Do You Think That The Young Men Essay Example

to cause disruption in French and British affairs already in Morocco during 1905 and 1911. Germany had previously fought with France in 1870, seizing the prosperous industrial area of Alsace-Lorraine. France still harbored resentment and aimed to reclaim it. Britain had concerns over Germany's aspirations prior to the assassination.

Britain and France had collaborated in secret, with Britain forming the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) of 150,000 well-prepared soldiers, ready to cross the English Channel and protect Belgium and France against Germany's Schlieffen Plan. The plan involved invading Belgium to quickly invade and conquer France by taking Paris within six weeks.

The German armies were able to focus on fighting the Russian forces, who were located 1000 kilometers east. France's strategy was to launch a full-scale assault on Alsace-Lorraine using soldiers trained for aggressive and decisive combat, regardless of the challenges. Austria's Plan R involved sending massive troops across the border into Russia, while Russia had a similar plan in reverse. All plans shared the belief that victory would be swift.

Throughout the war, many British citizens held a common belief that it would be brief and soldiers would return home in time for Christmas. This notion was disseminated through multiple channels, including newspapers, the Church, government officials, and military leaders. As a result, numerous men across Europe enlisted in their respective armies to protect their countries. In just four weeks following the outbreak of war, half a million British men between nineteen and thirty-eight joined the armed forces fueled by an intense sense of patriotism.

Up to 50,000 individuals joined the workforce daily, with all signing up jointly. A number of young men provided falsehoods about their age

to participate in battle and defend their nation. Poet of World War One, Wilfred Owen, wrote in his work 'Disabled': "He requested to enlist. There was no need for him to plead; Grinning, they recorded his untruth: at nineteen years of age." The war garnered support from a large number of individuals.

The Women's Rights movement, including the Suffragettes, expressed their solidarity with the war effort by giving white feathers to every able-bodied man who refused to enlist. Mrs Berridge, a mother, shared her admiration for "those gallant boys" in a letter to The Morning Post on September 30th, 1914, which reflects the pride felt by British mothers and the nation as a whole.

If at this moment, my son can serve England best by sacrificing his life for her, I would not do anything to bring him back. Not a single action or word of mine should disturb or hinder his grandest privilege, or I would never be able to face him again. Soon after, women were recruited to labor in the munitions factories and supply the front. Poets such as Wilfred Owen and Rupert Brooke composed nationalistic poems. One of Rupert Brooke's renowned poems is titled "The Soldier."

"Whenever any British soldier passed away in a remote land, a portion of that foreign field would forever be England because it contains the essence of an Englishman; a body of England's, breathing English air," states Rupert Brooke, emphasizing the significance of fallen soldiers.

Recruitment during wartime involved various forms of propaganda, including poems and posters aimed at motivating men to join the fight. One example is "Who's for the Game?" by Jessie Pope, which portrays war as

a game and encourages men to enlist with the line, "Your country is up to her neck in a fight, and she's looking and calling for you." Posters also played a significant role, such as the iconic image of Lord Kitchener pointing and declaring, "Your King and Country Needs You!" Another poster featured the slogan, "Women of Britain say 'Go!'"

Propaganda posters were circulated by the government, depicting the cruelty of Germans. One such poster, "How the Hun Hates", features British fishermen with half of their hair shaved off, being taunted by Germans. A German sister is also portrayed pouring water on the ground next to a wounded British soldier.

The text states "There isn't a British woman who would do it. There isn't a British woman who would forget it." On December 16th, 1914, German warships attacked the eastern coast of Britain, causing 199 deaths, including women and children. In January 1915, Zeppelin airships from Germany began bombing British towns, resulting in a total of 57 raids that killed 564 people and injured 1370 innocent civilians. Despite this, Britain did not consider invading Germany in a similar manner.

