| What the men behind desks had in store for the boys behind the lines |
Kipling, who whipped up the British public into a frenzy of Germanophobia with his vitriolic pro-war
propaganda, lost his only son John, who was killed on September 27, 1915 in the Battle of Loos at
only 18 years of age, one of 20,000 British soldiers who were lost at that Battle. Second Lieutenant
John Kipling was shot in the mouth and laid in a shell crater by a sergeant. A grieving and guilt filled
Rudyard Kipling wrote: "If any ask us why we died, Tell them Because our fathers lied. "
propaganda, lost his only son John, who was killed on September 27, 1915 in the Battle of Loos at
only 18 years of age, one of 20,000 British soldiers who were lost at that Battle. Second Lieutenant
John Kipling was shot in the mouth and laid in a shell crater by a sergeant. A grieving and guilt filled
Rudyard Kipling wrote: "If any ask us why we died, Tell them Because our fathers lied. "
In 1915, the American public was firmly against becoming involved in a foreign war. That wouldn't
last too long. Soon enough, the war mongers were at their devilish best instigating, deceiving and
lying, and the boys, some only 14 or 15 years old, were sent to die..by the millions, wiping out a
whole generations of young men.
last too long. Soon enough, the war mongers were at their devilish best instigating, deceiving and
lying, and the boys, some only 14 or 15 years old, were sent to die..by the millions, wiping out a
whole generations of young men.
Kipling had encouraged his son to enlist, even though the boy suffered from very poor eyesight.
When his application was rejected on medical grounds, his father then pulled some strings, and John
became a Second Lieutenant in the Second Battalion of the Irish Guards. When Kipling received the
telegram saying that John was missing in action, he and his wife made countless journeys to France,
searching for news on him, eventually concluding he must indeed be dead.
When his application was rejected on medical grounds, his father then pulled some strings, and John
became a Second Lieutenant in the Second Battalion of the Irish Guards. When Kipling received the
telegram saying that John was missing in action, he and his wife made countless journeys to France,
searching for news on him, eventually concluding he must indeed be dead.
Before hostilities even erupted, the British public had already been subjected to a decade of an
intense pro-war propaganda campaign which whipped up war fever by breeding hatred toward
Germany. British supremacist Rudyard Kipling was one of the leaders of the pack. In 1914, he along
with other respected writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle, John Masefield, William Archer, John
Galsworthy, Thomas Hardy and H. G. Wells were secretly summoned by Charles Masterman of the
War Propaganda Bureau to discuss ways of further promoting Britain's interests during the war in
1914. Some of the men involved paid a high personal price for their war mongering efforts later.
When Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the pamphlet, "To Arms!" in 1914, it was arranged for 55 year old
Doyle to go the Western Front, and he served as a private throughout the war. Doyle wrote several
other war books. His son, Kingsley Conan Doyle, joined the British Army, and after being wounded
at the Somme died after developing pneumonia.
intense pro-war propaganda campaign which whipped up war fever by breeding hatred toward
Germany. British supremacist Rudyard Kipling was one of the leaders of the pack. In 1914, he along
with other respected writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle, John Masefield, William Archer, John
Galsworthy, Thomas Hardy and H. G. Wells were secretly summoned by Charles Masterman of the
War Propaganda Bureau to discuss ways of further promoting Britain's interests during the war in
1914. Some of the men involved paid a high personal price for their war mongering efforts later.
When Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the pamphlet, "To Arms!" in 1914, it was arranged for 55 year old
Doyle to go the Western Front, and he served as a private throughout the war. Doyle wrote several
other war books. His son, Kingsley Conan Doyle, joined the British Army, and after being wounded
at the Somme died after developing pneumonia.
While the bogus 'Bryce report' of German atrocities was being concocted in Britain, British forces
were no angels. They carried out air raids of their own on German cities, used poison gas in battles
on the Western Front and executed two German nurses (in circumstances similar to those
surrounding Edith Cavell, condemned as a spy by the Germans). The greatest atrocity of the war was
the Royal Navy's inhumane trade blockade of Germany which caused hundreds of thousands of
German civilians to starve to death. It met little public censure.
were no angels. They carried out air raids of their own on German cities, used poison gas in battles
on the Western Front and executed two German nurses (in circumstances similar to those
surrounding Edith Cavell, condemned as a spy by the Germans). The greatest atrocity of the war was
the Royal Navy's inhumane trade blockade of Germany which caused hundreds of thousands of
German civilians to starve to death. It met little public censure.
