# Episode 3: The Turnip (and Crow) Winter of 1916/17

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/reichs-republics-the-german-history-podcast-7771533/episode-3-the-turnip-and-crow-winter-of-1916-17
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/reichs-republics-the-german-history-podcast-7771533/episode-3-the-turnip-and-crow-winter-of-1916-17.md
Podcast: [Reichs & Republics | The German History Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/reichs-republics-the-german-history-podcast-7771533)
Published: 2026-03-31T15:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/BATTLEGUIDETOURSLTD3720812298.mp3?updated=1775554191
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/BATTLEGUIDETOURSLTD3720812298.mp3?updated=1775554191
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/reichs-republics-the-german-history-podcast-7771533/episodes/episode-3-the-turnip-and-crow-winter-of-1916-17
Duration seconds: 3378

## Resource

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. Do you like our podcast? Then please leave us a review, it helps us a lot! Host: Katja Hoyer & Dr Christopher Dillon ⁠⁠⁠https://battleguide.co.uk/reichs-republics#host⁠⁠⁠ To comment and ask questions, please join our community:⁠ ⁠https://reichs-and-republics.com/supporters⁠⁠ Support via Paypal:⁠⁠ ⁠http://battleguide.co.uk/rr-paypal⁠⁠⁠⁠ Merchandise and Shop: ⁠⁠⁠https://reichs-and-republics.com/collections/all⁠⁠ Our WW1 Podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://listen.not-so-quiet.com/⁠⁠ Our WW2 Podcast:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://listen.both-sides-of-the-wire.com⁠⁠⁠ Untitled History Podcast: ⁠http://listen.untitled-history.com/⁠ Battle Guide YouTube Channel:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠⁠⁠ If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of what the team at Battle Guide have been getting up to, why not sign up to our monthly newsletter:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://battleguide.co.uk/newsletter⁠⁠⁠ Katjas socials: X (Twitter): ⁠⁠ https://x.com/hoyer_kat⁠ Substack: Zeitgeist ⁠⁠https://www.katjahoyer.uk/⁠ General Enquiries: ⁠republics@battleguide.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: - Host: Katja Hoyer and Dr Christopher Dillon - Production: Linus Klaßen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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