WWI Visual Discovery

Directions: You are going to learn important facts and concepts about WWI using pictures, photographs, and charts. You will travel to different stations and view various primary source documents. On the left side of the chart, write a basic description of what you see. On the right side, write what you think it means.

Description Royal couple from Austria, Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia. Heir to the Austrian throne Both were assassinated by a member of the Black Hand

Significance The assassination of Ferdinand was the spark that set off the Balkan powder keg, thus starting the war.

Description Trenches, airplanes, tanks, gas mask, machine guns, ships used as weapons in the war.

Significance WWI is considered the first modern war because of the technology that was used.

SUICIDE IN THE TRENCHES By Siegfried Sassoon I knew a simple soldier boy Who grinned at life in empty joy, Slept soundly through the lonesome dark, And whistled early with the lark. In winter trenches, cowed and glum, With crumps and lice and lack of rum, He put a bullet through his brain. No one spoke of him again. You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye Who cheer when soldier lads march by, Sneak home and pray you'll never know The hell where youth and laughter go.

Description Soldiers fought in dirty, dreary trenches. Some soldiers committed suicide.

Significance The life experienced by the soldiers fighting in WWI had a very negative impact on their mentality. Many became traumatized, or shell-shocked.

Description Political posters, encouraging citizens to enlist in the army, save food for the army, and buy government war bonds.

Significance Governments used propaganda— advertisements used to persuade the public— in order to gain support for the war effort.

Description Soldiers marching; they appear young and are singing as if they are excited about going to battle Military rally; a large number of soldiers are in the middle of the town with crowds of people surrounding them, cheering them on.

Significance Militarism—countries building up their militaries and glorifying them

Description Four men, politicians, standing outside a building.

Significance These are the “Big Four”—the leaders of the four main countries who discussed the treaty that ended the war, the Treaty of Versailles (Britain, France, Italy, USA)