The Great War A Soldier’s Life in World War I

1. When do you think this image was taken? 2. Why? 3. What is probably on his mind? 4. What do we know about this soldier? 1.

The Soldiers

It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go; It's a long way to Tipperary, To the sweetest girl I know! Goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square, It's a long, long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there! Mobilization Home by Christmas No major war in 50 years Nationalism 2-3

Home by Christmas

No major war in 50 years

Nationalism

4.

5.

5.

Destruction The “Killjoy” had a 20 mile range 6.

7.

Before After

Before After

Trenches

Conditions Deafening noises, sudden flashes, extreme cold, little sleep Water and mud everywhere Trench foot Rats, lice Horrid sanitation 8.

Deafening noises, sudden flashes,

extreme cold, little sleep

Water and mud everywhere

Trench foot

Rats, lice

Horrid sanitation

Poison Gas

Use and Effects of Gas Chlorine gas - 1st used, affected respiratory system Phosgene gas - 18 times more potent then Chlorine gas. Can take 2 days for lungs to fill with fluid. Mustard gas - burns eyes, skin. Swelling, vomiting follow. Able to penetrate clothing. Battlefields couldn’t be reoccupied. 8.

Chlorine gas - 1st used, affected respiratory system

Phosgene gas - 18 times more potent then Chlorine gas. Can take 2 days for lungs to fill with fluid.

Mustard gas - burns eyes, skin. Swelling, vomiting follow. Able to penetrate clothing. Battlefields couldn’t be reoccupied.

Poison gas exploding in “no man’s land” 9.

Shellshock

Shellshock “ War neurosis” or “Combat Stress” Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms include tiredness, irritability, lack of concentration, headaches. Mental breakdown often occurred Came from conditions, heavy artillery Treatment not helpful - get soldiers back in the trenches Generals saw this as cowardice 10.

“ War neurosis” or “Combat Stress”

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Symptoms include tiredness, irritability, lack of concentration, headaches.

Mental breakdown often occurred

Came from conditions, heavy artillery

Treatment not helpful - get soldiers back in the trenches

Generals saw this as cowardice

Shot at Dawn If surviving the enemy was not bad enough, over 1000 soldiers were executed by their own armies. Number Killed by Nation: Germany - 48 France - 600 Britain - 346 Italy - 500+ Canada - 25

If surviving the enemy was not bad enough, over 1000 soldiers were executed by their own armies.

Number Killed by Nation:

Germany - 48

France - 600

Britain - 346

Italy - 500+

Canada - 25

Military Executions Soldiers killed for insubordination, desertion, refusing to fight Leaders assumed it would help discipline and morale Those with shell-shock also executed 11.

Soldiers killed for insubordination, desertion, refusing to fight

Leaders assumed it would help discipline and morale

Those with shell-shock also executed

Battles were on a massive scale and usually last weeks Battle of Somme lasted 5 months Started with a weeklong artillery bombardment - some 1,738,000 shells Believed that would destroy German trenches and barbed wire - it did neither Germans were in deep bunkers - when shelling stopped they came up and manned machine guns Battles

Battles were on a massive scale and usually last weeks

Battle of Somme lasted 5 months

Started with a weeklong artillery bombardment - some 1,738,000 shells

Believed that would destroy German trenches and barbed wire - it did neither

Germans were in deep bunkers - when shelling stopped they came up and manned machine guns

Battle of Somme British troops and cavalry went “over the top” Shear numbers allow attack to be “successful” First day of battle 60,000 British soldiers killed British general believed he had to attack - used old tactics in new war 420,000 British; 200,000 French; 500,000 Germans killed

British troops and cavalry went “over the top”

Shear numbers allow attack to be “successful”

First day of battle 60,000 British soldiers killed

British general believed he had to attack - used old tactics in new war

420,000 British; 200,000 French; 500,000 Germans killed

Injury 65,038,000 mobilized 21,333,000 injured 12.

65,038,000 mobilized

21,333,000 injured

Poison gas strikes the skin

Death 13.

Over 9,000,000 dead

nothing escaped the war. . .

british

austrian

french

canadian

american

russian

british

german

austrian

french and german

german

russian

italian

french

german

“ In death there is not much distinction, friend or foe are treated alike” 9. 12.

Who is he? Does it even matter?