L6-L8: Total War Agenda Objective: To understand 1.What total war is, why it emerged, and its logic. 2.The effects of total war on the battlefield and on the home front Schedule: 1.Lecture, Video Clips, Discussion Homework 1.Writing Goals Due: Friday 12/5

Brief Add on To Last Class…

The Physical and Psychological Aftermath of War To deepen your understanding of these issues, we will watch a brief video showing the physical and psychological trauma soldiers faced after the war. –“Shell Shock”: What we know know as Combat Stress Reaction. During WW1 was considered a psychiatric illness resulting from injury to the nerves during combat. First time that war veterans experience long-term psychological trauma on such a wide scale. Warning: Some images are graphic.

We Now Resume Our Regularly Scheduled Programming…

“Phases of World War One” Race to the Sea (August 1914 – November 1914) Trench Warfare (Stalemate) (November ?) Total War (Effort to Break Stalemate of Trench Warfare) Total War: On the Battlefield Knockout Blow: New Weapons Creeping Barrage Attacks Total War: On the Home Front Incorporation of Civilians as Perpetrators Incorporation of Civilians as Victims War of Attrition ( ) (Adopted when Total War proves “victory” no longer seems possible) War of Attrition ( ) (Adopted when Total War proves “victory” no longer seems possible) Denouement (1918)

Total War on the Battlefield: New Weapons Several new and “totalizing” weapons were invented during the course of the war in an effort to break the stalemate of trench warfare Let’s check them out… –Read “Technology and the Trenches” –Discuss technological and counter-technological innovations

Total War on the Battlefield: Creeping Barrage Attacks Offensive military tactic –Idea was to try to pursue a key break in the stalemate through the use of a single, overwhelming offensive attack. –Pursue a “knockout blow” Placed a curtain of artillery fire just ahead of advancing infantry, a barrage which would constantly shift - or creep - forward directly ahead of attacking troops. Pioneered by the Germans

Two Pivotal Creeping Barrage Battles: Battle of Verdun & Battle of the Somme Battle of Verdun –February-December 1916 (10 Months!!!) –Western Front –40 million artillery shells fired! 200 rounds for every soldier killed –French Deaths: 156,000 –German Deaths: 143,000 Battle of the Somme –July-November 1916 –Western Front –Goal was to advance the line of combat a mere 10 miles –Advanced the line of combat a mere 6 miles –Total Casualties: Approx. 1 million Video Clip The Great War

Discussion How did the creeping barrage battles inverse the logic of war—turning defense into offense, and making the hero the victim? How are Verdun and Somme mechanical battles?

Total War on the Home Front When total war strategies on the battlefield do not produce decisive victories, a new idea to break the stalemate is pursued.. –Make the home front a battlefront by incorporating Civilians into war as both perpetrators of war and victims of war Total war strategy is pioneered by the Germans Video Clip! The Great War

Discussion How were civilians brought in as perpetrators of war? How were civilians brought in as victims of war? What is the view of the individual exemplified by the total war strategy? How did total war redefine the morality of war?