The press utilized bombings as a means to showcase the Germans' malevolence and the potential repercussions of a British defeat in the war. This strategy effectively stirred up fury among the British populace and intensified the pressure on men. Following the declaration of war, the Government implemented the Defence of Realm Act (DORA), which bestowed them with significant authority to manage various aspects of citizens' daily routines, including censorship. Given that newspapers served as people's primary source of information, it was imperative for the government to regulate

their war coverage.

At the start of the war, only positive news was shared and negative reports were closely monitored. Despite early obstacles and losses, the British public was only informed about remarkable achievements and acts of bravery. The sinking of HMS Audacious in October 1914 was not revealed to the public at that time. It wasn't until November 1916 that authorized journalists were allowed by the government to report from the front lines.

The reports focused on positive developments during the war, which were supported by the owners and editors of newspapers. An example is Lord Beaverbrook, owner of the Daily Express, who served as a cabinet minister from 1916 and later became Minister of Information in 1918. Prime Minister Lloyd George once remarked to the editor of the Manchester Guardian, "If the people really knew the truth about the war it would stop tomorrow. The censors do not pass on the truth." The censors examined and censored letters and telegrams that were sent home. In 1916, the government Press Bureau and Intelligence services scrutinized 38,000 articles, 25,000 photographs, and 30,000 private telegrams to prevent sensitive information from being leaked to the enemy.

During the first two years of World War I, Lady Reader's viewpoint was shared by most British civilians and soldiers. Their primary objective was to liberate Belgium and France from the "Huns," a derogatory term used for Germans, while also teaching Germany a lesson. The soldiers were eager to take part in combat, with one responding that time was running out when he learned he would be stationed in England at the war's outset. He believed that a decisive battle on land or sea

could break out any moment, thus ending the war and preventing them from participating. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) had been trained before the conflict to aid France and saw immediate action at Mons against advancing German forces on August 23rd, 1914.

Under the leadership of Lieutenant-General Douglas Haig, the troops utilized Lee Enfield .303 bolt action rifles that enabled them to fire with both speed and precision. This led the German forces to mistakenly believe that they were facing machine-gun fire, and ultimately disrupted their Schlieffen Plan.

Belgium's resistance hindered Germany's intended invasion to conquer France and Paris, causing them to fail in reaching the city within their expected six weeks. Furthermore, they were caught off guard by the unexpected Russian front on the east, which led to German Supreme Commander Moltke deploying 100,000 troops against it. As a result, Germany was forced to fight on two fronts instead of their original plan. Ultimately, they were unsuccessful in penetrating enemy lines.

On 12 October 1914, Commander Falkenhayn began the 'race to the sea' tactic with the aim of outmaneuvering the opposing forces. This led to the pivotal Battle of Ypres which occurred from 12 October to 11 November 1914. Unfortunately, this battle resulted in disastrous consequences for the British Expeditionary Force as it incurred approximately 50,000 casualties. Moreover, one division suffered an enormous loss as almost all officers (365 out of 400) and over two-thirds of its soldiers (10,774 out of 12,000) were killed.

Despite Germany's loss of around 100,000 soldiers, they were unable to gain control of English Channel ports due to Lieutenant-General Haig and his British forces maintaining dominance and receiving necessary supplies and reinforcements.

This resulted in a stalemate by November 1914. The Western Front, a trench network spanning from the Swiss Alps to the Belgian coast, was constructed by both sides. However, any optimism for a quick resolution vanished leading up to 1915, prompting Lord Kitchener to declare "I don't know what is to be done."

The leadership of Europe during the war encountered an unprecedented issue in their attempt to find a solution for the stalemate situation in France. The troops, instead of advancing rapidly as intended, ceased movement and began constructing trenches as a means of impeding enemy progress. This form of warfare was novel, and advancements in technology altered its nature; firearms and artillery became more crucial while cavalry lost relevance.

Artillery bombardment and the introduction of machine guns were common strategies during the First World War. Hundreds of shells were used to attack enemy lines, while machine guns proved more effective than rifles thanks to their ability to kill many people quickly. A German machine-gunner claimed that loading and re-loading was all that was needed for firing, resulting in around a hundred deaths within five minutes.

