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Trench Warfare in World War I. Trench Structure. Protected by barb wire fences 5 feet high Concrete machine gun nests Trench’s on each side were separated by a strip of land known as “ no-man ’ s land ”. Tactics of Trench Warfare. Begin with artillery to flatten the enemy ’ s barbed wire
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Trench Structure • Protected by barb wire fences 5 feet high • Concrete machine gun nests • Trench’s on each side were separated by a strip of land known as “no-man’s land”
Tactics of Trench Warfare • Begin with artillery to flatten the enemy’s barbed wire • Mass of soldiers would climb out with bayonets and run toward the enemy’s trench • Men were often killed charging the enemy trench • Planes were mostly used to spot the enemy’s position
Horrors of Trench Warfare • Poisonous gases like chlorine and mustard were used • Blindness, burns, and paralysis. • Most trenches were infested with large rats and lice
Horrors cont’d • Many soldiers suffered from a fungal infection known as Trench foot • Caused feet to swell to two to three times their normal size • Could result in amputation of the feet • Many suffered from “Shell Shock,” which today would be called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Some men had psychological breakdowns leading to suicide and desertion
Questions to consider… • If your country is at war, whose responsibility is it to make sure that your side is winning? • What do civilians at home have to do? • Would they be willing to give up certain foods? To drive their cars less? • American citizens were expected to do these things for their country
Propaganda • Governments use propaganda to gain support from the people • In World War I it was used to… • Convince people to go to war • To get men to join the military • To get people to invest money in the government • To get people to ration food
Examples • Look at the posters and be able to answer the following questions: • What is the poster about? • What is the poster trying to convince people to do? • Who, exactly, is the poster appealing to? • Is the poster effective?
1) What is the poster about? • 2) What is the poster trying to convince people to do? • 3) Is the poster convincing? Why or why not?
What are the characteristics of these propaganda posters? • They have a CLEAR MESSAGE • They are colorful and appealing • They appeal to people’s sense of DUTY • They are convincing
Break into partners… • You and your partner are government officials during World War I • It is your job to design a propaganda poster advertising one of the following issues • Using less food • Saving energy (gasoline and coal) • Joining the military • Remember the four characteristics of propaganda poster!