Germany imported about a third of its food supplies in 1914. These imports were targeted from the start of 1st World War. 5 million pigs were slaughtered in 1915 and there were food riots in Berlin. By 1916 German food was all rationed and the winter of 1916-7 became known as Kohlrübenwinter as people were forced to eat the turnips which were normally fed to animals. Weather was poor and there were manpower shortages. There was widespread malnutrition. After the war there was much determination to achieve self-sufficiency in food, and this was a mainspring of Lebensraum policies.
