Letters, diaries, memoirs, etc. are valuable sources for understanding how those involved experienced the war. The First World War from soldiers’ points of view 21 Analyse the texts. What level of the military do the authors of the texts mostly belong to? How do they describe the war in each case? What feelings do they express? Are they the same or similar feelings in every text? Why do you think there are differences between the texts? One of the letters mentions life on the home front. How does the soldier who wrote the letter feel about life at home? Do you think he is angry? Do you agree with him? Why or why not? 22 Investigate. One of the texts mentions censorship. Research and explain why letters were censored. 23 UNDERSTAND OTHERS Why do you think letters between the fighters at the front and people on the home front were encouraged by governments? How do you think a soldier felt when he received a letter from his family? O T H E R P O I N T S O F V I E W Father, To be evacuated from here you have to be blown up. I would like the Government to see this. I don't care if the letter passes censorship, it's the truth. Forgive me, I don't want them to talk to us about the battlefield, about honour, because I call it butchery. Because this war is nothing but a game of slaughter for us, in which we are led to the slaughterhouse. Your son, desperate to return alive. Jo, P.L.V. From Bénédicte des Mazery, La vie tranchée (Adapted) The General changed the subject. "Soldier. Do you like war?" "Do I like war!" I exclaimed, a little dispirited. "You mean, you are for peace?" Now there was surprise and disdain in the General 's voice. "Is that so, lieutenant?" "No, general ." "And what peace do you want? Come on!" "A victorious peace." The general seemed to calm down. Emilio lussu, Un anno sull 'altipiano (1916-1917) (Adapted) We are in danger of not understanding each other if you speak like someone on the home front and I speak as someone on the front line. Sacrifices of all kinds are what the soldier wants to see shared. That they are the same as at the front. Cartons of sugar? That means there is sugar. Taxes on cinema tickets? That means there are people going to the cinema. Firewood at astronomical prices? That means someone still has warm feet. Letter from a soldier to his wife, From Marc Ferro, La Grande Guerre (Adapted) Mother, we are winning. Even if things turn out differently, the saying that an ending with horror is better than horror without end is true. For death is not the worst thing. Death can awaken new life, and even more so in these times. But we do not want to die, because the homeland will benefit even more from us if we stay alive and then enjoy a glorious peace. I want to stay alive so that I can serve my homeland as much as possible. So I am sure that when we win I will embrace you again. Letter from Lieutenant Leopold von Stutterheim to his mother, August 1914 ( https://www.dhm.de/lemo/) (Adapted) 46
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