warfare during world war i. the british government wanted to encourage men to enlist for war. they...
TRANSCRIPT
WARFARE DURING
WORLD WAR I
The British government wanted to encourage men to enlist for war.
They said the war would be safe, hardly any fighting, a good lark and over by Christmas.
They used advertising posters to encourage this idea!
A picture of soldiers going ‘Over the Top’
The reality of ‘going over the top’ was very different!
Soldiers were expected to carry all of their equipment with them at all times.
They were supposed to keep it clean and in good condition – they were British after all.
How the uniform and equipment changed after just three weeks in the
trenches…
Posters always showed men ready and willing to fight.
They never showed the boredom of the trenches or actual fighting taking place.
Why do you think the government showed no fighting?
No smiling and relaxed faces…
No clean uniforms…
Their equipment is scattered everywhere…
Boredom and sleep are obvious…
Shell ShockShell Shock► Early symptoms Early symptoms
included tiredness, included tiredness, irritability, giddiness, irritability, giddiness, lack of concentration lack of concentration and headaches. and headaches. Eventually the men Eventually the men suffered mental suffered mental breakdowns making breakdowns making it impossible for it impossible for them to remain in the them to remain in the front-line. front-line.
Effects of Shell Shock Effects of Shell Shock ► In some cases men committed suicide. Others broke In some cases men committed suicide. Others broke
down under the pressure and refused to obey the down under the pressure and refused to obey the orders of their officers. Some responded to the orders of their officers. Some responded to the pressures of shell-shock by deserting. Sometimes pressures of shell-shock by deserting. Sometimes soldiers who disobeyed orders got shot on the spot. soldiers who disobeyed orders got shot on the spot. In some cases, soldiers were court-martialled.In some cases, soldiers were court-martialled.
► Official figures said that 304 British soldiers were Official figures said that 304 British soldiers were court-martialled and executed. A common court-martialled and executed. A common punishment for disobeying orders was Field punishment for disobeying orders was Field Punishment Number One. This involved the offender Punishment Number One. This involved the offender being attached to a fixed object for up to two hours a being attached to a fixed object for up to two hours a day and for a period up to three months. These men day and for a period up to three months. These men were often put in a place within range of enemy were often put in a place within range of enemy shell-fire.shell-fire.
More Trench FootMore Trench Foot► infection of the feet caused infection of the feet caused
by cold, wet and insanitary by cold, wet and insanitary conditions. conditions.
► The feet would gradually go The feet would gradually go numb and the skin would numb and the skin would turn red or blue. If turn red or blue. If untreated, trench foot could untreated, trench foot could turn gangrenous and result turn gangrenous and result in amputation.in amputation.
► Remedy change socks Remedy change socks three times a day, cover three times a day, cover feet with whale fatfeet with whale fat
The soldiers had very little decent food, and what food they had was often attacked by rats.
These rats were the size of small rabbits and badgers because they had fed on the decomposing bodies of dead soldiers.
Rat Hunting in the trenches
Lice infestations in the Lice infestations in the trenchestrenches
► It is estimated that It is estimated that 97% of soldiers who 97% of soldiers who fought in the fought in the trenches had either trenches had either head, pubic, or body head, pubic, or body lice.lice.
► Lice spread “trench Lice spread “trench fever”fever”
► Lice problem made Lice problem made worse because worse because soldiers only bathed soldiers only bathed 2 or 3 times per 2 or 3 times per monthsmonths
Lord Kitchener
the English
Secretary of War
BritishBritish
Italy has need of meat, wheat, fat and sugarItaly has need of meat, wheat, fat and sugar
God punish England!
On ground level, you see a On ground level, you see a soldier, presumably soldier, presumably German, cheering up at the German, cheering up at the sight of the two other sight of the two other figures. Mounted on horse figures. Mounted on horse is the Emperor (or "Kaiser") is the Emperor (or "Kaiser") Wilhelm II, who reigned as Wilhelm II, who reigned as the "strong man" in the "strong man" in Germany from 1888 until Germany from 1888 until his abdication in 1918. his abdication in 1918.
As in all images of him, the As in all images of him, the Kaiser concealed his left Kaiser concealed his left hand, which was damaged hand, which was damaged due a birth defect. due a birth defect. Protecting the emperor with Protecting the emperor with her shield is a very her shield is a very masculine, slightly scary masculine, slightly scary depiction of Germania, the depiction of Germania, the female national female national personification of Germanypersonification of Germany
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