German Army in October 1918 – Katherine Quinlan-Flatter

Historian and journalist Katherine Quinlan-Flatter talks about the German Army during the weeks of October 1918 before the Armistice in November.

Katherine explains how in September 1918 it is already clear for the German High Command of the Armed Forces that the Front can no longer be held. A ceasefire is requested by the German Empire and the alliance of the Central Powers is already starting to disintegrate. The mood in the trenches is demotivated and depressed. In the homeland, civilians struggle with rationing and the second wave of the Spanish Flu. A new Chancellor is appointed who is neither willing nor capable of controlling the rapidly changing German Empire.

Katherine was born in Calcutta in post-British India and grew up in London. Following studies in German and international history, International Relations and French, she moved to Germany where she is based in the Northern Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg.

Katherine researches local and national history of the 20th century until the end of the Second World War, with particular emphasis on both world wars and their impact on local life. She works as a historian and journalist, writing mainly for local German newspapers. She also holds regular talks for the Imperial War Museum, the German War Graves Commission of North Baden and the Reserves of the Bundeswehr.

Her website is https://ettlingenww1.blogspot.com/

Image: 9cm Minenwerfer „Lanz“ (Mauser variant)

Detail of a German 9cm „Lanz“ Minenwerfer (Mauser variant) with the breech block removed and being held by the fellow on the left. The soldier on the right is holding an example of the rudimentary cylindrical shaped round fired by the Minenwerfer.