Under the Eagle - Film Analysis
1. Why was Germany undeterred by the Belgian-British security pact?
Germany was fighting on two fronts against Russia and France. France’s defence was very strong after the Franco-Prussian war. Belgium’s defences were weaker. British guaranteed Belgian neutrality, but Germany knew Britain would get into the war sooner or later.
2. Explain the irony in the use of the Krupp gun in the Belgian fortifications.
Belgian used Krupp guns which were German Krupp guns. On the other hand, Germany used weapons named after Krupp’s daughter, Big Bertha which was produced by the same German company.
3. Explain the German policy towards civilians and how it was interpreted by the Allies.
German rounded out civilians for special tasks, using them as shields. After the French withdrew, Germany thought snipers still existed so they torched the town. Germany kept priests as prisoners in a church. Germany executed hundreds of French and Belgian civilians near a riverbank. Ultimate cruelty was when soldiers check to see if civilians were alive and if they were, they would be bayoneted violently. Allies used it as propaganda to rally public Allied opinion behind the war.
4. Describe the pros and cons of the German state at the outbreak of WWI.
- Spectacular economic growth due to no war for numerous years
- Thought they were the guardians of not just the Europe, but the world
- Suffrage for most men
- Aspects of the welfare state
- Building block for Germany nationalism
- Beneath one flag, Germany remained very diverse. Rural east, industrialised west. Catholic one side, Protestant the other.
- Germany’s government was not accountable to the people, but to the emperor. Not a democracy. Entered WWI governed by a autocrat.
- Germany was obsessed with militarism, Kaiser Wilhelm was an autocrat
5. What was the meaning of the British soldier’s song as they retreated from Mons?
‘We’re here because, we’re here… we’re here because, we’re here’. They didn’t
Germany was fighting on two fronts against Russia and France. France’s defence was very strong after the Franco-Prussian war. Belgium’s defences were weaker. British guaranteed Belgian neutrality, but Germany knew Britain would get into the war sooner or later.
2. Explain the irony in the use of the Krupp gun in the Belgian fortifications.
Belgian used Krupp guns which were German Krupp guns. On the other hand, Germany used weapons named after Krupp’s daughter, Big Bertha which was produced by the same German company.
3. Explain the German policy towards civilians and how it was interpreted by the Allies.
German rounded out civilians for special tasks, using them as shields. After the French withdrew, Germany thought snipers still existed so they torched the town. Germany kept priests as prisoners in a church. Germany executed hundreds of French and Belgian civilians near a riverbank. Ultimate cruelty was when soldiers check to see if civilians were alive and if they were, they would be bayoneted violently. Allies used it as propaganda to rally public Allied opinion behind the war.
4. Describe the pros and cons of the German state at the outbreak of WWI.
- Spectacular economic growth due to no war for numerous years
- Thought they were the guardians of not just the Europe, but the world
- Suffrage for most men
- Aspects of the welfare state
- Building block for Germany nationalism
- Beneath one flag, Germany remained very diverse. Rural east, industrialised west. Catholic one side, Protestant the other.
- Germany’s government was not accountable to the people, but to the emperor. Not a democracy. Entered WWI governed by a autocrat.
- Germany was obsessed with militarism, Kaiser Wilhelm was an autocrat
5. What was the meaning of the British soldier’s song as they retreated from Mons?
‘We’re here because, we’re here… we’re here because, we’re here’. They didn’t