This paper examines the socio-political relationship that existed between Britain and Australia prior to 1914 and the role of the GreatWar (WWI) in the development of Australia's own separate identity.
Abstract This paper explains that Australia's cultural, economic and defensive dependency upon Britain forged a sense of Australianidentity that was intertwined with its British counterpart; however, at the conclusion of the war, Australia emerged as a nation skeptical of Britain's continued leadership, confident of its own military prowess and with its own Australianidentity. The author points out that the battles of the Western Front and Gallipoli became the historical foundation, which helped to shape Australia's rugged, individual identity. The paper relates that, in the Digger Myth, Australian soldiers were seen to be athletic, hardy and resourceful to the point of perfection due to biological influences and experiences of a frontier lifestyle; however, these soldiers had never been truly battle tested. The author stresses that the 'Baptism of Fire' proved Australia's legitimacy as a fighting unit and as a nation.
Table of Contents:
Imperial Ties to the AustralianIdentity Prior to 1914
The 'Digger' Myth
From the Paper "When Britain declared war, 50,000 young, energetic Australian men immediately volunteered to fight for their nation as well as their native homeland of Britain in order to protect against the evil German menace. These men were primarily single men who were attracted by the steady pay of military service. Australian's wave of volunteers quickly waned as many of these eager young men were slain at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. In 1916, Australia gave 14,000 lives to the war effort and another 22,000 in 1917. In 1917, after Gallipoli, Australian enlistment dropped to 45,000 from a high of 166,000 in 1915."
Abstract This paper examines the political and military atmosphere in Russia at the out break of the GreatWar, which is also called World War I. It describes a weakened industrialized nation under the Tsarist rule that was unable to reach it full military might and lacked popular support for the war. The paper describes the political affects of emergence of the Bolsheviks during the war, which than lead to the Russian Revolution.
From the Paper "Russia's poor combat performance during the war has become well-known. Different explanations have been offered. The one that was preferred by many ex-tsarist officers who emigrated after the war was that Russia's technological level was not up to that of the rest of the world: "that is, that Russia lacked the technology to manufacture the arms and material needed to prosecute the struggle" (Fuller 38-39). Russia did have a burgeoning industrial sector, but she was still inferior to her neighbors in terms of her output of such commodities as electrical equipment, chemicals, and machine tools. Before the war, Russia's total production of machinery of all kinds filled less than half of her internal demands. Once she had exhausted her stockpile of rifles, bullets, and shells, she was unable to replace them as rapidly as could Germany, which contributed to the German conquest of Poland, Livonia, and much of the Baltic coast. The lack of these goods also added to the demoralization of the troops (Fuller 39)."
Tags:wwi, world, war, i, tsar, russian, revolution, russia, bolsheviks
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the books "The GreatWar 1914-1918", by Cyril Falls, and "The Pity of War: Explaining World War I", by Niall Ferguson. The paper discusses how these two books, written 40 years apart, look at the war from different stages in history and from different perspectives. The paper analyzes how the authors graphically illustrate the First World War and what this war meant to the participants, the world, and to history in general. The paper examines how the books discuss emotional and personal themes, which makes them quite important for detailed research that adds another dimension to The GreatWar.
From the Paper "Ferguson, on the other hand, uses a different type of literary technique. He consistently relates events to works of literature that covered the war, from classics such as All Quiet on the Western Front and For Whom the Bell Tolls to lesser knows works, he consistently compares the actual events of the war to how their authors portrayed (and sometimes dramatized) them in literary works. For some readers, this might be more difficult to follow and identify with and understand. However, both books are extremely well written. They belong in any serious World War I library or historian's reference shelf."
Tags: Francis, Ferdinand, Lloyd, George, World, War, Allies, anti-war, activists
Abstract This paper discusses the reasons that caused America to get involved in WWI. It explains that in order to better understand America's impetus for entry into the GreatWar, one first needs to look at source documents that tracked America's involvement in one of the bloodiest wars in the history of the world. This paper tracks the development of the war in Europe and examines what caused the great nation to get in the middle of it.
From the Paper "Mearsheimer brings up the question of America's intervention in World War I in light of its current occupation in Germany. Germany, he contends, is over six times more prosperous than Russia and with over 80 million people is more than half as populous. It might also be added that European Russia is home to only 115 million people, bringing the gap between the countries even narrower. In the wake of Super-power politics, Hearshiemer calls into question the role of great power politics, both a century ago and in the years to come. He claims that preventing a German hegemony in Europe was one of the key interests of the American government during the First World War, although he claims that "other interests" were also considered. Given Russia's quick exit from the war, this doesn?t seem far from likely."
