Source 2F is a photograph of a German corpse showing the aftermath of a British attack in 1916. Large numbers of decomposing bodies would be found below the surface. These corpses, as well as the food scraps that littered the trenches, attracted rats and the trenches were soon swarming with them. An artillery shell must have hit this German corpse before he got to the other side because there is a huge hole in front of the body which shows how large the shells were and how much damage they caused. This photograph explains how much these troops suffered which is also backed up in 3C as it also illustrates a gruesome scene.
Dulce et Decorum Est” is the title of the poem which explains that it is not sweet and fitting to die for your country. It contrasts this nightmarish scene with the naive, romantic nations of unquestioning patriotism of the young men who were encouraged and who rushed to join the army at the beginning of the Great War. However, it is the complete opposite; in reality it was just to get people to join. The poem written by Wilfred Owen is about a casualty of a gas attack that these men had suffered.
“Gas! Gas! Quick boys”!
This is a sign of panic for the troops and a sign of death,
“He plunges at me, guttering, choking, and drowning”.
This is evidence on how dreadful and daunting the gas was. These conditions in this poem are backed up by source 1B’s images.
Source 3B is written by Siegfried Sassoon about a counter-attack and describes how British troops captured a German trench system. The British troops are
“Pallid, unshaved and thirsty, blind with smoke”.
They have been in the trenches for a long time. This explains why they are “pallid, unshaved and thirsty”. They are hungry, tired and very scared of death. The troops had to dig through trenches in the No-Man’s Land and they soon found that
“The place was rotten with dead: green clumsy legs” and the jolly old rain”.
This would be anything but jolly because it would be freezing, wet and miserable in the trenches. This tells us clearly that bodies were everywhere. Source 3B is supported by source 1C because it shows similar circumstances that they faced.
Writing diaries was another method of escapism for many men during the War. These men would give their personal view on how horrendous and grievous the war was. The diary of Siegfried Sassoon describes the bodies that were shattered to bits, torn into pieces by the dense artillery shells. In 1916, he took part in the murderous opening of the Battle of the Somme and soon faced
“Rags and shreds of bloods-stained cloth, bloody boots riddled and torn”…
This is a reliable source giving evidence on the savage conditions that can also be found in source 2F which supports this diary on how brutal it was.
Source 3E is a letter from Ivar Campbell written in 1917. Men had to face rain, cold, mud, rats, lice, tiredness, fear and boredom which were just some of the torments the soldiers faced everyday. Letters would be sent to families as it was the only way for communication. Families knew little about the disgusting, terrifying realities. Ivar Campbell describes the troops as “rabbits” running around the trenches.
“I’ll take him, says the man near me. And like a rabbit the German falls”
These troops felt fear thought out there time in the trenches and is supported by 3C which also relates to this source.
Source 3F is written by Paul Nash in 1917 and expresses a dull, dark, gloomy atmosphere which creates an unusual depressing landscape.
“The rain drives on, the stinking mud becomes more evilly yellow, the shell-holes fill up with green- white water”… This reveals the annihilating environment that throttles the surroundings. The rain distracting the troops is more pain and torture for them. Paul Nash describes it as
“Unspeakable, godless, hopeless”
This is because the soldiers have done so much that they feel speechless. This description is backed up by source 3E which also creates a choking atmosphere.
Source G shows a gruesome, ghastly, sickening side of trench warfare. The violence that occurred was not forgetful but scarred the troops for life. They are described as ruthless animals attacking each other.
“The fighters snarled and worried and scuffled and clutched and tore at each other more like savage brutes than men”.
The fear of death was enormous as most soldiers knew that there was a low chance for survival. The war was bloody and vicious and millions of people died each day facing the same situations which can also be supported in source 3J.
Source H shows what equipment soldiers had to carry in warfare. He would be carrying a total of 30 kilograms of equipment This included a rifle, two , 220 rounds of ammunition, a steel helmet, wire cutters, field dressing, entrenching tool, greatcoat, two sandbags, rolled ground sheet, water bottle, haversack, mess tin, towel, shaving kit, extra socks, message book and preserved food rations. The weight of the equipment made it difficult to move very fast across . The bayonet in his right hand would be a dangerous weapon which could stab someone in the back or though the heart causing blood and anguished death. His uniform would be dirty, smelly and wet and very uncomfortable. This shows how appalling were the circumstances these troops went though and this source can be backed up by 3D.
Source 4I is an account written by an ordinary soldier that experienced bloody wounds and sickly odours of death which he describes as
“Repulsive”
This is an extract taken from a book on a soldier’s view telling the reader it was all hell and affliction. The misery and terror was on their minds all the time. This source illustrates this by using the quote:
“The explosion was devastating and threatened to tear one apart by concussion”.
This account describes the living conditions as well as how soldiers felt.
