Changing attitudes of allied and Changing attitudes of allied and German soldiers to the war over German soldiers to the war over

time.time.

At the beginning of the War 1914

During the war 1915-1917The end of the war 1918

At the beginning of the War At the beginning of the War 19141914

The early response to the war in Britain was one of overwhelming The early response to the war in Britain was one of overwhelming excitement and support. Men flocked in masses to the enlistment excitement and support. Men flocked in masses to the enlistment offices to pledge allegiance to King and country. In Germany offices to pledge allegiance to King and country. In Germany conscription was already in place so enlisting s was not such a big conscription was already in place so enlisting s was not such a big event. Many of the British troops enlisted because they thought the event. Many of the British troops enlisted because they thought the war was going to be an adventure, which would be over by Christmas. war was going to be an adventure, which would be over by Christmas. Or they were either pressured into joining but the overall attitude was Or they were either pressured into joining but the overall attitude was one of excitement. one of excitement.

'We were happy that our country had gone to war ... We were going to do great things for one another and for the folks at home. We were going to win fame and glory ... We really believed that we were going to fight for freedom, as the newspapers told us.' Officer writing to a newspaper

’’recruits for lord recruits for lord Kitcheners army’ Kitcheners army’ Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Archives, from the Archives, from the perspective of a perspective of a British newspaperBritish newspaper

This source is useful This source is useful because it shows the because it shows the huge amount of huge amount of British men enlisting British men enlisting to go to war. Shows to go to war. Shows support for the war, support for the war, and the general and the general attitude which was attitude which was one of excitement one of excitement

‘‘the leaving the leaving parade’ from the parade’ from the perspective of perspective of British woman- ‘the British woman- ‘the world war 1914-world war 1914-1918’ Alfred 1918’ Alfred NeevesNeeves

This source is useful This source is useful because it shows the because it shows the support given to the support given to the troops from woman troops from woman across England for across England for the troops leaving to the troops leaving to fight.fight.

‘‘Train carriage’ Train carriage’ ‘the world war ‘the world war 1914-1918’ Alfred 1914-1918’ Alfred Neeves. From the Neeves. From the German German perspective. perspective.

This source is useful This source is useful because it shows because it shows German troops at the German troops at the beginning of the war beginning of the war excited, and about to excited, and about to go into battle against go into battle against the French. The writing the French. The writing on the train translates on the train translates to ‘excursion past Paris’ to ‘excursion past Paris’ which suggests the which suggests the German intentions and German intentions and attitudes.attitudes.

A British officer A British officer writing to a writing to a newspaper newspaper ‘www.uea.ac.uk’ ‘www.uea.ac.uk’ from the from the perspective of a perspective of a British soldier.British soldier.

• 'We were happy that our country had gone to war ... We were going to do great things for one another and for the folks at home. We were going to win fame and glory ... We really believed that we were going to fight for freedom, as the newspapers told us.’ Officer writing to a newspaper

This source is useful This source is useful because it shows because it shows what the common what the common British man’s attitude British man’s attitude towards the war was, towards the war was, and what they and what they wanted to achieve.wanted to achieve.

During the war 1915-1917• During the war, attitudes began to change very quickly, when During the war, attitudes began to change very quickly, when

soldiers were faced with unbearable conditions and horrifying soldiers were faced with unbearable conditions and horrifying battles like the Somme and Verdun. On both fronts, the soldiers battles like the Somme and Verdun. On both fronts, the soldiers were becoming very war weary and compared to the beginning of were becoming very war weary and compared to the beginning of the war, they were in hope that it would end as soon as possible. the war, they were in hope that it would end as soon as possible. The poor conditions faced by the soldiers in the trenches, The poor conditions faced by the soldiers in the trenches, unbearable weather conditions, little rations, huge casualty rates unbearable weather conditions, little rations, huge casualty rates and disrespect from superior officers all contributed to the and disrespect from superior officers all contributed to the changing attitudes of the soldiers during the war. changing attitudes of the soldiers during the war.

'Well we mucked in all day. Talking one thing or another. One of the Germans said to me, in excellent English too. 'Well' he said, ... 'how long do you think this damn war's going to last? I'm fed up to the neck.' 'Oh' I said, 'you're not the only ones fed up ... we're up to our necks in water and mud'. He said 'and we're the same.'' Infantryman Frank Richards,

Lord Kitchener Lord Kitchener ‘Your country ‘Your country needs you’, from needs you’, from the perspective of the perspective of the allied the allied politicians .politicians . ‘www.uea.ac.uk’‘www.uea.ac.uk’

This source is useful This source is useful because it shows how because it shows how the attitudes of men the attitudes of men have changed from have changed from men enlisting to men enlisting to support King and support King and country, to being country, to being persuaded by persuaded by propaganda material propaganda material to enlist in the army.to enlist in the army.