This paper discusses Modris Eksteins' "The Rites of Spring: The GreatWar and the Birth of the Modern Age" 1989) World War I itself, the German and British cultures at the time of the war and the development of Nazism.
990 words (approx. 4 pages), 0 sources, 2005, $ 35.95
Abstract This paper explains Eksteins' position as presented in his book "The Rites of Spring: The GreatWar and the Birth of the Modern Age" that the German aggressors' view of the GreatWar was (1) an inextricable link with their culture and (2) a German territorial aggrandizement. The author points out the British view of war at the time of World War I was different from the German view in that the war was a struggle to preserve British social values. The paper relates that the propaganda, which fueled Nazism's spread was largely based on Nazism's reinterpretation and use of old Germanic mythology; Hitler's movement took root in a society reeling from the effects of the Treaty of Versailles.
From the Paper "Previously, the French were the antagonists of the British on the European continent, but now Germany had taken over that role (116). The French had represented "flux and irresponsibility in the world," and now it was the Germans who did so (116). In contrast, the British saw themselves as the stable point of the world. They were proud of the stability the "Pax Britannica" brought, a peace ensured through military might and a far-flung network of colonies through the world (117). It was a reactionary view, as opposed to the progressive view of the Germans."
Abstract The paper discusses the GreatWar was founded in the industrialized ability to create weapons that were technologically advanced such as hand grenades and poisonous gases. The author believes that the GreatWar ushered in an era of mass killing. The paper points out that countries with the ability to produce these weapons used the war to seek more power.
Table of Content
Introduction
The War Weapons of Destruction
The Greed
Conclusion
From the Paper "For the first time in history weapons reached technically superior heights.There were hand grenades, gases, aircraft and machine guns. These weapons had not been used in widespread capacities. Previously, the war strategies that various nations had developed were designed around more primitive methods of defensive and offensive actions. One of the most tried and true war strategies that had worked in the past had been a trench. The advent of fighter pilots and bomber aircraft was first supported during the Great War. It allowed pilots to fly low t the ground and dispense bullets at the rate of hundreds per minute. Servicemen on the ground and in the trenches had nowhere to go to escape the advanced technology."
Abstract This paper discusses the GreatWar brought on and the new weapons and instruments of destruction that prevailed. It also states the reasons why there were so many stalemates on the battlefield which led to a war of attrition and mass casualties. It also looks at the targeting of a whole nation's means and resources towards fighting a total war. This paper concludes that the war was so destructive because of the advancement in industry and weaponry, such as artillery, machine guns and chemical warfare.
From the Paper "In this paper I plan to put forward the following points to show how the Great War was so destructive. I will look at the new weapons and instruments of destruction that prevailed during the war. The reasons why there were so many stalemates? on the battlefield, which led to a war of attrition and mass casualties. I will also look at the targeting of a whole nations means and resources towards fighting a total war."
Tags: World, War, I, Great, nations, destruction, 1915, weapons, casualties
Abstract This paper presents a detailed examination of the Western Front during the GreatWar of 1914-1918. The author discusses one of the currently least talked about wars which had one of the largest impacts on the way the world would shape itself. The writer explores what life was like in the trenches for those who served in the war and presents an overview of many aspects of the war.
From the Paper "Experts have said that the Great War of 1914 ushered in the most destructive and violent century in human history. Those who were alive to witness its battles believed it served as a sort of cleansing action for the eras that were in conflict(The Great War ushered in the 20thCenturyhttp://www.pitt.edu/~pugachev/greatwar/ww1.html). The old world was being forced to retire at a time it was not ready, while the new era promoted progress for mankind, yet carried with it, violence and bloodshed. For those who were in the trenches the war represented an almost good versus evil question and when it was over many dreams had died. ?The naive dreams of progress, along with the innocence of the pre-war world, faith in God, and hope in the future all died in the trenches of Europe(The Great War ushered in the 20thCenturyhttp://www.pitt.edu/~pugachev/greatwar/ww1.html).?"
Abstract This paper explains that historians cite that the GreatWar was the first time that many young American men, who left the traditional restraints of a predominately conservative culture, were able to explore new boundaries and act in ways that would have never been permitted back home. The author analyzes two primary U.S. military propagandist documents from this period to understand the role men and women played in controlling the spread of venereal disease. Women were portrayed as taking away a man's "honor" and as proliferating disease and immorality. The paper also explores the differences between male and female honor, male restraint among females, and how men must work against the "whore" to keep his honor and promote the ideal of restraint. The paper has end notes instead of a bibliography.
