Trench Warfare in World War I

Trench Structure Protected by barb wire fences 5 feet high Concrete machine gun nests Trench’s on each side were separated by a strip of land known as “no-man’s land”

Tactics of Trench Warfare Begin with artillery to flatten the enemy’s barbed wire Mass of soldiers would climb out with bayonets and run toward the enemy’s trench Men were often killed charging the enemy trench Planes were mostly used to spot the enemy’s position

Horrors of Trench Warfare Poisonous gases like chlorine and mustard were used Blindness, burns, and paralysis. Most trenches were infested with large rats and lice

Horrors cont’d Many soldiers suffered from a fungal infection known as Trench foot Caused feet to swell to two to three times their normal size Could result in amputation of the feet Many suffered from “Shell Shock,” which today would be called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Some men had psychological breakdowns leading to suicide and desertion

Questions to consider… If your country is at war, whose responsibility is it to make sure that your side is winning? What do civilians at home have to do? Would they be willing to give up certain foods? To drive their cars less? American citizens were expected to do these things for their country

World War I: The Home Front

Propaganda Governments use propaganda to gain support from the people In World War I it was used to… Convince people to go to war To get men to join the military To get people to invest money in the government To get people to ration food

Examples Look at the posters and be able to answer the following questions: What is the poster about? What is the poster trying to convince people to do? Who, exactly, is the poster appealing to? Is the poster effective?

1) What is the poster about? 2) What is the poster trying to convince people to do?  3) Is the poster convincing? Why or why not?

What are the characteristics of these propaganda posters? They have a CLEAR MESSAGE They are colorful and appealing They appeal to people’s sense of DUTY They are convincing

Break into partners… You and your partner are government officials during World War I It is your job to design a propaganda poster advertising one of the following issues Using less food Saving energy (gasoline and coal) Joining the military Remember the four characteristics of propaganda poster!