By Matija Šerić
The Spanish flu epidemic, which ravaged the world between 1918 and 1920, ranks among the deadliest pandemics in human history. It emerged at a time when nations were still counting the immense losses and devastation of the First World War, and its sudden spread further weakened already exhausted societies. Millions of people lost their lives, and the consequences extended far beyond the realm of public health—they influenced political processes, economic trends, social relations, and cultural patterns. This sudden catastrophe has remained recorded as one of the darkest periods in world history and a stark reminder of the fragility of human existence and the crucial importance of international solidarity in facing threats to humanity.
Very fatal disease
Outbreak of the Disease
The Spanish flu pandemic erupted during one of the most critical periods of modern history, at the very end of the First World War—a conflict that had already claimed tens of millions of lives and brought destruction, famine, disease, and social upheaval across the globe. Infrastructure and healthcare systems were seriously weakened, especially in Europe, where the bloodiest battles were fought. Hospitals were overwhelmed with the wounded, and doctors and medical staff were in chronic shortage, making it impossible to provide adequate care.
Despite this, the first recorded cases of the disease did not appear in Europe but in the United States. In March 1918, at the military camp of Fort Riley in Kansas, several hundred soldiers fell ill with the influenza virus of subtype A/H1N1 (also known as the H1N1 virus). It is assumed that the virus may have existed earlier, but there is no reliable evidence of this. As American troops prepared to depart for the European battlefields, the disease quickly spread among soldiers and then to civilians they came into contact with.
By April 1918, the infection had already reached France, Germany, and Great Britain. The circumstances of war, mass population movements—soldiers at the front, the wounded returning, as well as deserters—created a perfect environment for the explosive spread of the disease. Trenches, barracks, trucks, trains, and ships turned into hotspots of infection, while soldiers themselves unknowingly carried the virus from continent to continent. In addition, exhaustion, poor nutrition, constant stress, and the psychological burden of war weakened the immunity of millions, making them especially vulnerable to this new and deadly disease.
A Misleading Name
Although the circumstances of war played a key role in the rapid spread of the virus, the name “Spanish flu” came about because of the belief that Spain was the center of the outbreak and the most severely affected country. However, the real reason lies in the fact that the Kingdom of Spain, as a neutral country during the First World War, had much lighter press censorship. Spanish newspapers openly and in detail reported on the emergence and spread of the disease, often in a sensationalist tone, while the press in the Entente and Central Powers was strictly controlled so as not to undermine soldier morale or cause panic among civilians. This difference in reporting created the distorted impression that the pandemic had originated in Spain, although it was merely one of many affected countries.
A documentary about disease
Expansion of the Disease
The Spanish flu, the first global pandemic of the modern era, spread with incredible speed, reaching almost the entire world—from Europe to remote areas of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. The pandemic came in several waves, with the second wave being the deadliest. The first, which appeared in the spring of 1918, had mild forms: patients showed typical symptoms of seasonal flu such as high fever, coughing, and fatigue, and the mortality rate was relatively low. But the virus soon mutated and became far more dangerous.
The second wave, which flared up from September to November 1918, brought a huge increase in the death toll. People often died within only a few days of the first symptoms appearing. Symptoms were extremely severe—heavy bleeding from the nose, mouth, and lungs, skin changes, and patients’ faces often turned bluish. The most common cause of death was pneumonia, which developed as a complication. Hospitals and clinics were overcrowded, and the lack of medicines, beds, and medical staff further hindered the fight against the disease. The third and fourth waves were somewhat milder, but still claimed many lives. In total, during only two years, around 500 million people were infected—about one-third of the world’s population at the time.
The Most Affected Were the Young and the Old
The Spanish flu did not discriminate in choosing its victims—it struck people of all ages and social classes. However, unlike typical seasonal flus, which were usually fatal for the youngest and oldest, this disease showed an unusual mortality pattern: it struck young adults aged 20 to 40 the hardest. This demographic peculiarity left a strong mark on society, especially in communities already devastated by wartime losses. Many soldiers who had survived the trenches and battlefields soon succumbed to the illness as soon as they returned home.
The consequences were devastating—families were left without their breadwinners, and communities lost their most vital and productive members. In rural areas, where medical care was almost inaccessible, entire families could vanish within a short time. In cities, morgues overflowed with bodies, and funerals were carried out in strict modesty, without the usual rites and gatherings. The sudden surge in mortality also caused a chronic shortage of gravediggers, while cemeteries became overcrowded, further intensifying the collective sense of despair and loss.
The Impact on Daily Life
The Spanish flu pandemic brought deep social and economic disruptions. In many towns and villages, authorities were forced to introduce strict measures to slow the spread of the infection. Quarantines were imposed, schools and public institutions were closed, and mass gatherings were banned. In many communities, life retreated almost entirely into homes, while streets became deserted. Such restrictions had serious consequences for the economy, particularly in agricultural and industrial regions where the workforce was essential to maintain production.
The pandemic struck the armies of warring countries especially hard. On the fronts of the First World War, the disease weakened entire units. In some divisions, the infection rate was so high that military operations had to be postponed or even completely abandoned. The weakening of soldiers due to illness had a direct impact on the course of certain battles and campaigns, as many were no longer physically able to continue fighting.
References:
https://www.britannica.com/event/influenza-pandemic-of-1918-1919
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181016-the-flu-that-transformed-the-20th-century
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Spanish-Flu-pandemic-of-1918/
https://www.paho.org/en/who-we-are/history-paho/purple-death-great-flu-1918
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2020/04/covid-19-how-spanish-flu-changed-world/
