An Overview of the Great War

The Role of Women When war began, women were seen as passive; should be used to encourage men to enlist in the army. “Britannia” is a woman who must be protected. Belgium, too, must be protected from “rape.”

The Role of Women A Woman’s Duty *Support your man; encourage your sons and husband to volunteer. Expected to sacrifice her men for the good of the nation. -Women’s Service League *Pledge to persuade all men to join *Never be seen in public with a shirker *The White Feather Campaign

The Role of Women John McCormack,“Keep the Home Fires Burning” (1914, recorded 1917) They were summoned from the hillside, They were called in from the glen, And the Country found them ready At the stirring call for men. Let no tears add to their hardship, As the Soldiers pass along And although your heart is breaking, Make it sing this cheery song. REFRAIN repeat ad lib Keep the Home-fires burning, While your hearts are yearning, Though your lads are far away They dream of Home; There's a silver lining Through the dark cloud shining, Turn the dark cloud inside out, Till the boys come Home. 2. Over seas there came a pleading, "Help a Nation in distress!" And we gave our glorious laddies, Honor made us do no less. For no gallant Son of Freedom To a tyrant's yoke should bend, And a noble heart must answer To the sacred call of "Friend!" (REFRAIN repeat ad lib)

The Role of Women “White Feather Campaign” letter; Imperial War Museum

The Role of Women By the beginning of 1915, it was clear that women would be needed to take on the jobs traditionally reserved for men. Women responded in great numbers to the call for workers. Some responded because they felt it was their patriotic duty. Some responded because they wanted to show that they were the equals of men. Others were seeking escape from want they perceived was a dull and suffocating existence. Regardless of their reasons, they were indispensable to the war effort.

The Role of Women Women’s Land Army: 18,000 Volunteer Aid Detachment: 47,000 Munitions Work (chemical/metal): 700,000

The Role of Women By the end of 1916, the British and French army continued to need more men freed from “soft” jobs to send to the front. In January 1917, the British army created the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. By war’s end, over 57,000 women had served in the WAACs. “As a mark of Her Majesty's appreciation of the good services rendered by the WAAC both at home and abroad since its inauguration, and especially of the distinction which it earned in France during the recent fighting on the Western Front, Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to assume the position and title of Commandant-in-Chief of the Corps, which in future will bear the name of Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps.” Statement issued by Buckingham Palace, April 1917

The Role of Women In the United States, the role of women was primarily to support the war by encouraging the men to fight and assisting with volunteer relief efforts. However, great numbers did enter the work force in traditionally held male jobs.

The Role of Women

The New Technology of War Wars in the past were fought between industrializing nations. This was the first war fought by industrialized nations. Weapons were changing rapidly by necessity of survival. The Great War was the first fully mechanized war and while weaponry evolved quickly, tactics did not. The result was slaughter on an inconceivable scale.

1914: Early Stages of War *The Heroic Defense of Belgium -King Albert -German atrocities, real and imagined -August 1914: 6500 Fr./Bel. civilians are killed *The Belgian Relief -Herbert Hoover charged with organizing food, clothes and other necessities for Belgians *Belgium generates great sympathy for the Allied cause *By end of the first month Germany loses 250,000 soldiers; France loses 200,000

1914: Early Stages of War Failure of the Schlieffen Plan - “The Miracle of the Marne” *Germans forced to retreat when they are some twenty miles from Paris (September) -Allied Victory at Ypres *Germans attempt to break Allied lines and fail -German Victory at Tannenberg *two Russian armies destroyed at once; 30,000 dead, 92,000 captured *creates greater dissatisfaction with Nicholas The Stalemate Begins… One of 600 Parisian taxis used to ferry 6000 French soldiers to the front during the crucial Battle of the Marne.

Europe in 1914

The Last Gasp of the 19th Century The Christmas Truce of 1914 The Last Gasp of the 19th Century