Using our machine guns, we easily fired at the large numbers of enemy soldiers who descended upon us. However, the generals were unprepared to defend against this type of weapon since they had only been trained in traditional forms of warfare seen in previous conflicts such as the Crimea and Boer Wars where horseback cavalry charges were commonplace. This current war was unlike anything seen before due to the constant influx of new soldiers, use of imprecise targeting machine guns, and presence of barbed wire across no man's land. As a

result, both sides' leaders turned to trench warfare as their only solution.

Both sides risked fatal consequences if they launched a full frontal attack, but the French and British had the tougher challenge of recapturing land, while the Germans simply had to defend their trenches. By November 1914, soldiers were fighting from trenches, which were far from ideal conditions.

The war brought about harsh living conditions for both men and horses, with intolerable smells resulting from makeshift sanitation arrangements and close proximity. The situation was worsened during summer due to dryness and dust that exacerbated the stench, compounded by rotting corpses, sewage, and unwashed soldiers. Wet weather further added to the misery as soldiers had to spend hours standing in water resulting in thousands of cases of "trench foot". This caused their feet to swell up to three times their normal size and go completely numb, as one soldier described.

There would be no feeling even if a bayonet were to pierce them. If you don't lose your feet and the inflammation decreases, this may occur.

At that point, the distress commences. The condition known as trench foot caused some males to undergo leg amputations, while others required them due to frostbite in cold weather, as the trenches provided scant defense against the bitter temperatures. To make matters worse, the trenches were overrun with enormous and plump "corpse" rats that feasted on the waste generated by the troops and the corpses left behind. Additionally, soldiers suffered from infestations of lice, which they dubbed 'chats.' Furthermore, the troops had to endure extensive periods of non-stop shelling from artillery.

Wilfred Owen, the World War One poet, initially wrote pro-war poems

similar to Brooke. However, his experiences in the trenches led him to produce anti-war works like 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' where he depicts the horrors of war. The poem questions the meaning behind the passing-bells for those who die in battle, as they are treated like cattle and their prayers are silenced by the monstrous anger of guns and rifles. The only mourning comes from the wailing shells and bugles calling from sad shrines. Owen's own experience of living in cold, dank trenches for months had a profound effect on him and inspired his powerful anti-war poetry.

In 1916, ineffective military action and a standstill occurred as a result of unclear strategy from the generals. France and Britain both suffered major losses during two significant battles: the Battle of Verdun in February and the Battle of Somme in July. The Battle of Verdun led to the complete destruction of the city and 315,000 French soldiers lost their lives.

The Battle of the Somme commenced with a five-day bombardment as an attempt to weaken German trenches. However, movement of men and guns into forward positions alerted the Germans of the impending attack causing them to retreat from the front line and build deep dug-outs over 12 meters deep. General Haig ordered thirteen divisions comprising around 200,000 soldiers to attack on July 1st, 1916 despite being aware of this knowledge since he believed that the bombardment had weakened the enemy. The first day alone saw 20,000 British soldiers killed and another 35,000 injured. Despite these losses, General Haig persisted in his tactics by ordering more attacks which proved unsuccessful.

The Battle of the Somme caused extensive loss of life, with

620,000 soldiers from Britain and France as well as 450,000 German soldiers losing their lives. The majority of these casualties were young men in their late teens or early twenties who had enlisted together, including those from pals battalions. This resulted in entire villages throughout the British empire losing an entire generation of young men. For instance, the 11th Cambridgeshire Battalion lost 691 out of its 750 soldiers on July 1st, 1916 alone. Despite receiving criticism from soldiers, politicians, and the press that led to his being called "The Butcher of the Somme," Haig oversaw a new cinecamera being used during this battle.