From the Paper "Examining "You Kept Fit and Defeated the Hun," there is an image of a young solider bearing a hearty smile. He is dressed in his combat uniform and he is holding a rifle with a bayonet, a large bald eagle is poised upon his shoulders with wings stretched, and he is standing upon the helmets of a defeated German military. The imagery alone sets an important tone for the wholesome nature of the soldier. Victorious against the German Army, he is the symbol of virility as he has liberated Europe to "make the world safe for democracy", as President Wilson's stated."
Tags: boundaries, virility, perversion, reunion, family
Abstract A look at the GreatWar's battles, the leaders involved, resolutions that took place and effects. The author investigates the battles that lead to WWI, examines the leaders and their characters involved in the war, the negotiations that took place between countries and leaders and the effects of the war on individual countries and on society as a whole.
From the Paper "World War I is a war our generation knows little about. For the first time, countless nations engaged in a truly global battle. There are several reasons for the start of World War I have circulated, however, the great war started as a result of the tension between the rival powers of Europe. Irredentism was one main factor. Irredentia, "Unredeemed Italy", was the unclaimed land of Trieste and Trent. Austria had always owned the two territories, but the land was mainly composed of Italians. The tension between Germany and France was the greatest of all the countries. In 1870, the Germans stuck the French with a huge bill for war payments and took the two provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. The French Assembly agreed on the deal in 1871. It was a great humiliation to bare. It was recorded that a few of the members of the assembly had tears in their eyes."
Abstract This paper analyzes Massie's book which describes the maritime power used in the First World War. In the book, Massie focuses on one ship in particular, the Dreadnought and its maritime influence on World War I. In addition, the paper discusses many causes of the WWI, the political impact, the arms race and the effect on Europe's population.
From the Paper "Pressure was building for many years in the late 19th century. Strong feelings of nationalism fed the fires of hatred in pre-war Europe. It turned Frenchman against German and Russian against Austrian. Nationalistic speeches and writings (especially in countries like Germany) hastened the war by painting it as the best test for proof of national superiority. These general causes created an atmosphere in Europe which made war almost inevitable. The "Great War" was not caused by megalomaniacs hungry for power as in the case of Mussolini and Hitler during World War II. The origins are more complex. Some say the war was fueled by the naval race between Britain and Germany. Naval warfare had been revolutionized in 1906 when Britain launched the world's first all big-gun battleship: H.M.S. Dreadnought. Before this, battleships had been armed with an array of guns of varying caliber in main, secondary and tertiary batteries. The Dreadnought carried 8 15-inch guns, each capable of firing a 1,920-pound projectile 35,000 yards. Robert K. Massie wrote on the Dreadnought and the maritime influence on World War I. His book suitably titled: Dreadnought – Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War, focuses on these huge ships which changed naval fleets forever. With these new super-power floating war machines, war became inevitable."
Abstract This paper observes the changing role of women in society, specifically in Canada, as a result of World War I. It explains that women's roles as military nurses in The GreatWar were quite contradictory to conventional women's roles. The paper details the way that this specific duty in the war helped open doors to other advances for women in Canadian society, in particular, and the world, in general.
From the Paper "As military nurses in The Great War, Canadian women took on many tasks and roles, some familiar, some new; however, all of these tasks and roles would be carried out in a distinctively non - traditional setting. These passages from the diaries of Ella Mae Bongard and Clare Gass, two Canadian nurses whom served overseas in The Great War, serve the purpose of bringing forth the general role of the nurses in World War one. Nurses were generally responsible for hundreds of patients each day, each one a totally unique case. Nurses were responsible for keeping the soldier's spirits up, repairing the soldier physically, repairing enemy prisoners of war, and essentially, watching young men die, among other various lesser tasks. As is obvious, the nurses were faced with the grim, grotesque realities of war and the realization that their countrymen were being killed and wounded in epic proportions. Upon undertaking such a multitude of tasks one would assume that these nurses were quite competent, strong individuals, broken free of all societal gender barriers but historians tend to disagree over the issue of whether or not gender stereotypes were effectively challenged or actually solidified during the war. According to Linda Quiney, women nurses cared not about breaking gender stereotypes but rather ?they came to serve the men and they were proud of their service,?3 in reference to the attitudes of young women nurses in The Great War. This comment would seem to suggest that the nurses themselves viewed their experiences in the war as simply a way to support the male population, the same way it has traditionally been. The soldiers who were brought into the hospitals and nursing stations during the war were quite often very sick, mortally wounded, demoralized, and even quite lonely as one might expect. According to Mann, the nurses ?displayed a female version of esprit-de-corps. Friendship, humorous escapades - whether in work or play the nurses combined seriousness of purpose with sheer delight.?4 In saying this, Mann intends to stress the fact that the nurses not only served to repair the ailing soldiers physically, but mentally as well. Also according to Mann, soldiers still viewed the nurses overseas as "the protected"5 and in return for physical protection the army expects quick repairs of all its soldiers.6 From this perspective, one would be led to believe that women were, indeed, supporting the traditional stereotypes of a gender distinct society in which women carried out "maternal" tasks such as healing and nourishing and the men took upon the duties of providing for and defending his family. In Mann's intro to Clare Gass? diary she specifically states several duties that Gass is responsible for in the hospital: making beds, stocking the kitchen, changing bandages/gauzes, entertaining patients, etc. In short, the nurses were responsible for sustaining the spirit of the men ?with a smile, a pat, a cig., treat, or chat.? "
