Lecture 3: The First World War and Cultural Mobilisation Flashcards
War:
Transformed by industrialisation WW1 global Profound trauma Totality of societies role in war What caused the war and what the war caused in turn? War, 1914-1918, = involved the people Geographically larger war
Mobilisation and War Cultures: Germany
o War act of national defence o Sense of victimhood o Principle invader – Belgium, France o Diplomatically isolated e.g. fear of war on two fronts o Popular support for war
National Communities:
Strong national communities formed as a result of war
National communities formed – war was therefore supported as populations invested in the idea that their nations were at threat
War Culture:
Values threatened Language of war emerged Nation states constructed culturally Mass primary education Representations of enemy as having conflicting cultures Questions of European identity War culture = product of propaganda War = clash of civilisations
Outbreak of war:
Blamed on enemy, seen as barbarians
Dehumanisation of enemy
German invasion of Belgium + France – attacked civilians as saw enemies everywhere
Conduct of German army provided evidence to allies as to who was to blame
Impact of War:
Emotional Gender relations – gains for women only short-term changes Societies adapted to war Labour relations Human cost of war War had many battlefields
Deadlock on the Western front:
Shaped the war
German invasion, 3rd August
Schiffler Plan – defeat French quickly before Russia fully mobilised
Counter attack – River Marne
Began to dig trenches – stretched over 400 miles – military deadlock as a result of trench warfare
Attempt to break the deadlock e.g. artillery warfare, fire
Western front = concentrated area
Stalemate = caused greatest number of casualties and new forms of injuries
Soldiers became victims in trenches because of artillery warfare – military leaders continued to fight trench warfare causing greater deaths and casualties
Military mobilisation + Losses:
Scale of death = biggest legacy of WW1 Focus on the “other” = enemy Modern technology led to greater deaths War Cause = Germany responsible War = beyond human control Nature of war = people did not perceive