Released in August 1916, The Battle of the Somme featured authentic footage of the battle, including images of actual casualties, accounting for thirteen percent of the film's duration. The movie also contained fabricated scenes filmed at a training facility. While some anti-war activists praised the film for exposing the realities of war, others were appalled by its graphic depiction of death and violence. Many viewers considered it their first glimpse into the realities faced by soldiers in battle. However, some critics, like the Dean of Durham Cathedral, criticized the movie for exploiting suffering and death for entertainment purposes.

It is unsurprising that the war had an impact on both soldiers and civilians, with newspapers promoting patriotism while shocking accounts were read and seen. Although those left behind initially experienced war fever, by the end of 1916 their enthusiasm had diminished as the conflict began to affect daily life. Among these impacts in Britain were food shortages.

One out of every four British merchant ships was being sunk by German U-boats, leading to rationing of food

and long lines at stores for British housewives. The Battle of the Somme then prompted the introduction of conscription, requiring every man between eighteen to forty years old to enlist for active service, resulting in eight million people signing up to potentially fight at any moment.

However, the mood among those fighting for Britain had shifted by 1916, as conscripts joined the ranks instead of volunteers. The soldiers' perspectives had changed since 1914. In 1917, D.L. Rowlands remarked that not one soldier had any patriotism left in them. Instead, every man simply wanted to complete their duty and return home.

In 1918, during World War I, soldiers approached their duty more as a job than a holy mission. Many were conscripts who had regular jobs like teaching and lacked allegiance to their commanders. Despite this, they still desired victory over Germany and hoped to return home triumphant. Britain did not have the expected type of war in 1914, causing uncertainty among leaders on how to end it. The newspapers reported daily on the fatalities of soldiers, sailors, and pilots.

Living in a state of constant fear of death was common during the war. Whether it was a son, husband, brother, or father, the War Office would inform family members using either telegrams or mail if their loved one had been killed, gone missing or taken as a prisoner of war. One poignant memory is witnessing a mother's response upon seeing the telegram boy at her doorstep.

Communities who had family members serving in the navy during the war were fearful of receiving a telegram. The devastation caused by losing an entire generation of young men led communities to reject

the idea that war is something to be proud of. As the conflict continued, regular people began questioning its purpose and duration due to their personal difficulties.

The severity of the situation increased during the progress of the war. Initially hesitant to take action, America's stance changed after their ship, the Lusitania, was sunk in 1915 resulting in over 100 American passengers losing their lives and sparking widespread hostility towards Germany. As part of Germany's strategy to starve France and Britain, tensions continued to rise with persistent sinking of American ships. The tipping point came when America received a telegram from Arthur Zimmerman proposing that Mexico attack southern American states, leading to America declaring war on Germany.

Amidst the Russian revolution and the establishment of a Provisional Government, America joined the war in 1917. However, with whole regiments deserting and Lenin overthrowing the government, Russia declared its intentions to make peace with Germany. As a result, the Allies suffered further defeats and losses throughout that year.

Despite initial hopes for a swift victory, the Nivelle Offensive in April proved to be a failure for the Allies as the Germans retreated to the Hindenburg Line - an intricate system of heavily fortified trenches. The unsuccessful battle resulted in 34,000 fatalities and 90,000 injuries before leading to mutinies within the French army. Subsequently, General Petain took over from General Nivelle and reintroduced discipline by implementing strict penalties whilst also improving soldiers' living conditions. Meanwhile, Britain achieved minor triumphs at Vimy Ridge and Messines but faced harsh conditions during their involvement in the Third Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele.

During the Battle of the Somme, soldiers faced horrific conditions such as drowning

in shell holes or getting stuck waist-deep in mud. The battlefield was also contaminated with decaying corpses of humans and horses which polluted the land. Even minor injuries could quickly turn into serious gangrene infections due to these unsanitary conditions. Unfortunately, this battle caused the death of 400,000 British soldiers but only resulted in an 800-meter gain of muddy terrain. One officer who visited the battlegrounds expressed shock at sending men to fight there, exclaiming "My God, did we really send men to fight in that?" Meanwhile, on March 3rd, 1918 Germany and Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk marking an end to war on the Eastern Front.

