Good Afternoon!!! 1.NVC 2.Experience of Civilians in WWI 3.Case Study: The Sack of Louvain Essential Question: Was the Sack of Louvain a war crime or a legitimate military action? Homework: WWI Project DUE April 2/3

Civilians in WWI Roughly 6.5 million civilian deaths in WWI The Allies – 3.4 million Civilians The Central Powers – 3.1 million Civilians

Famine Most civilian deaths due to Famine and Disease Famine: extreme hunger leading to starvation – Trenches and naval blockades blocked trade routes  preventing food from getting in – Many farmers sent away to war  decreasing food production

Disease Trenches and blockades also blocked medical supplies from entering countries Spanish Flu: First Pandemic (global disease) since the Dark Ages – spread by mass travel of soldiers from country to country – million people dead = 1-3% of entire world’s population

Air Raids Zeppelin: German airships “Terror bombing”: attacks on civilians meant to weaken enemy morale – Introduced by the Germans – Not yet very effective

Siege Guns Paris Gun "It took about three minutes for each giant shell to cover the distance to the city. The shells climbed so high that gunners, in calculating where the shells would land, had to take into account the rotation of the Earth. For the first time in warfare, deadly projectiles rained down on civilians from the stratosphere."

“Instead of terrorizing the people, shells of the great cannons, as well as the bombs dropped from the German airships, only serve to strengthen the resolve of the French to resist, to the last man if necessary, the invasion of such a foe.”—Charles Horneau, 1918

“The Rape of Belgium” 1914 Germany invades Belgium as part of Schlieffen Plan Reports of German atrocities against Belgian civilians soon follow – Used by Entente Powers as propaganda – historians disagree if the “rape” actually happened

Sack of Louvain—August 1914

The Sack of Louvain Was the Sack of Louvain a war crime or a legitimate military action? – War Crime: the murder or intentional violent mistreatment of civilians or prisoners – Legitimate Action: something strategically necessary to win the war

Team 1: The Sack of Louvain was a WAR CRIME! Team 2: The Sack of Louvain was a LEGITIMATE MILITARY ACTION! 30 minutes: actively read each document and DISCUSS whether it supports your argument WITH YOUR TEAMMATE – TOGETHER construct an ARGUMENT and find THREE QUOTATIONS that support it. Write these down 5 min: Team 1 presents, Team 2 listens and takes notes. RESTATES Team 1’s position 5 min: Team 2 presents, Team 1 listens and takes notes. RESTATES Team 2’s position 10 min: CONSENSUS! Abandon your role and discuss. AGREE on and answer to the essential question

Exit Ticket To what extent are violent actions against civilians justified during a war? Are they ever justified? Explain, and provide examples