He spoke at the end of the terrible human cost of the war, and the personal responsibility he felt in
taking so many lives. On April 21, 1918, his career ended when he was shot down over enemy lines.
His opponents gave him a hero’s funeral, above.
taking so many lives. On April 21, 1918, his career ended when he was shot down over enemy lines.
His opponents gave him a hero’s funeral, above.
John McCrae was a Canadian physician who fought on the Western Front in 1914 before being
transferred to the medical corps and assigned to a hospital in France. He died of pneumonia while on
active duty in 1918 at 46 years old. His volume of poetry, In Flanders Fields and Other Poems, was
published in 1919. McCrae apparently didn't feel the same misgivings about war as the Red Baron
and urges future generations to continue the fight in the original version of his famous poem:
transferred to the medical corps and assigned to a hospital in France. He died of pneumonia while on
active duty in 1918 at 46 years old. His volume of poetry, In Flanders Fields and Other Poems, was
published in 1919. McCrae apparently didn't feel the same misgivings about war as the Red Baron
and urges future generations to continue the fight in the original version of his famous poem:
Shropshire lad Wilfred Owen began to write at the age of 17. He was a devout Christian who spent a
year assisting a minister before going to France to teach English. In 1915, Owen enlisted in the
Artists' Rifles before receiving his officer's commission with a Manchester Regiment in 1916. After
training, he was sent to France where he saw a lot of action, being sent back from the front with shell
shock. Again in August 1918, he returned to France and earned the Military Cross before dying.In
1918, he wrote many of his best known poems, such as the one below.
year assisting a minister before going to France to teach English. In 1915, Owen enlisted in the
Artists' Rifles before receiving his officer's commission with a Manchester Regiment in 1916. After
training, he was sent to France where he saw a lot of action, being sent back from the front with shell
shock. Again in August 1918, he returned to France and earned the Military Cross before dying.In
1918, he wrote many of his best known poems, such as the one below.
"Nothing is so trying as a continuous, terrific
barrage such as we experienced in this battle,
especially the intense English fire during my second
night at the front. Darkness alternates with light as
bright as day. The earth trembles and shakes like a
jelly..and those men who are still in the front line
hear nothing but the drum-fire, the groaning of
wounded comrades, the screaming of fallen horses,
the wild beating of their own hearts, hour after
hour, night after night. Even during the short
respite granted them their exhausted brains are
haunted in the weird stillness by recollection of
unlimited suffering. They have no way of escape,
nothing is left them but ghastly memories and
resigned anticipation..."Haven't you got a bullet for
me, Comrades?" cried a Corporal who had one leg
torn off and one arm shattered by a shell - and we
could do nothing for him...The battlefield is really
nothing but one vast cemetery." Private Gerhard
Gurtier, German Soldier, August 10, 1917 in a
letter written on the receiving end of the Allied
barrage at the Battle of Passchendaele four days
before he was killed.
barrage such as we experienced in this battle,
especially the intense English fire during my second
night at the front. Darkness alternates with light as
bright as day. The earth trembles and shakes like a
jelly..and those men who are still in the front line
hear nothing but the drum-fire, the groaning of
wounded comrades, the screaming of fallen horses,
the wild beating of their own hearts, hour after
hour, night after night. Even during the short
respite granted them their exhausted brains are
haunted in the weird stillness by recollection of
unlimited suffering. They have no way of escape,
nothing is left them but ghastly memories and
resigned anticipation..."Haven't you got a bullet for
me, Comrades?" cried a Corporal who had one leg
torn off and one arm shattered by a shell - and we
could do nothing for him...The battlefield is really
nothing but one vast cemetery." Private Gerhard
Gurtier, German Soldier, August 10, 1917 in a
letter written on the receiving end of the Allied
barrage at the Battle of Passchendaele four days
before he was killed.
| What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries for them from prayers or bells; Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, - The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes. The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of silent minds, And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. |
21 year old Vera Brittain was an undergraduate
student at Somerville College, Oxford. Brittain
interrupted her studies to enlist as a volunteer
nurse when war broke out, nursing casualties
in England and on the Western Front. For four
years she witnessed the horrors of war first
hand, and also experienced the loss of her
fiance, her brother, and two close friends. She
wrote Testament of Youth, a powerfully
written memoir which was published in 1933.
