The Great War - History Book Chapter Page 20
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26Using Primary and Secondary Sources
Views of War
When World War I broke out, Europe had not experienced a war involving all the major
powers for nearly a century, since Napoleon’s defeat in 1815. As a result, people had an
unrealistic view of warfare. Many expected the war to be short and romantic. Many men
enlisted in the army because of patriotism or out of a desire to defend certain
institutions. What the soldiers experienced changed their view of war forever.
A
B
C
P R I M A R Y S O U R C E
F I C T I O N
P O E T R Y
Woodrow Wilson
Erich Maria
Wilfred Owen
Remarque
On April 2, 1917, President Wilson
The English poet Wilfred Owen was
asked Congress to declare war so that
killed in the trenches just one week
In the German novel All Quiet on the
the United States could enter World
before World War I ended. This
Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
War I. This excerpt from his speech
excerpt from his poem “Dulce et
draws upon his own wartime
gives some of his reasons.
Decorum Est” describes a gas attack.
experience of trench warfare.
The world must be made safe for
Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of
No one would believe that in this
democracy. Its peace must be planted
fumbling,
howling waste there could still be
upon the tested foundations of political
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
men; but steel helmets now appear on
liberty. We have no selfish ends to
But someone still was yelling out and
all sides of the trench, and fifty yards
serve. We desire no conquest, no
stumbling,
from us a machine-gun is already in
dominion. We seek no indemnities for
And flound’ring like a man in fire or
position and barking.
ourselves, no material compensation
lime . . .
The wire entanglements are torn to
for the sacrifice we shall freely make.
Dim, through the misty panes and
pieces. Yet they offer some obstacle.
We are but one of the champions of
thick green light,
We see the storm-troops coming. Our
the rights of mankind. We shall be
As under a green sea, I saw him
artillery opens fire. . . .
satisfied when those rights have been
drowning.
I see [a French soldier], his face
made as secure as the faith and the
upturned, fall into a wire cradle. His
In all my dreams, before my helpless
freedom of nations can make them.
body collapses, his hands remain
sight,
suspended as though he were praying.
He plunges at me, guttering, choking,
Then his body drops clean away and
drowning.
only his hands with the stumps of his
arms, shot off, now hang in the wire.
D
P R I M A R Y S O U R C E
Maurice Neumont
France, 1918
This French poster is titled, “They
1.
What reasons does Woodrow
Shall Not Pass, 1914–1918.”
Wilson (Source A) give for
Translated into English, the text at
entering the war?
the bottom reads, “Twice I have
2.
What emotions does the French
stood fast and conquered on the
poster (Source D) try to arouse?
Marne, my brother civilian. A
3.
Judging from Sources B and C,
deceptive ‘peace offensive’ will
what was it like for the average
attack you in your turn; like me you
soldier in the trenches? Explain
must stand firm and conquer. Be
how you think such experiences
affected the average soldier’s
strong and shrewd—beware of
view of war.
Boche [German] hypocrisy.”
857
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