The Allies found themselves outmatched on the Western Front as the German army had deployed one million soldiers and 3000 guns. Despite their advantage, Germany was aware that time was running out with only six months before America entered the war. In a bold move, General Ludendorff committed all available resources to carry out a final, large-scale offensive - The Ludendorff Offensive. On March 21, 1918, the attack commenced at sunrise with a five-hour bombardment from 6000 guns. Using poisonous mustard gas caused Allied forces to experience blindness and suffocation.

Taking advantage of the fog, seventy German divisions made a sudden attack against the British lines, leading to confusion and outnumbering of the British soldiers, who ran away. With a push of 65 kilometres, the German forces marched towards Paris. Subsequently, the Allies put French General Ferdinand Foch in charge of their armies.

Despite appearing powerless against the unstoppable Germans, Ludendorff's error in sending too many men too quickly and too far into French territory left his exhausted

army without reserves. In contrast, Foch had wisely kept men in reserve and the influx of 50,000 American soldiers per week further bolstered their ranks.

During July 18, 1918, Foch organized his forces to initiate a counter-attack. This led to the German army slowly withdrawing towards the Hindenburg Line. At the same time, Germany was facing imminent collapse as starvation and the Spanish flu epidemic were causing hundreds of deaths daily.

Despite Germany being unable to avoid defeat, Ludendorff aimed to postpone it by convincing the government to request an armistice from American President Woodrow Wilson. This would allow the German army to regain its momentum and fight later. Nevertheless, Germany underwent a revolution.

After Kaiser Wilhelm fled to Holland and never returned, a Republic replaced his empire. Two German politicians traveled to France to sign the armistice on 11 November 1918 at Compi??gne in northern France, on Foch's private railway carriage. Even though the Great War was over, neither side emerged victorious.

At 11 o'clock on 11 November 1918, all activity on the Western Front came to a halt, resulting in celebrations in Paris and London. British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge expressed this jubilation with his words, "..

There was a diverse crowd engaging in different behaviors such as singing, shouting, dancing, hugging, throwing up, scaling taxis and venturing into parks. Personally, I found it disturbing and eerie due to the reddish animalistic visages of people, unkempt females and hoarse voices. In contrast, conditions on the Western Front were entirely dissimilar as per David Jones' statement that he would survive.

He felt an almost painful thrill of triumph knowing that no one else in the battalion would die.

The

thought of millions of men from various nations who have died and are decaying in battlefields and graveyards across the globe brings him a deep sense of sorrow that cannot be easily remedied. Nevertheless, he believes that they might still indulge in wild celebrations in London and Paris despite their loss. Regardless, he is content to let them do so.

Maybe the reason for the men's silence and absence of display was due to their feeling about the situation. Despite the outcome being life conquering death, foolishness surpassing intelligence, and hatred overcoming humaneness, there can be no reoccurrence of such events, never, ever.

Despite their loyal service, British soldiers had become disillusioned with their generals. Private J A Hooper expressed this sentiment, stating that they were so disheartened towards the end of the war that they couldn't even sing 'God Save the King' on church parade. They felt betrayed, realizing that the notion of the Germans being beasts, which had been promoted by the newspapers at the start of the war, was untrue. As Hooper put it, "Never mind the bloody King,' we used to say, 'he was safe enough. It should have been God save us."

British soldiers and many others began to perceive no distinction between each other during the war. There was a growing doubt about the cause of the war, which had impacted all individuals. The conflict caused families to suffer from loss and left an entire generation of men perished. Even those who had survived were irrevocably changed.

Several individuals were handicapped or suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and they all had experienced traumatic events. They bore both physical and emotional scars. The

Lady Reader's statement was void four years later as World War One failed to achieve its goal of being the final war.