Brittain became an influential pacifist in WW2
student at Somerville College, Oxford. Brittain
interrupted her studies to enlist as a volunteer
nurse when war broke out, nursing casualties
in England and on the Western Front. For four
years she witnessed the horrors of war first
hand, and also experienced the loss of her
fiance, her brother, and two close friends. She
wrote Testament of Youth, a powerfully
written memoir which was published in 1933.
Brittain became an influential pacifist in WW2
Russia 1,700,000 dead
Austr-Hung 1,200,000
Germany 1,773,700
Italy 650,000
France 1,375,800
Turkey 325,000
Great Britain 908,371
Serbia 45,000
Romania 335,706
Belgium 13,716
Bulgaria 87,500
Portugal 7,222
Montenegro 3,000
US 126,000
Greece 5,000
Austr-Hung 1,200,000
Germany 1,773,700
Italy 650,000
France 1,375,800
Turkey 325,000
Great Britain 908,371
Serbia 45,000
Romania 335,706
Belgium 13,716
Bulgaria 87,500
Portugal 7,222
Montenegro 3,000
US 126,000
Greece 5,000
Before antibiotics were discovered, minor injuries
could prove fatal. The Americans recorded that 44%
of casualties that developed gangrene died. The
Germans recorded that 12% of leg wounds and 23%
of arm wounds resulted in death, mostly from
infection. 50% of those with head injuries died and
only 1% of those wounded in the abdomen survived.
75% of the wounds inflicted during the war came from
shell fire, resulting in more traumatic injury than a
gunshot wound. A shell fragment introduced debris
making it more susceptible to infection.
could prove fatal. The Americans recorded that 44%
of casualties that developed gangrene died. The
Germans recorded that 12% of leg wounds and 23%
of arm wounds resulted in death, mostly from
infection. 50% of those with head injuries died and
only 1% of those wounded in the abdomen survived.
75% of the wounds inflicted during the war came from
shell fire, resulting in more traumatic injury than a
gunshot wound. A shell fragment introduced debris
making it more susceptible to infection.
World War One's greatest killer was disease. Sanitary conditions in the trenches were abysmal, and
common infections included dysentery, typhus, and cholera as well as inflictions such as trench
mouth and trench foot. Many Soldiers suffered from exposure, parasites and infections from poor
hygiene and freezing weather. Dead bodies on battlefields and in trenches went unburied for weeks at
a time and remains are found even today on old battlefields.
common infections included dysentery, typhus, and cholera as well as inflictions such as trench
mouth and trench foot. Many Soldiers suffered from exposure, parasites and infections from poor
hygiene and freezing weather. Dead bodies on battlefields and in trenches went unburied for weeks at
a time and remains are found even today on old battlefields.
Manfred von Richthofen loved risks. He once climbed a church steeple and tied a kerchief to its
lighting rod. He was a calvary officer from a wealthy Junker family with a riding and hunting tradition
when the war broke out. He saw duty on both the Eastern and Western fronts as an Army scout. On
May of 1915, he asked to be transferred to the Flying service. Richthofen recorded his first aerial
combat victory on September 17, 1916. By the time his short life was over, he'd shot down eighty
allied aircraft and was the shining star of the air war. His red Fokker and graceful maneuvers became
infamous to the enemy and made him a folk hero at home. The Blue Max
lighting rod. He was a calvary officer from a wealthy Junker family with a riding and hunting tradition
when the war broke out. He saw duty on both the Eastern and Western fronts as an Army scout. On
May of 1915, he asked to be transferred to the Flying service. Richthofen recorded his first aerial
combat victory on September 17, 1916. By the time his short life was over, he'd shot down eighty
allied aircraft and was the shining star of the air war. His red Fokker and graceful maneuvers became
infamous to the enemy and made him a folk hero at home. The Blue Max
She led a campaign against the RAF terror
bombing of German civilians under Arthur
Harris. In 1944, she published ‘Seed of Chaos:
What Mass Bombing Really Means' and
overnight she became a target of vicious smear
tactics and media hatred and abuse. The
publication received little attention in England
but it provoked strong condemnation from
President Roosevelt and savage criticism from
the media, especially from George Orwell.
bombing of German civilians under Arthur
Harris. In 1944, she published ‘Seed of Chaos:
What Mass Bombing Really Means' and
overnight she became a target of vicious smear
tactics and media hatred and abuse. The
publication received little attention in England
but it provoked strong condemnation from
President Roosevelt and savage criticism from
the media, especially from George Orwell.
