Additional Material: World War One

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The “outbreak" of World War One

Additional Material

 

The “additional material” offers you examples of popular history magazines dealing with the topic “Beginning of World War One“ including a short overview of the national tendencies how the topic is depicted in the respective national history textbooks. The materials are listed by their country of origin:


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Germany

 


The western front on the First World War, The hell of Verdun, in: G/Geschichte [H/History] (2007), No. 11.
Metzger, Franz, The far too great dying, in: G/Geschichte [H/History] (2007), No. 11, 3.
G/Geschichte [H/History] (2007), No. 11, 4-5.
Metzger, Franz, Wilhelmi Jürgen, In Europe the lights go out, in: H/History (2007), No. 11, 22-27.
The First World War, Primal catastrophe of the 20th century, in: DAMALS [AT THAT TIME] (2004), No. 5.
Jäckel, Eberhard, Editorial, An ominous seed, in: DAMALS [AT THAT TIME] (2004), No. 5, 3.
DAMALS [AT THAT TIME] (2004), No. 5, 4-5.
Förster, Stig, The July-crisis 1914, Weeks of decisions, in: DAMALS [AT THAT TIME] (2004), No. 5, 14-19.
The First World War, From Sarajevo till Versailles: the turn of an era 1914-1918, in: GEO-EPOCHE [GEO-EPOCH] (2004), No. 14.
Schaper, Michael, Editorial, in: GEO-EPOCHE [GEO-EPOCH] (2004), No. 14, 3.
GEO-EPOCHE [GEO-EPOCH] (2004), No. 14, 4-5.
Jaenecke, Heinrich, The assassination, in: GEO-EPOCHE [GEO-Epoch] (2004), No. 14, 24-27.

Spain

 


Aj-en-Atón, The heretic/ 1914: Europe's suicide, in: La Aventura de la Historia [The Adventure of History] (2004), No. 69.
Solar, David, The Heretic, in: La Aventura de la Historia [The Adventure of History] (2004), No. 69, 3.
La Aventura de la Historia [The adventure of History] (2004), No. 69, 4-5.
Pecharromán, Julio Gil, The assassination in Sarajevo, The Pretext, in: La Aventura de la Historia [The Adventure of History] (2004), No. 69, 24-29.
First World War, 90 years later, in: Muy Interesante Historia [Very Interesting History] (2008), No. 17.
Muy Interesante Historia [Very Interesting History] (2008), No. 17, 2.
Pardina, José, And they thought it would be the latest (war), in: Muy Interesante Historia [Very Interesting History] (2008), No. 17, 4.
Ormaechea, Ana, The color of the Great War, in: Muy Interesante HISTORIA [Very Interesting History] (2008), No. 17, 14-23.

Poland

 


Poland of the 80’s/ Christmas at the front AD 1914, in: "Mówi wieki" [Centuries Say] (2011), No. 12.
"Mówi wieki" [Centuries Say] (2011), No. 12.
Szlanta, Piotr, Front line Silent Night 1914 a.d., in: "Mówi wieki" [Centuries Say] (2011), No. 12, 24-28.
"Mówi wieki" [Centuries Say] (2009), No. 8.
"Mówi wieki" [Centuries Say] (2009), No. 8.
Szlanta, Piotr, Feast of the war, European society towards the outbreak of World War I, in: "Mówi wieki" [Centuries Say] (2009), No. 8, 32-36.

Sweden

 


WORLD WAR I, in: Populär Historia [Popular History] (2008), No. 10.
Bergsten, Magnus, What’s wrong with 15th century?, in: Populär Historia [Popular History] (2008), No. 10, 6.
Populär Historia [Popular History] (2008), No. 10, 4.
Englund, Peter, World War I – an inevitable disaster?, in: Populär Historia [Popular History] (2008), No. 10, 24-30.
Casanova, 16th century scandal celebrity, Legendary seducer was chased through Europe/ Murder that caused a World War, in: Allt om Historia [All about History] (2011), No. 9.
Steinwall, Åke, Sex addict or a charmer?, in: Allt om Historia [All about History] (2011), No. 9, 5.
Allt om Historia [All about History] (2011), No. 9, 4-5.
Aagaard, Søren, The murder that started a world war, in: Allt om Historia [All about History] (2011), No. 9, 30-33.

