Complex sentence: The term "ersatz" probably gained international attention during World War I, when the Allied naval blockade of Germany throttled maritime commerce with Germany, forcing Germany to develop substitutes for products like chemical compounds and provisions.
Split into simpler sentences: The term "ersatz" gained international attention during World War I, for at least two reasons. Also, the Allied naval blockade of Germany throttled maritime commerce with Germany, forcing Germany to develop substitutes for products like chemical compounds and provisions.