Tags: canadian, change, female, rights, role, social, war, woman, workd
Abstract In this article, the writer identifies the similarities and differences between the Civil War, WWI and WWII and then defines the catalyst for involvement in each war. The writer also discusses the effect of each war on the United States economically, socially, and politically for a better understanding of the government's national and foreign policy. In addition, the writer points out that, when comparing and defining data pertaining to the Civil War, WWI and WWII, one needs to take into consideration how these historical events described a nation going through an economic and social transition. The writer maintains that the involvement of the United States in these three wars had an effect not only nationally but also on a foreign basis. Furthermore, the writer notes that the key element or factors used to describe the United States involvement in each of these wars may be complex, controversial, and difficult for one to fully understand.
Outline:
Abstract
Catalyst for the Civil War Peace Movements before World War I
U. S. Neutrality
Catalyst for World War I
Isolationism (1935-1939)
Catalyst for World War II
Japan's Involvement
Russia's Involvement
Women and Minorities Involvement in World War II
The Similarities or Differences of Each War Conclusion
From the Paper "Two different Americas existed side by side during the 19th Century, known as the Northern and Southern States. The Northern States economic growth was due to focusing on industry, commerce, and finance. Their main products were textiles, machinery, woolen goods, clothing, leather, and lumber. This diverse industry attracted many immigrants which greatly increased the population of the Northern States. The Southern States on the other hand focused on agriculture, with its main crop being cotton, especially due to the invention of the cotton gin in 1793. At that time cotton was the largest and most important American export. The North and South depended on this valuable crop; the South produced and harvested the raw cotton, while the North manufactured the cotton into textile products. The climate in the South also allowed for producing this valuable crop. It was not until 1850's, when the Northern economy had grown to be self-sufficient, due to its industrial growth and transportation that a way of life would impact a nation. The life style of the Northern States was so different from the Southern States that it was causing political and social unrest. The growth of the North was made possible by paid laborers who worked in the factories. The South on the other hand, depended on slaves as their main source of labor. Maintaining, housing, and caring for slaves was costly, but not as costly as paying laborers to work the cotton fields. "
A comparison of the representation of Australian men in "Mad Max" directed by George Miller in 1979 and "The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert" directed by S. Elliott in 1994.
Abstract This paper discusses two films which offer representations of Australian masculinities. It analyzes "Mad Max" directed by George Miller in 1979 and "The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert" directed by S. Elliott in 1994. It discusses how men are represented in the films and the relationship between this representation and questions of Australianidentity.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Mad Max (1979)
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Conclusion
From the Paper "Both Mad Max and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, are about expressing Australian male masculinity in ways that are uniquely Australian, because of Australia's unique history and geographical conditions. Both films uplift the male masculinity, even when it is masked in drag, by denigrating women in the film in ways described by Graeme Turner; that is relegating the woman to a role of sexual significance in relation to the role of the man, or to humiliate and denigrate in order to provide the uplift to the featured masculinity. Both films are geared towards a male audience, and their success lies in their representation of maleness, even though both films do it in a starkly different way."
Abstract In this essay the following poems are analysed and compared: Brooke, R. - The Soldier Owen, W. - Dulce et Decorum Est. Sorley, C. - In Memoriam S.C.W., v.c. Sassoon, S. - Glory of Women The comparison of these poems shows the change in mentality of the soldiers and the public in Britain during WWI. The change of seeing war as fighting for an ideal cause to seeing war as a dark thing in which a lot of suffering takes place.
From the Paper "Ideas and feelings through history are often conserved through art. There are of course many forms of art, for example: paintings, sculptures, music, film, photos, prose and poetry. It is very interesting to see how the expressions in art change as the time period, and thus ideas, change. The art of a certain period can tell us much about that period. In this essay there will be a comparison of the pro-war poetry and the anti-war poetry made in times of the first World War. By comparing these two different types of poetry we will see the changing ideas about war during the period of 1914-1918, the times of the first World War."