England

 


The outbreak of world war one, in: BBC History Magazine (2012), No. 11.
Attar, Rob, Editorial, in: BBC History Magazine (2012), No. 11.
BBC History Magazine (2012), No. 11.
Clark, Christopher, The shot that sparked the First World War, in: BBC History Magazine (2012), No. 11, 18-23.
Ghandi man and myth/ Causes of the Great War, in: History Review (2011), No. 69.
History Review (2011), No. 69.
Mulligan, William, The origins of the First World War, in: History Review (2011), No. 69, 12-17.
  • Outbreak of WW1, YouTube clips:
BBC Documentary 'To Arms' (1 x 11 minutes, 1 x 15 minutes) First two segments of this episode. Colour; multi-national; general influence of the war on C20th. Very clear, and detailed, on the Balkan issues in 1914. Political focus. Second extract narrates the day of the assassination 28/06/14. (This ends at 9". The remainder is about the mobilising of allainces. Ends with Princip being sentenced.) NB contains some graphic photos of executions (at 9"40' to 9'45"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfehNhgytHg, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxT-RFbLrhU
Historian Margaret MacMillan lectures on the causes of the war. (2:30 minutes) She sums up the historiography since the end of the conflict (10'-12'30"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gF_6j2pQzg
Max Hastings argues that WW1 was a necessary, not a futile, war. Go from 2'38"to 12'02". (10 minutes) Argues that German 'recklessness' was mainly (though not wholly) responsible. Examines German power and society on the eve; character and policy of Kaiser Wilhelm; role of rising democratic aspirations in Germany; role of the German armed forces; international context: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg5LWHQYIrY
Neil Faulkner presentation: 'No Glory: The Real History of WW1'. (10 minute section) Left-wing take on the commemoration. Go from 9'14" to 19'04". Looks at: how German ruling-class saw their situation; at role of imperialism and capitalist competition, and economic forces generating tensions; at whether you consider history from above or below, and how this works in 1914: a class analysis (though a superficial one); at anti-war demos in the July Crisis 1914. NB contains an expletive (at 14'17"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHnf_FqmHt0
Extracts from Rosa Luxemburg's letters. (10 minutes) Go from 35'35" to 45'05". Two sections from letters written at the outset of the war. How best to understand those who might be 'good hearted' yet who approved the war? How should the tiny minority of anti-war activists in Germany deal with the political collapse of the SPD and the (Second) International in 1914, what are the details of that collapse, and what will it lead to? Complex, but brought to life by the actress. Exact details of each letter are given on the website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QaWtm12RqU
Origins of WW1. Part one: (8 1/2 minutes )Pre-war Europe: peace and prosperity, and why. Industry and imperialism. Economic competition internationally (including Asia). Looks at the history of tea to illustrate this! Takes a class-conscious stance, but draws moral rather than political lessons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7kp3vf1uKA&index=4&list=PL07AFB84BE6B838E4.
Part two: (8 minutes). Uprisings and inter-imperialist rivalry and wars, notably Russia vs Japan. Effect on power-balance in Europe. German industrialisation and drive for colonies. Naval arms-race; military build-up. Alliance-system. Anticipation of war. Sarajevo murder and consequences. Nationalism. Last two minutes repeats the main causes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjlGoe1mnw0&index=6&list=PL07AFB84BE6B838E4
Causes of WW1: Militarism: (2 minutes) The Britain/Germany naval-race.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6_r6eB_nQY&list=PL07AFB84BE6B838E4&index=10
Causes of WW1: Alliances (3 1/2 minutes). Explains the alliances from 1860s. Exculpatory of Britain. Some challenging vocabulary. Old-fashioned, and a posh narrative-voice. But simple maps and some contemporary film-footage, including a car-race at the end: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAeMeuuspmk&index=12&list=PL07AFB84BE6B838E4.
  • Outbreak of WW1, Newspaper articles:
Margaret Macmillan ‘Don’t ask me who started the war or I’ll burst into tears’, Guardian Review, 26/7/14: 12.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jul/25/margaret-macmillan-just-dont-ask-me-who-started-war

Review of Alexander Watson, ‘Ring of Steel: Germany and Austria-Hungary at War, 1914-18’, Daily Telegraph Review 9/8/14: 23.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/11021508/Ring-of-Steel-Germany-and-Austria-Hungary-at-War-1914-18-by-Alexander-Watson-review-an-inestimable-service.html

Christopher Clark, ‘Is history telling us something? We must be wary of drawing parallels with 1914' http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/15/1914-conflicts-history-repeating-first-world-war

David Blackbourn, ‘The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914 by Margaret MacMillan – review (What role did honour play in the outbreak of the first world war?), Guardian Review, 26/10/13: 6.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/24/war-ended-peace-margaret-macmillan-review

Beyond the trenches: what European pupils learn about the conflict, Guardian, 16/1/14.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/16/teaching-first-world-war

  • Some overviews:

World war One: 10 interpretations of who started World War One, BBC News magazine
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26048324

Historiography of the causes of World War One (How ideas about the outbreak of war have changed over time)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historiography_of_the_causes_of_ World_War_I

The causes of World War One by Russel Tarr at Magzinr (Links to a large number of articles about the outbreak of war)
http://magzinr.com/user/russeltarr/ib_ww1_causes

  • Additional activity:

Ian Luff has devised a number of questions to ask of an online parody of the outbreak of World War One, 'If World War One was a barfight'
http://themetapicture.com/if-world-war-one-was-a-bar-fight

Activity to Support and Enhance ‘If WW1 was a bar fight’:
The purpose of this activity is to analyse the pastiche of WW1 represented by the ‘If WW1 was a bar fight’ cartoon and accompanying satirical and metaphorical narrative. See below