“It rained cats and dogs, and the nights were pitch dark and bitterly cold”.
The conditions were dreadful, tiring and stressful for these troops who also faced hunger. There were times when men would disappear and no-one would see them again. The soldiers have said that it was one of the worst experienced everyday. Watching their friends die and getting shot through the head by a heavy machine gun was daunting. Source 3E portrays what it was like during the Great War and this source supports this account.
Source 4J is a British official report illustrating the success of the British attack. However this report does not convey the horrific, devastating, bloody and disturbing torture the soldier suffered from. The newspapers were under all kinds of control from the government because they were not allowed to tell the truth about the war as it would cause mass panic, calls to stop the war and outrage from lots of people. This would mean no-one would be signing up to volunteer. Phrases were used to persuade people to join the war and show how successful it was.
“Further important successes have been gained by troops”.
This article is backed up by source 2 “official account” as it portrays the same situations the reporters had to agree with.
Source 2 “official account” is another article showing another side to this media. Source 2 is about two German attacks repulsed. It gives a brief description of poisonous gases used at Hill 60.
“Nothing to report except the failure of two German attacks last night”
The official accounts are sanitized because all the blood and guts are not even mentioned. The other contrast is that only the successful bits are mentioned. This source can also be backed up by source 4J as it does not give enough evidence about the truth of trench warfare.
Source 3 is another newspaper report called “The war day by day”. It describes the “value of success”. The newspaper reports the trench warfare and the attack which was written by a military correspondent who would be in France. This article does not give a view on the horrendous conditions the soldiers faced day by day but reports what they accomplished, for example
“During the night of April 1917-18 all this work was well carried out”
This quote tells us how successful it was along with;
“Gradually, we have caught the Germans up”
The newspapers were not allowed to tell the truth of the gruesome torture soldiers experienced. There is a huge contrast between these sources and all the others we have looked at from the soldiers. They talk about the weapons they have but not telling the readers how many soldiers died and what they suffered.
“We are accumulating heavy guns and our artillery beginning to dominate the battle”.
This source can be backed up by source 4J which also links to the lies that were told on the Great War.
Source 4 illustrates a map explaining the capture of hill 60 which is titled “The British success East of Ypres”. The Military correspondent makes it clear on how important the capture of Hill 60, south east of Ypres was. The hill, areas between France and Belgium were very important as it had a large surface area.
“This hill, from its altitude of over 180ft”
Capturing Hill 60 would mean there would be lots of room for machine guns which means it would be easier to attack and kill. The land would be flat and it would be high land which was an important advantage. This source relates to the “success” of the war and is linked to source 3 because it also shows this.
Source 5 again discusses the success on the war. The title of this article is called “Berlin claim of success near Ypres” which was written in Amsterdam on May 2nd. This telegram again does not mention blood and anguish but instead explains how well they did. For example
“we successfully attacked north-east of Ypres”
The truth that lied beneath could not be discussed in the media as it would cause too much conflict with the media and family members at home. This article is a telegram from the German main headquarters. He tells us that
“in champagne our successful mine explosion caused consideration to the enemy position”
in this quote they have mentioned what damaged they caused the enemy position but nothing about there own army which can link to source 2 as it gives the same idea.
Source 6 is another article written on April 23rd. each country gives similar information on attacking enemy troops but all reports in France and Britain have not conveyed the disastrous terror.
“Since we captured the hill on Saturday night, we have strengthened our positions”
These newspaper articles are only explaining one side of the story. The French report,
“we hold the entire crest of the hill”
The people at home would believe all these reports thinking that their loved ones out there fighting would be fine because of the way newspapers published articles. This source can be backed up by source 5 as it gives a similar example.
Source 7 was written on June 5th 1915 by Lord Derby. This last source shows a contrast to what the conditions were like. In all the newspapers reporters explained how successful they have done and Lord Derby clarifies by saying,
“the Government are doing the best they can for their country”
He appreciates this but also knows something is missing as they have not mentioned what is going on. He speaks out by saying,
“I think we ought to be given little more news of what our troops are doing in field”.
The reporters have to be careful on what they write, but they are now being questioned by the people at home. Finding out about the horrible conditions would cause a lot of anger which is one big reason why it was not mentioned. This source can be backed up by source I as it conveys the conditions troops faced.
Overall the soldier’s experiences and the official accounts are very different from each other. The soldier’s experiences illustrate the suffering of soldiers who faced terror throughout the Great War, were as the official accounts tell a different side of the Great War reporting how well the war was going. The troops experienced such awful conditions that they would describe it as
“unspeakable, godless, hopeless”
On the other hand the official accounts explained that
“further important successes have been gained by troops”
This gives evidence on how they contrast. However I think the most reliable sources are the soldier’s diary accounts as they are personal, telling the reader their personal experiences and how they felt.