Using these primary accounts, as well as your secondary readings, I'd like you to discuss how perceptions of war changed over the course of WWI. How did people approach the war at the start? How did those attitudes change? What were some of the events that you read about that you think had the biggest effect on these changes in the perception of war?
As the war progressed, perceptions of the war evolved from being glorious, necessary and prideful to being wretched, superfluous and deceptive. When the war began there were high senses of nationalism and men were eager to enlist and fight for their country. However, the onset of what became known as total war changed how both combatants and non-combatants felt about warfare. Conditions on the frontline were treacherous from trench warfare and advancements in technology resulted in more lethal mechanics used to defeat armies. Civilians were also negatively affected by the outcomes of the war from the famine that had resulted from scarce resources, as most vital resources were sent to the troops. One specific event that changed the perceptions of war for U.S. citizens in particular was the sinking of the Lusitania by German U-boats. The deaths of over 1,200 non-combatant Americans signaled the U.S. entry into the war and showed citizens that this war was not only negatively affecting those directly engaged in battle, but an immense amount of citizens across the world.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the war, many of the traditional opinions of the past seemed to carry over into World War I. Many soldiers had an optimistic view of battle and were honored to fight for their country. These men had an overwhelming sense of nationalism and pride in their government and believed it was their duty to spread their ideas to other countries. Their attitudes changed drastically after experiencing a new type of warfare in the trenches, as well as experiencing total war and seeing how it also affected their families in the forms of disease and starvation. The new advancements in artillary and chemical warfare also gave the soldiers a new take on warfare, they did not find the war as romantic as before.
ReplyDeleteRachel Lusher
ReplyDeleteOver the course of WWI, the mainstream perceptions of war altered dramatically. From the out-start, war was viewed in a more romantic and honorary sense. It was seen as glorious and necessary when it came time to settle international disputes. Countries went into WWI itself with heightened senses of optimism and nationalism and men served because it was their duty to their country and an act of loyalty to their comrades. These idealistic views of war soon changed from celebrated to traumatic however, as WWI proved to be more of a stark, gruesome reality rather than a picturesque fairytale. The "Great War" was devastating for all participants and battle fatalities were unprecedented. The events that had the most substantial effect on these changes in the perception of war, in my opinion, were most certainly the use of chemical weapons, the introduction of modern weaponry such as machine guns and tanks, the occurrence of the Armenian genocide, the horrors of trench warfare and the resultant reign of disease, and lastly, the utter devastation that followed the war’s much anticipated end.
At the start of WWI, the citizens/soldiers of Europe were supportive and ready to do what was necessary to help their country succeed. There was much national pride and it showed at the beginning of the war. Attitudes began to change a few years into the war. Famine was rampant across Europe, too many soldiers and innocent citizens were dying, and the fighting was dragging on for much longer than each government said it would. Much of Europe lost its morale as they saw their own countries being destroyed. I believe that trench warfare was the catalyst for new perceptions on what war was. Along with trench warfare came new technology such as gas, improved artillery, and airplanes. The trenches caused long stalemates, which wasn't improved with the use of shelling or gas. These just made conditions more miserable and if anything extended the war. Because of the stalemates, the war continued longer, which negatively affected the citizens.
ReplyDeleteSusannah Tuthill
ReplyDeleteThe perceptions of both civilians and soldiers changed dramatically through out World War One. In the beginning soldiers were eager to fight for their country and civilians supported their governments decisions to go to war. But over time, as the war worsened and casualties increased, support decreased. For both sides the fighting was brutal in the trenches, especially due to the use of poisonous gas and shell explosives, but little ground was gained. Soldier were stuck in trench warfare, which was miserable due to lice, rats, trench fever (and foot), PTSD from shell shock, mustard gas, and improperly buried dead bodies. Civilians also went hungry because all the food was rationed out to the soldiers-but there was so little food anyways that soldiers went hungry as well. Due to the gruesome and unprogressive nature of the trenches, and the lack of food through out, the perceptions of the war went from grand and honorable to destructive and loathsome.