Foundation Activity:
If students are to be able to appreciate the satirical and metaphorical humour of the piece they will need to develop a strong understanding of the actual sequence of events in the run up to the war and during the war itself. This first objective can be met through a relatively simple practical exercise using a tap on the shoulder as a declaration of war and a simulated arm-wrestle as indication of a significant battle.
The Outbreak of War:

  1. Use nine students as the principal states involved: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, France, Russia, Great Britain, Turkey, Belgium and Serbia. Use coloured paper tabards labelled with a state’s name to represent members or associates of the two main alliance blocks - the Central Powers and the Triple Entente. For neutral or officially non-aligned countries (Belgium and Serbia) use yellow or white tabards.
  2. Arrange the young people in the rough position of the states they represent on the European map of 1914. Serbia and Belgium sit to represent their relative weakness. All other powers stand.
  3. Give Belgium a white piece of paper. This symbolises the Treaty of London, 1839. This treaty supposedly guaranteed Belgium neutrality and was signed by all of the Great Powers of the early 19th century. Most significantly the British had signed the treaty and continued to take its guarantees seriously in 1914 – probably because it closely correlated with traditional British foreign policy of preventing the continent (and particularly Belgium which faced the Thames estuary and the port of London) falling under the influence of any continental power.
  4. Give Serbia a harmless weapon such as a foam swimming float or a rolled up piece of paper.
  5. The teacher will then talk the young people through the following sequence, requiring them to take actions at the appropriate points. On the second run through the teacher will utter no words but merely point. On the third the students run the entire sequence without teacher prompts. This will stimulate recall.
  6. Serbia taps A-H on the foot. Austria raises a hand to Serbia but declines to act as Russia steps forward saying ‘Hands off my little pal.’ This represents the first Balkan war of 1912.
  7. Serbia taps A-H on the foot. Austria raises a hand to Serbia but declines to act as Russia steps forward saying ‘Hands off my little pal.’ This represents the second Balkan war of 1913.
  8. Finally Serbia hits A-H on the knee with the harmless weapon. This represents the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand in June 1914. Austria shows her fury and turns to Germany asking permission to attack Serbia. Germany nods slowly and deliberately.
  9. Austria taps Serbia on the shoulder symbolising a declaration of war. Serbia retaliates. Tapping continues between Serbia and Austria. Russia yawns, stretches and begins to move towards Austria in slow motion.
  10. Germany leans across Belgium and taps France’s shoulder to declare war. France leans across to tap back.
  11. Belgium looks at Britain shouting ‘Help, help’ and waves the Treaty of London.
  12. Britain leans across Belgium to tap Germany. Germany does the same back. Tapping continues.
  13. Italy looks at the tapping going on and moves away doing nothing. Teacher narrates that Italy joins Britain, France and Russia in 1915. Italy moves back in to tap A-H which taps back.
  14. Turkey does nothing until Germany makes a sign to it. Then it looks with hostility at Russia but still does nothing.
  15. Repeat the sequence with the teacher just pointing to prompt.
  16. Repeat the sequence without any teacher input.
  17. This will have given the students an outline grasp of the sequence of events launching WW1. Discuss the significance/accuracy of the German nod to Austria. Consider the work of Fritz Fischer and Pogge von Strandemann concerning this interpretation.

Analysis of ‘If WW1 was a bar fight’:
Since the ‘If WW1 was a bar fight’ continues into the war itself we must attempt examination of its main assertions through student discussion following research or at least outline study of the events mentioned followed by focussed discussion of the interpretation the piece represents.

  1. Russia throws a punch at Germany and then falls over’ Look at the Russian campaign of 1914 culminating in the Battles of the Masurian lakes and Tannenberg. Discussion question ‘Did Germany have things all her own way in 1914 in the East?
  2. ‘Australia throws a punch at Turkey.....’ Look at the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. Discussion question ‘Did Britain make Australia do it?’
  3. ‘France falls through a plate glass window but gets back up and carries on fighting.’ – refers to Joffre’s ‘Plan 17’. Discussion question ‘Was Plan 17 the disaster this implies?’
  4. ‘Italy throws a punch at Austria and misses. Austria falls over anyway’ Look at the alpine war between Italy and Austria. Discussion question ‘Was the alpine war the amateur shambles this sentence implies?’
  5. ‘America waits till Germany is about to fall from sustained punching from Britain and France...’ Discussion question ‘Was Germany about to fall by the time US troops got into action in April 1918? If she was can this be put down only to punching by Britain and France? Look at the German offensives of 1915/ 1916 at Verdun and of March 1918 around Amiens.
  6. ‘...so the whole thing is Germany’s fault’. Examine the treaties of Versailles and St Germain. Then look again at the sequence of events starting the war. Discussion question ‘Was Germany fairly treated after the fighting had stopped?’

Big questions:

  1. Where do you think the author’s sympathies lie and on what words or phrases used do you base your opinion?
  2. Is the metaphorical narrative ‘If WW1 was a bar fight’ a fair interpretation of the main events of the lead up to and the waging of WW1?’