Blockades, embargoes and sanctions. Although these tactics are many centuries old, historians say that the first effective blockade was imposed on France by the Royal Navy under Admiral Edward Hawke (1705-1781) during the Seven Year’s War (1754-1763), which Americans know as The French and Indian War.
Both side tried economic warfare during World War One, but the British were far more successful. You can read more in this interesting piece from The Washington Post.
Economic warfare is still part of our daily life. Sanctions and embargoes abound – it’s hard to keep track of all of them.
James Patton
James (“Jim”) Patton BS BA MPA is a retired state official from Shawnee, Kansas and a frequent contributor to several WW1 e-publications, including "Roads to the Great War," "St. Mihiel Tripwire," "Over the Top" and "Medicine in the First World War." He has spent many hours walking the WW1 battlefields, and is also an authority on British regiments and a collector of their badges. An Army Engineer during the Vietnam War, he does work for the US World War 1 Centennial Commission and is affiliated with the WW1 Historical Association, the Western Front Association, the Salonika Campaign Society and the Gallipoli Association.
Dear Sir or Madame,
I am a student of Potsdam University where I study International War Studies. I am currently writing a term paper on the naval blockade of Germany and I would like to use this map of the Allied Blockade of Germany in my work. Would it be possible to get a version of it without the “The Map Archive” on it? It would be very helpful.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Shayan Hashemian
Sorry. Can’t help you.