<P> During World War I , the German Empire was one of the Central Powers that lost the war . It began participation in the conflict after the declaration of war against Serbia by its ally , Austria - Hungary . German forces fought the Allies on both the eastern and western fronts , although German territory itself remained relatively safe from widespread invasion for most of the war , except for a brief period in 1914 when East Prussia was invaded . A tight blockade imposed by the Royal Navy caused severe food shortages in the cities , especially in the winter of 1916 -- 17 , known as the Turnip Winter . At the end of the war , Germany 's defeat and widespread popular discontent triggered the German Revolution of 1918 -- 19 which overthrew the monarchy and established the Weimar Republic . </P>
during the first world war against which country germany did not fight
Austria - Hungary