History 158C 9.2.2010 I. Why did Europe stay in the war?

What made Europeans continue fighting for 4 years? Total war no one could escape the conflict Attempts to stop the conflict Pope, Woodrow Wilson, etc o Peace objectives failed Peoples War by definition, total war = citizens war o Governments drafted citizens, etc o Couldnt just get out of the conflict Technology created stalemate o No side had a decisive advantage until US entered war in 1917 o Truly industrialized war Germany appeared to be winning until 1918 last offensive France opposite reluctant to compromise unless Germany returned conquered lands Senseless war c/c with good war of WWII o Three Armies on the Somme reassessment of 1st battle of WWI Industrialized War trial & error experience o 1916 Battle of the Somme 60000 dead after 1st British offensive Everyone thought the war would end quickly o Trench war dramatic change o Still hoped for a breakthrough devoted considerable resources to offensives Hope for a breakthrough o Search for new weapons tanks, gas, etc o Search for new allies Italy (got France & Britain); Turkey (brought in by Germany) State-building o Linked with the conflict o War promoted centralization state has more control over its people Rise of propaganda, vigorous hate campaigns Police action Promise of a better tomorrow i. Fighting racism, militarism, dictatorships New slogan The War to Ends Wars Work gave people regular jobs, income, etc II. The War Front French mutinies dont lead to breakdown of French lines Endurance survival soldiers looked out for each other Separation of war & civilian front Troop morale regimental units o Life expectancy = 3 months Not long enough to reflect on conflict survival mode Drugs rum (in rations) o Ch 14 Harrods Hamper spiked with heroin, cocain o Girlfriends Dope Girls o Drugs not criminalized until WWI III. Graves Goodbye to All That 3 different experiences o Childhood/teen years o War experience relationships with poets o Post-War experience Style formal, stiff but typical of the time o Open, direct sense of freedom of the post war generation/survivors

o View of war mocking, subtle irony Excerpts o P 132, 113, 128, 125, 114, 95 IV. What did the war mean for the average European? No such thing as an average European conditions varied o 1914 diversity the norm, goes for the conflict itself too Combatant nations sense of bereavement, loss, sacrifice o No family untouched no closure, war continues through 1920s, 30s Improvement civilians benefited in terms of standard of living o Hope for a better society o Women liberation political empowerment Britain 1918 voting for women over 30, all women in 1928 Germany 1919 for women over 21 France - 1944