The influenza pandemic of 1918, Taishō Democracy and freedom of the press during the Siberian Intervention

The 1918 influenza pandemic played a major role during the last months of the Great War in Europe. The pandemic crippled armies on battlefields and support operations. Military historian Hew Strachan relates, “During the summer the first wave of the influenza epidemic that was to ravage Europe in 1918–19 hit the German army in the west. At home munitions production was throttled back for lack of men to use its output in the field.” ¹