The War On The Western Front Essay Example

a secondary source. Likewise, source A is also classified as a secondary source.

Both source D and source E discuss Field Marshal Haig, but they have different authors and contexts. Source D is a historian's detailed study of Haig's life, which suggests that it is a reliable source. On the other hand, source E is an excerpt from a textbook written by Philip Warner in 1991, also focusing on Haig's life. Since Warner is a historian who studied Haig, this source can also be considered reliable. However, the two sources differ greatly, indicating that one of them may be less reliable. In my opinion, source E is more reliable because it specifically focuses on Field Marshal Haig, while source D is about the war in general.

It is probable that source E had more extensive research conducted compared to source D. Nonetheless, source D remains valuable despite being less trustworthy than source E. Source F, a cigarette advertisement for Mitchell's Golden Dawn Cigarettes from 1915 (during the war), is considered a primary source.

The advertisement presents an unreliable image of four soldiers and their commander leisurely occupying neat trenches. However, in actuality, the commander would have been vulnerable to enemy snipers if he had exposed his head. The soldiers would have been actively engaged in a perilous battle, immersed in mud up to their waists and without any time for smoking cigarettes. It appears that this advertisement sought to boost cigarette sales while also presenting a positive perception of the war to the English public, as censorship prohibited the depiction of its true reality.

5) Source A, an extract from the British textbook "Britain at War 1914-1919" written by

Craig Mair in 1982 (after the war), is a secondary source. It is considered fairly reliable as it was authored by a historian who likely conducted extensive research on the topic. This source proves highly useful when studying the prolonged duration of the war due to its reliability and inclusion of relevant information. On the other hand, Source B is a photograph captured in 1916 (during the war) by an individual who personally experienced artillery bombardment, making it a primary source. However, its reliability is questionable as it is a photograph that could have been manipulated for propaganda purposes, aiming to portray the British public with a favorable perception of the war progress.

Although still potentially valuable for studying the lengthy duration of the war, this source reveals the utilization of propaganda. Source C is a 1917 poem called "The General" by Sierfried Sassoon, an infantry officer. As a primary source, it effectively highlights the soldiers' genuine sentiments towards their leaders. Consequently, this source also proves highly beneficial for examining the war's prolonged nature. On the other hand, Source D consists of an extract from the textbook "Great Battles of World War I," authored by historian Anthony Livesey in 1989, emphasizing its post-war origins.

The text discusses Field Marshal Haig as a military commander, citing it as a secondary source. While some information may be slightly inaccurate, it is generally considered reliable. Source E is another extract from a textbook titled "Field Marshal Haig," written by historian Philip Warner in 1991.

This source is highly reliable as it comes from a book solely dedicated to Field Marshal Haig, indicating extensive research. It is a valuable resource for studying

the prolonged duration of the war. Additionally, Source F is an advertisement for "Mitchell's Golden Dawn Cigarettes," created in 1915 during the war. It serves as a primary source. However, this source lacks reliability as the picture portrays soldiers and their commander leisurely standing in clean trenches, implying inactivity.

While in truth, if the commander had shown his head above the trench, it would have been swiftly targeted by an enemy sniper, the advertisement depicts him doing so and offering cigarettes to the soldiers. However, the soldiers would not be idly standing around; rather, they would be engaged in fierce battles with their lives on the line and wading through knee-deep mud. Smoking a cigarette would be an unimaginable luxury in such circumstances. The purpose of this advertisement was twofold: to boost cigarette sales and to provide a false sense of progress in the war to the general public. The cigarette company had no choice but to resort to such tactics due to censorship restrictions preventing them from showing the realities of life in the trenches.

Even though this source is inaccurate, it remains valuable for studying the prolonged duration of the war due to its depiction of censorship. Source G, a primary source written by Tom Broach who fought in the war, offers insights into trench warfare. Although there may be potential bias in Broach's account, it is still considered highly reliable. Consequently, this source proves particularly useful for understanding the reasons behind the war's protracted nature, as it provides an authentic interpretation of the realities of trench warfare and the challenging lives faced by front-line soldiers. It is worth noting that all the sources I

have examined contribute to comprehending why the First World War endured for so long. Even the unreliable and inaccurate sources hold value, as they demonstrate instances of propaganda and censorship, both factors that contributed to the war's protracted length.

Despite not showing the true nature of the war, they...