Major Theme: Different Types and Nature of 20 th Century Warfare Civil War Guerilla War Limited War Total War For people in France the fighting was right on their doorstep (western front); cities close to the trenches became the base for armies
Major Theme: Origins and causes of war Long-term Causes Nationalism as discussed in the poem Dulce et Decorum Est ; the phrase dulce et decorum est pro patrai mori literally translates to it is sweet and right to die for one s country ; also discussed in the poem The Soldier by Rupert Brooke Short-term Causes Immediate Causes Economic Causes Ideological Causes Political Causes Religious Causes
Major Theme: Nature of 20 th century wars Technological Developments Tactics and Strategies Air Gas is developed and used as a weapon; was a very painful/messy way to die; see poem Dulce et Decorum Est French Army had battery of 75mm field guns that could sweep ten acres of terrain, 435 yards deep, in less than 50 seconds. Because of discovery of shell shock, Dr. Lewis Yealland came up with electric shock therapies that he said absolutely cured effects of shell shock (stammering, paralysis, etc.) in a half hour Other treatments for shell shock include: electric heat baths, milk diets, hypnotism, clamps and machines that mechanically forced stubborn limbs out of their frozen position Battle of the Marne over 432,000 shells had been fired over a five day period Trench warfare: at nighttime men would continue to fire to show the enemy they were awake; would often fire straight up into the air so that the bullet would go in an arc, so people who were out in the open were often in danger of being hit by that sort of thing; guard were constantly being changed to keep watch; it was when the enemy wasn t firing that one had to be alert/suspicious, because it could mean that he was sending men across No Man s Land; it is not good to attack an enemy over a small frontage because then the enemy will be able to concentrate his artillery fire Land Sea Constant use of artillery (ex = Battle of the Marne) Trench warfare; terrible conditions in trenches, think mud, rats, etc. There was often a communication trench used to transport men/equipment/food If it rained a lot, the trenches would often cave in The Home Front: Economic & Social Impact Changes in the Role & Status of Women Private homes across GB were often turned into medical treatment centers (ex = Lennel Auxiliary Hospital) Lennel Auxiliary Hospital: owned by Major Walter and Lady Clementine Waring; records of shell-shocked patients = very valuable because 60% of British military records from WWI destroyed during Blitz (WWII)/80% of US Army Service records from 1912-1960 destroyed in fire; Lady Clementine was very charming, many soldiers loved her; Lennel was place for convalescing officers; Lady Clementine advocated occupational therapy, had soldiers make their family coat of arms, paint, etc. Soldiers sent home because of shell shock often returned back to war if their shell shock was deemed emotional and not commotional Soldiers who were sent home because of shell shock and who exhibited the effects of it such as depression, stammering, etc. were considered to be less manly; instead of being seen as a legitimate disease, it was seen more as men losing their nerve/going hysterical like a woman Ladies who gave up their private homes in order to turn them into medical facilities stopped worrying as much about the intricate details of managing an estate, and instead entertained/comforted soldiers
Resistance & Revolutionary Movements Private Donald Fraser often soldiers who were of a higher rank, like majors, sergeants, etc. seemed to preach about being a brave soldier/good man, but would never go up to the front lines; battles involving trench warfare were most often a waste; Germans (or Huns) are naturally chubby Caroline Alexander soldiers who had experienced shell shock were often treated as unmanly men; army officers would say that soldiers who had experienced emotional and not commotional shell shock were still fit for battle, which really wasn t the case; some of the first treatments for shell shock by people like Dr. Lewis Yealland seemed sort of sketchy in that it seemed like they didn t really work and were only used so people like Dr. Yealland could profit Topic 1: Causes, Practices and Effects of War Major Theme: Effects and Results of Wars Peace Settlements & Wars Ending Without Treaties Attempts at Collective Security Preand Post WWII Political Repercussions
Territorial Changes Post-war Economic Problems