Soldiers' Attitude to Wwi Essay Example
“Explain why allied and German soldiers’ attitude to war changed over time.”
Significant modifications to attitudes of war for Allied and German soldiers changed over time. From enthusiasm to war weariness, much change had occurred for each battling side.
Soldiers of both German and allied sides had shown great initial enthusiasm to war. The attitude to war on both German and allied sides was near equally the same. Soldiers had seen war as an adventure. These soldiers engaged in excitement, patriotic fervor, and saw war as a value of noble self sacrifice. Soldiers were perceived as a coward if they had not enlisted to go to war. Women would hand them a white feather, symbolising that they did not show pride in their country. This glorious adventure was backed up by the feeling that both spiritual renewal and courage could be developed. Soldiers believed that the war would be over Christmas and many had feared that war would be over before they had even got involved. Captain Julian Grenfell, in a letter to his mother during war, had emphasized that he “adore(s) war, it’s like a big picnic without the object lesson of a picnic. I’ve never been so well or so happy… it is all the best fun.” As depicted from a photograph of a crowd in Berlin at the outbreak of war in 1914, many numerous young men are saluting their hats the sky and singing praises due to the outbreak of war, outlining happiness and excitement, through the expression evident on their faces. War poet, Wilfred Owen, outlines the enthusiasm and keenness to join war as he emphasizes that, “O meet it is and passing sweet, to live in peace with others, but sweet still and far more meet, to die in war for brothers.” Owen encourages readers to enlist for war as it is a honor and a credit to serves for ones country. War poet Rupert Brooke, in his poem, ‘The Soldier,’ mentions, “…and think, this heart, all evil shed away…laughter, learnt of friends and gentleness,” as he outlines the positive experiences of
Significant modifications to attitudes of war for Allied and German soldiers changed over time. From enthusiasm to war weariness, much change had occurred for each battling side.
Soldiers of both German and allied sides had shown great initial enthusiasm to war. The attitude to war on both German and allied sides was near equally the same. Soldiers had seen war as an adventure. These soldiers engaged in excitement, patriotic fervor, and saw war as a value of noble self sacrifice. Soldiers were perceived as a coward if they had not enlisted to go to war. Women would hand them a white feather, symbolising that they did not show pride in their country. This glorious adventure was backed up by the feeling that both spiritual renewal and courage could be developed. Soldiers believed that the war would be over Christmas and many had feared that war would be over before they had even got involved. Captain Julian Grenfell, in a letter to his mother during war, had emphasized that he “adore(s) war, it’s like a big picnic without the object lesson of a picnic. I’ve never been so well or so happy… it is all the best fun.” As depicted from a photograph of a crowd in Berlin at the outbreak of war in 1914, many numerous young men are saluting their hats the sky and singing praises due to the outbreak of war, outlining happiness and excitement, through the expression evident on their faces. War poet, Wilfred Owen, outlines the enthusiasm and keenness to join war as he emphasizes that, “O meet it is and passing sweet, to live in peace with others, but sweet still and far more meet, to die in war for brothers.” Owen encourages readers to enlist for war as it is a honor and a credit to serves for ones country. War poet Rupert Brooke, in his poem, ‘The Soldier,’ mentions, “…and think, this heart, all evil shed away…laughter, learnt of friends and gentleness,” as he outlines the positive experiences of