हाउ थे काउंट्री हस चंगेद. (How The Country Has Changed).

The effects of the Great War lasted for long after the initial fighting ended. It had destroyed a whole generation of men. Families grieved over the loss of their loved ones every year and soldiers tried to overcome their psychological and physical scars; the proof of their glorified contribution to the war. Germany suffered greatly after the war. They were turned into a republic so everyone had to govern themselves.

Not only did they have to deal with many political groups fighting for power, they also had a shortage of food and jobs. They even had to pay a total of £6600 million to the allies in damages. This caused them to keep making bills but this resulted in hyper inflation. People would have to carry a lot of bills just to pay for the simple necessities of life.

In Australia, the economy boomed because the government cancelled existing trade agreements with Germany and Austria-Hungary. This helped many Australian industries because there was less competition for contracts. By the end of WW1, there were over 400 products made in Australia compared to before the war.

Despite the good and bad effects of war, the soldiers are still remembered to this day especially on Remembrance day and ANZAC day, in which red poppies are worn in respect.

Shell Shock in WWI

After the war, returning soldiers still suffered physically and mentally. Shell shock is one of the most common mental traumas found among the soldiers.
Not only have the victims suffered mental breakdowns, many have also suffered physically from shell blasts or some form of monoxide poisoning. Doctors in the First World War deemed the victims as “incapable of fighting” and most soldiers were sent home to recuperate.
Some of the victims suffered for years afterwards at home. Families had to watch their loved ones cower in fear every time they mention something that was related to the war. Others had to watch the victims twitch uncontrollably and have trouble walking.

Soldier with depression - First person

No waves of relief greet me upon my return home as I had anticipated. Instead of the exhilaration I had expected upon seeing my family, I only feel confusion. Why are they smiling? Why are they cheering? Why aren’t they sad? When I look up at the flags of my country, I do not feel the pride I once felt when signing up to fight.

Is that why they are cheering? Are they proud of their country? Proud of me? How could they ever be proud? I have murdered men. I have deliberately stolen another person’s life. Men with wives, children and friends back home. Who could be proud of that? How could any of these people feel pride? With my jaw tight and fists clenched, I endure the long walk through the crowds.

Once the parade ends, I find my family. I look into the eyes of my wife and find no comfort. I look down at the faces of my children and cannot smile. What kind of husband am I? What father could not be happy to see his children? And then it hits me; I can’t remember how to be happy.

I cannot be expected to return to the life I once lived. I am not that man anymore. I can’t pretend I am content in living this way. Whenever I look at my family I do not see their faces. I see the faces of the men I have murdered.

picture from: http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/369th-infantry/images/famous-soldiers.gif

The Return Home - The Basics.

“A war can never be said to be completely over until there is nobody left who took part in it.” – http://www.aftermathww1.com/

November 11, 1918. The day the Great War ended. Many of the soldiers didn’t feel the intense relief we would have expected. In fact, some soldiers suffered total nervous collapses. After months of waking up preparing for the day, not knowing if they would see its end, this abrupt Armistice shocked them. Many of them assumed the war would continue within a couple of days.

It took almost 19 months for all of the soldiers to be shipped home again. The last boat arrived in June 1920. These returning men were financially assisted by the government however many soldiers returned to find their previous jobs no longer available.

Every soldier who returned home was psychologically scarred. Many of them also suffered physical scars resulting in restricted lives. The communities to which the soldiers returned home believed that once the war was over they would be well again. However, they could not see the emotional war going on in the soldier’s minds. Once the novelty of their home-coming war off, the soldiers were expected to live normal lives.

The soldiers had fought valiantly for their country yet the gratitude towards them once they returned was minimal.



image from: http://www.alrightposters.com/crolla/images/WW1%20soldiers%20Manchester.jpg

information from: http://www.aftermathww1.com/ and http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/

WWI - The Basics.

In the early 1900s the world was divided into nations ruled by empires, most of them European. These empires strove to gain land for reasons such as power, resources and reputation. There were constant feuds over land and the empires began to form alliances. Europe was divided into two dominating powers; the triple entente and the triple alliance. The triple entente included Britain, France and Russia while the triple alliance included Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.

The violence began when the Serbians living under Austria-Hungarian rule became restless for their independence. On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a young Serbian. This violent outburst led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. However, the Russians’ alliance with Serbia meant that Russia would help with defence. Germany saw Russia mobilizing and declared war against them. In turn, France was drawn into the war through its alliance with Russia. The Germans then devised the Shlieffen plan, an attempt to attack France via Belgium which led to Brittan being pulled into the war too.

British colonies and dominions such as Australia, Canada and India offered military and financial assistance to the British Empire and eventually people from all over the world were involved in the war.

In places like Australia the idea of going to war was popular. This was until they realized that war is violent and horrific and left both mental and physical scars. The government resorted to propaganda in order to recruit men.

image from:http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/europe/02/euro_borders/img/map3.gif