Final Post .

All armies in the Great War used kid soldiers. In the beginning of the war the enthusiasm to join the battle was so great that young boys (and even girls) could hardly be stopped to enlist.  Recruiting Officers in all countries closed their eyes when eager children clearly under the required age - 18 years old - showed up to join their armies.  At the end of the war children were even more welcome in the ranks, as the Great Mincing Machine continued to require human bodies with an astonishing need. Hardly trained, the kids were sent to the trenches in Belgium, France, Russia and Turkey, where they mingled and died with the rest of the older soldiers. Kids in Germany were forced to join things like Hitler Youth and worked because so many men were in the Military. They got as much schooling as they could then many joined the Military. In Japan it was very similar.

This picture is probably made in 1917. Because of a higher birth rate Germany had more boys at her disposal than other countries. That's why the Germans were able to increase their armies until the spring of 1918.

Bibliography: http://www.greatwar.nl/frames/default-children.html

Video clip and analysis .

I chose this video because it gives the viewer an understanding of what happened to children during World War 1 and because it looked interesting. The purpose of this video is to inform the viewer about what happened to children during the war from a personal perspective. This video mainly describes the health of children, especially infants. In the video, a half of infants died during 1914 – 1918, mainly due to infant mortality. There are two old people in this video who give personal anecdotes about what happened to them and their friends during the war. The first is a lady named Esther Peel who was born in 1907. Three of her baby siblings died of infant mortality and she herself was not allowed to go to a hospital when she was sick. The other person is an old man named Albert Walmsley who was born in 1908. He talks about how two of his best friends died during the war from malnutrition. The evidence from this video broadens our understanding of the tragic things that happened to children during the Great War and gives us a valid account of what occured.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCT6F-Hks_o

Introduction

The casualties and deaths during World War I didn't just affect those that were hurt- the children back at home were significantly affected due to this war. Some of those that did die, unlike the children in World War II who were able to evacuate to the country, the children in World War I were constantly with their parents; they ran away with their parents and died with their parents. Many of the children’s relatives would've died in war such as their fathers, uncles and cousins. Due to this many women were left alone and having to take care of the children alone without a reliable source of income. Because of this the mothers and also daughters would begin working in factories to earn more money for the family.

All of this greatly affected family life and the dynamics of it. The children were left fatherless and brother less, in some instances all the men in a family died leaving the family and children struggling without male figures and causing a lot of financial problems.  Also, many people who were underage would enlist to fight. The education system was also greatly affected due to the war; schools focused on nationalism and patriotism which consequently effected the children. Children were greatly affected during the war, it disrupted their childhoods and forced them to grow up faster and take on responsibilities people their age shouldn’t need to do and caused them a lot of distress and hardships.

First Perspective

I starred at the thin piece of cardboard in my hand, decorated with miniature drawings of daisies and poppies. On the left hand side, the words "Missing you Daddy" was inscribed into the card. I picked up my pen and dipped it into the pot of ink, slowly I began to move it along the right hand side of the card, "Dear Daddy," my eyes began to water, struggling, I looked at the ceiling, fighting to keep the tears inside. "I miss you." as I wrote I mouthed the words, a tear dripped out the corner of my eye. More tears. They splattered onto the card, seeping in and making it soggy, I pulled my head back and began to violently rub my eyes. I was crying very loudly. I heard Mummys feet run up the stairs and into my room, she ran towards me with her arms spread and gave me a comforting hug. "It'll be alright," she said "Daddy will be home soon." she would say that a lot, 'Daddy will be home soon' I couldn't tell if it was me she was reassuring.

* * * *

It's my birthday today Daddy and I'm glad you're with me now. I can feel your presence now. "George!" Mum said, "blow out the candles!" I blew them out with a gust of wind. I looked at her, she smiled, that smile that looked so empty, her eyes that looked so lonely. She doesn't think you're still with us Daddy. She tries to tell me that you're gone, that you're in heaven now, but I know thats not true. It's like you're right next to me Daddy. I still miss your voice, and the way we used to play together, I miss you Daddy.

An Introduction to WW1 .

World War One was important because it was the first war to spread to more than one continent. It was the first international war in history and the first war that really showed the capability and destruction that the human species was capable of. There was already a lead-up to the war from tension between neighbouring countries; Austria-Hungary and Serbia. However, the spark that lit the fuse was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 by Gavrilo Princip; a Serbian terrorist belonging to an organisation called ‘The Black Hand.’ Princip’s assassination was viewed by Austria-Hungary as a direct challenge from Serbia to its position as a ruler of Bosnia and its standing as a Great Power. Austria-Hungary’s reaction was to teach Serbia a lesson by declaring a war against them. Within days, the whole of Europe was at war.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914

There were a number of countries involved in the war hence the name; World War One. However, there were six main countries involved. Three of the six formed the ‘Triple Entente’ and these were Great Britain, France, the Russian Empire. The other three formed the ‘Triple Alliance’ and these countries were Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary. Other countries involved were most of Africa, India and Australasia due to Britain, France and Germany committing their empires, automatically involving those countries. Much of Central America was involved as well after the entry of the US in 1917.

The Triple Entente (in green) and The Triple Alliance (in orange)

Bibliography:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061102194224AA3j70B

http://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm

http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/worldwar1/a/ww1countriesint.htm