| Hysteria Part 10 |
About 8 million men surrendered, generally in large units, and
were held in POW camps during World War One. All nations
pledged to follow the Hague Convention on fair treatment of
prisoners of war, and as general course did so. The Camp
conditions were satisfactory and actually much better than in
World War II, thanks in part to the efforts of the International
Red Cross and inspections by neutral nations. Germany held 2.5
million prisoners, Russia held 2.9 million, Britain and France held
about 720,000 and the U.S. held 48,000. In Russian camps,
starvation was most common for prisoners and about 15-20% of
their captives died. Comparatively, in Germany, where food was
also in desperately short supply, only 5% died. The war was the
biggest factor in the spread the deadly "Spanish influenza" virus
which resulted in the deaths of millions of people world wide.
were held in POW camps during World War One. All nations
pledged to follow the Hague Convention on fair treatment of
prisoners of war, and as general course did so. The Camp
conditions were satisfactory and actually much better than in
World War II, thanks in part to the efforts of the International
Red Cross and inspections by neutral nations. Germany held 2.5
million prisoners, Russia held 2.9 million, Britain and France held
about 720,000 and the U.S. held 48,000. In Russian camps,
starvation was most common for prisoners and about 15-20% of
their captives died. Comparatively, in Germany, where food was
also in desperately short supply, only 5% died. The war was the
biggest factor in the spread the deadly "Spanish influenza" virus
which resulted in the deaths of millions of people world wide.
| Welch' Sterbeglock' für die, die Vieh gleich sterben? Nur der Geschütze Groll im Himmel steht. Nur schneller Schüsse stotterndes Verderben kann hastig für sie rasseln ein Gebet. Höhnt nicht mit eurem Beten ihre Taten; und keine Trauerglocke nebst den Chören - den Wahnsinnschören schrillender Granaten - soll Trauertönen aus der Heimat wehren. Welch' Sterbekerz' für die, die gehen heim? In Händen nicht, in Knabenaugen weit schimm're des Abschieds heil'ge Ewigkeit. Der Mädchen Blässe soll ihr Grabtuch sein; und ihre Blumen stiller Güte Sinn, und jede Dämmerung ein Vorhang-Ziehn |
| Anthem for Doomed Youth |
| Hymne für verlorene Jugend |
German POWs
The shelling also produced tremendous psychological damage. Men would often suffer debilitating
shell shock from enduring long bombardment. It was a misunderstood condition at the time, and
some of its victims were executed as traitors.In Military Executions of the war, the British executed
346 of their own Commonwealth and British soldiers, most suffering from shell-shock, for alleged
desertion and cowardice during the war, the French executed 600 of their own and the Germans 48.
shell shock from enduring long bombardment. It was a misunderstood condition at the time, and
some of its victims were executed as traitors.In Military Executions of the war, the British executed
346 of their own Commonwealth and British soldiers, most suffering from shell-shock, for alleged
desertion and cowardice during the war, the French executed 600 of their own and the Germans 48.
The battle losses in World War One are almost unimaginable today. The war killed off the cream of
an entire generation of young men...and boys. At Verdun, there were 377,000 French casualties and
about 337,000 German. At the Somme, the British lost 419,654 men, the French 204,253 and the
Germans 600,000. At Ypres I II & III (Passchendaele), the total Allied and German casualties far
exceeded 850,000. At Passchendaele alone, the death toll for the British was 250,000 and for the
Germans 200,000. At Tannenberg, there were 15,000 German casualties and 120,000 Russian. The
Brusilov Offensive claimed huge casualties on both sides, well in excess of 1,425,000. At just one
German war cemetery in Northern France, 32,000 German soldiers are buried, 7,022 in individual
graves and 21,892 in mass graves.
an entire generation of young men...and boys. At Verdun, there were 377,000 French casualties and
about 337,000 German. At the Somme, the British lost 419,654 men, the French 204,253 and the
Germans 600,000. At Ypres I II & III (Passchendaele), the total Allied and German casualties far
exceeded 850,000. At Passchendaele alone, the death toll for the British was 250,000 and for the
Germans 200,000. At Tannenberg, there were 15,000 German casualties and 120,000 Russian. The
Brusilov Offensive claimed huge casualties on both sides, well in excess of 1,425,000. At just one
German war cemetery in Northern France, 32,000 German soldiers are buried, 7,022 in individual
graves and 21,892 in mass graves.
| In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. |