Explain Why, by 1917, the Attitude of Both German and Allied Soldiers Towards the War Had Changed.
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Explain why, by 1917, the attitude of both German and Allied soldiers towards the war had changed.
Prior to World War One, war was seen as a triumphant adventure that made boys men, a country proud, and gain respect from all. This naivety from both the German’s and the Allied soldiers led to mass shock when the reality of war hit. Britain was overly supportive of their men with recruitment stages bombarded with young men, and old, but by 1916, the need to impress was eliminated. Germany’s response to war mirrored that of Britain but conscription was used but due to food shortages and other issues in the forces, major unrest was seen and the beauty of war was lost.
Support for war in Britain was overwhelmingly high. Hundreds and thousands of men rushed to enlist due to the respect they would gain from the women, men and nation. The men positively responded to Lord Kitchener’s ‘wants you’ posters obediently. The upper class Oxford student dropped their studies as eagerly as the lower class workers did. “Teenagers added years to their ages and older men took years off to gain acceptance.” (K. Webb – World War One) In 1914 few men had any idea of the nature of warfare. Britain had not faced the threat of invasion for over 100 years. The idea of war created the image of romance and respect from women. By August 1914, there was a fear that war would be over by Christmas. This was a genuine fear because the younger men wanted to enlist. Propaganda highly contributed to this ideology. The idea of war was naively positive to the British people.
By 1916, the excitement of war disappeared. Men in trenches forgot about their concerns of respect and popularity as the reality of the trenches changed their attitudes. Two years of campaigning had resulted in nothing. The major turning point was the Battle of the Somme. The brutality of the battle, including 20 000 deaths on the first day led to the huge change in soldier’s attitudes. The reality of war was impossible to keep...
Prior to World War One, war was seen as a triumphant adventure that made boys men, a country proud, and gain respect from all. This naivety from both the German’s and the Allied soldiers led to mass shock when the reality of war hit. Britain was overly supportive of their men with recruitment stages bombarded with young men, and old, but by 1916, the need to impress was eliminated. Germany’s response to war mirrored that of Britain but conscription was used but due to food shortages and other issues in the forces, major unrest was seen and the beauty of war was lost.
Support for war in Britain was overwhelmingly high. Hundreds and thousands of men rushed to enlist due to the respect they would gain from the women, men and nation. The men positively responded to Lord Kitchener’s ‘wants you’ posters obediently. The upper class Oxford student dropped their studies as eagerly as the lower class workers did. “Teenagers added years to their ages and older men took years off to gain acceptance.” (K. Webb – World War One) In 1914 few men had any idea of the nature of warfare. Britain had not faced the threat of invasion for over 100 years. The idea of war created the image of romance and respect from women. By August 1914, there was a fear that war would be over by Christmas. This was a genuine fear because the younger men wanted to enlist. Propaganda highly contributed to this ideology. The idea of war was naively positive to the British people.
By 1916, the excitement of war disappeared. Men in trenches forgot about their concerns of respect and popularity as the reality of the trenches changed their attitudes. Two years of campaigning had resulted in nothing. The major turning point was the Battle of the Somme. The brutality of the battle, including 20 000 deaths on the first day led to the huge change in soldier’s attitudes. The reality of war was impossible to keep...