Private J A Hopper Private J A Hopper ‘www.uea.ac.uk’ ‘www.uea.ac.uk’ from the from the perspective of a perspective of a British soldierBritish soldier

• ““Towards the end of Towards the end of the war, we were so the war, we were so fed up we wouldn't fed up we wouldn't even sing 'God Save even sing 'God Save the King' in church the King' in church parade. 'Never mind parade. 'Never mind the King' we used to the King' we used to say, he was safe say, he was safe enough, it should enough, it should have been 'God save have been 'God save us”.' us”.' Private J A Private J A Hopper Hopper

This source is useful This source is useful because it shows you because it shows you how the soldiers were how the soldiers were feeling, and how they feeling, and how they had grown to hate had grown to hate the war and just the war and just wanted it to be over.wanted it to be over.

‘‘Paschendale’ Paschendale’ ww1.blogspot.com- ww1.blogspot.com- from the from the perspective of the perspective of the soldiers.soldiers.

This source highlights This source highlights the harsh realities the the harsh realities the soldiers did face soldiers did face while at war. Harsh while at war. Harsh conditions seen in conditions seen in this image faced at this image faced at the battle of the battle of Paschendale Paschendale triggered the triggered the attitudes of the attitudes of the soldiers to change soldiers to change drastically and drastically and question the need for question the need for the War. the War.

‘‘Hangings’ ‘the Hangings’ ‘the world war 1914-world war 1914-1918’ Alfred 1918’ Alfred Neeves from the Neeves from the German German perspectiveperspective

This picture shows This picture shows mass hangings for mass hangings for German soldiers who German soldiers who revolted against their revolted against their superior officers, This superior officers, This shows the attitudes of shows the attitudes of many soldiers at the many soldiers at the end of the war, that end of the war, that they just wanted the they just wanted the war to be over. war to be over.

The end of the war 1918The end of the war 1918• By the end of the war soldiers on both sides were just wanting the By the end of the war soldiers on both sides were just wanting the

war to be over. Soldiers within both the German and allied forces war to be over. Soldiers within both the German and allied forces mutinied against their superior officers showing their disregard for mutinied against their superior officers showing their disregard for the long war. War weary soldiers were asking what they were the long war. War weary soldiers were asking what they were fighting for and really questioning the motives of the Generals fighting for and really questioning the motives of the Generals and men in Power. The end of the war came with the Germans and men in Power. The end of the war came with the Germans presenting an armistice to the allies, which was signed and the presenting an armistice to the allies, which was signed and the war was over on the 11-11-1918.war was over on the 11-11-1918.

““Towards the end of the war, we were so fed up we wouldn't even sing 'God Save the King' in church Towards the end of the war, we were so fed up we wouldn't even sing 'God Save the King' in church parade. 'Never mind the King' we used to say, he was safe enough, it should have been 'God save parade. 'Never mind the King' we used to say, he was safe enough, it should have been 'God save us”.' Private J A Hopper us”.' Private J A Hopper

WWI propaganda WWI propaganda poster, From a poster, From a Woman's Woman's perspectiveperspective

This poster shows This poster shows that during the war, that during the war, propaganda was used propaganda was used to pressure men to to pressure men to enlist. By saying that enlist. By saying that woman want their woman want their fathers, husbands fathers, husbands and brothers to go to and brothers to go to War. War.

Infantryman Frank Infantryman Frank Richards, after Richards, after conversation with a conversation with a German German POW,1914‘www.ueaPOW,1914‘www.uea.ac.uk’.ac.uk’

• 'Well we mucked in all day. 'Well we mucked in all day. Talking one thing or another. Talking one thing or another. One of the Germans said to One of the Germans said to me, in excellent English too. me, in excellent English too. 'Well' he said, ... 'how long do 'Well' he said, ... 'how long do you think this damn war's you think this damn war's going to last? I'm fed up to going to last? I'm fed up to the neck.' 'Oh' I said, 'you're the neck.' 'Oh' I said, 'you're not the only ones fed up ... not the only ones fed up ... we're up to our necks in we're up to our necks in water and mud'. He said 'and water and mud'. He said 'and we're the same.'' we're the same.'' Infantryman Frank RichardsInfantryman Frank Richards

This source shows This source shows that the German and that the German and the British troops the British troops were over fighting were over fighting and just wanted and just wanted everything to return everything to return to normal, and it to normal, and it shows how drastically shows how drastically attitudes had attitudes had changed.changed.

www.qaranc.co.uk www.qaranc.co.uk End of the War End of the War parade.parade.

This image shows the This image shows the excitement of the excitement of the people after the people after the troops returned home troops returned home from the war. The from the war. The soldiers received soldiers received overwhelming overwhelming accolades, and accolades, and highlights just how highlights just how happy people were to happy people were to finally see that the finally see that the war was over. war was over.

Soldiers celebrate Soldiers celebrate after the Armistice after the Armistice was signed. was signed. www.ggww.co.uk www.ggww.co.uk

This images shows This images shows the feelings of the feelings of excitement the excitement the soldiers had when soldiers had when they found out the they found out the war was over and war was over and they could go back they could go back home. It is useful home. It is useful because it shows how because it shows how soldiers attitudes had soldiers attitudes had done a full revolution done a full revolution and they were now and they were now happy again. happy again.