L7: Trench Warfare and the Emotional Wounds of War

AgendaObjective: To understand…1. The effect of trench

warfare on soldiers’ psychology

2. What were the long-term physical and psychological effects of trench warfare?

3. How did trench warfare and shell shock change how people thought about masculinity, war, and reality.

Schedule: 1. The physical & psychological

experiences of war: Group Work and Whole Class Discussion

Homework

1.Read selections on Total War from Rites of Spring Due L8 (Tues 1/8)

2.Creative Project Due L17 (Tuesday 1/29)

Trench Warfare and the Emotional Wounds of War

• Last class we talked about the physical experiences and military tactics of trench warfare, today we want to talk about the emotional experiences of trench warfare.

• We will explore these issues in two parts:– Group Work

• Discussion of All Quiet on the Western Front

• Discussion of Video Clip One• Discussion of Video Clip Two

– Whole Class Discussion• We will have a whole class

discussion of the ideas you generated in your group

Discussion of All Quiet on the Western Front

• Discuss the following with your group using SPECIFICS from AQWF to support:– What were the emotional experiences of

trench warfare?– How were these emotional experiences

directly tied to new technologies and combat techniques?

– What effects did they have on soldiers during and after the war?

– How did these experiences shape soldiers’ attitude toward war?

Video of World War One War Experiences• We will watch a video compilation of World War One war

experiences (battle scenes, weaponry, trenches, etc).• The soundtrack for the video is the song “One” by Metallica.

– Based on the 1939 novel Johnny Got His Gun which tells the story of a soldier whose body is severely damaged after he is hit by German artillery in World War One. His arms, legs, eyes, mouth, nose and ears are gone and he can not see, speak, smell, or hear; but his mind functions perfectly, leaving him a prisoner in his own body.

• As you watch the video allow yourself to explore all of the senses of war (sight, sound,

feel, and smell). – Use the images as well as the music and lyrics of the song to help you in this experience.

• Discuss with Group

The Physical and Psychological Aftermath of War

• To deepen your understanding of these issues, we will watch a brief video showing the physical and psychological trauma soldiers faced after the war. – “Shell Shock”:

• What we know know as Combat Stress Reaction.

• During WW1 was considered a psychiatric illness resulting from injury to the nerves during combat.

• First time that war veterans experience long-term psychological trauma on such a wide scale.

• Warning: Some images are graphic. • Discuss with your group.

Conclusion: Putting it All Together…

Whole Class Discussion

• What were the physical and emotional effects of trench warfare?

• How did these experiences in the trenches and their long-term effects shape masculinity and masculine identity?

• How people thought about war?• How people thought about reality?

Trench warfare was a pivotal moment in the

emotional/psychological experience of the war. Explain.

Early Months of the War Remainder of the War

Trench

War

fare