A History Question

You raise a large number of questions, probably too many to answer on a forum.

You are right that WW1 is not talked about or filmed as much as WW2, though there are many reasons for this. I'll briefly outline some:

Time is a large factor - there are now only a few people left who fought in WW1, whereas WW2 is still very much in living memory.

WW2 was the first and only 'total war' where everybody was involved whether military or civilian. It was a war of rapid movement and many varied theatres, unlike WW1, which was a war of stalemate with very little 'action'.

WW1 was a clash of imperial powers - the British Empire versus Germany. For the first couple of years of the war, both sides felt they were fighting a noble and just war against an aggressive enemy, but after the war it came to be believed by many that it was an unjust imperialistic war. WW2 on the other hand was at first thought to be a similar war, but by the end of the war when Japanese and German cruelty was revealed it became thought of as more of a 'just' war. Also, many left leaning historians like WW2 because it was a war where the Soviet Union triumphed over fascism.

You're right also that America felt more involved in WW2 because American soil was bombed. America only joined WW1 very late (1917) and many in the US felt it was nothing to do with them and they finally only joined in due to pressure from Britain and her allies.

WW1 was very popular at first, but as the casualty lists mounted (thousands each day) it began to rapidly become unpopular. In contrast WW2 had far fewer casualties. This is perhaps a major reason why we don't see WW1 as a 'heroic' war (although many heroic sacrifices were made for King and Country)

There are some great movies about WWI but sometimes hard to find. One of my favorites is "Captain Conane" about French soldiers. Kirk Douglas made "Paths of Glory". There was "A long Engagement" in recent years.

The old guys running the war used up soldiers like a meatgrinder and didn't have the slightest qualm about their stupidity.

Battle fatigue in WWI was called "shell shock" bcause men were trapped in trenchs with rats, mud, lice, and stinking dead bodies etc during months of artillery bombardment.

I read once the term had another name in the American Civil War but don't remember what it was called.

Some men who didn't want to go off to useless slaughter dragged their feet. Smug young girls would hand them a white feather in public calling them out as a coward.

It was also a crime to criticize the war or publish negative news. All you got was propaganda. I remember reading some biographies of men who went back earkly from furloughs to the front in WWI because they couldn't stand the hypocrisy of civilian life. They no longer fit in there.

Perhaps this is the moment to respond to your question, just as it has been announced that the last US Serviceman to have survived "the War to end all Wars" has died at the age of 107, I think.
May I suggest that you watch "Oh What a Lovely War," where the opening scenes are presented as if the various contestants were on a sea-side pier or promenade. It sounds a most unlikely way to present such a grim subject, but is remarkably effective.

What an interesting and thoughtful question and set of answers! This is the "forum" concept at its best. Beats the snarkiness which tries to pass itself off as civil discouse in forums. Thanks to all involved for making me think.
I will add one point: I think WWI and the failure of the aristocratic English leadership were huge factors in the demise of the class system in England. One way this occurred was the law of primogeniture. In England, the oldest son got the lot. Younger sons had to fend for themselves, and women had to marry. The flower of England's youth died in the trenches, leaving huge estates whose death duties decimated many a fortune and estate.
Another factor was that the working class refused to go back to menial lives "in service" in wealthier households. They wanted their own businesses or jobs and their own lives after the war. This happened on a smaller scale in the US. Renenber the song "How are they going to keep them down on the farm, after they've seen Paris."
The best treatment of the war's affect on the homefront was the original "Upstairs, Downstairs" series, whick I'm sure you can get from Netflix or Acorn, etc. It is one of the best social history depictions ever brought to the screen. It begins in the early 1900's and ends in 1929. Fascinating period, fascinating series.
Thanks, all.

Well I look at a lot of older movies and it is odd they way they portray the veterans of WWI. They are usually gangsters. But WW2 vets are portrayed as hero's. Basically WW1 vets in movies are treated like Vietnam vets are portrayed in movies now.
WW1 was a very unpopular war. Woodrow Wilson was very opposed to us get involved in it It took a supposedly ship with civilian passengers to blown up, The Lusitania, to get this country to enter. And as the other poster mentioned we entered late.
My grandfathers is a WWI Veteran. one grandfather was in the Canadian army because he is from Jamaica. Remember the countries had colonies all over the world and they used their soldiers. But my other grandfather was a US Army Vet under Pershing He got shot in the head and was completely ok. He told me stories about how they would rather see a person die then a horse because a horse was more important because they used them for everything. Mustard gas and how horrible the tranches were and how being left with no food for days. Also white soldiers told the locals that black soldiers had tails. Horrible stuff. There are a few movies that will give you a good glance about WW1

1) All Quiet on the Western Front. The movie IMO is one of the best movies ever made. Look for the original movie , not the remake. Also get a hold of the book.

2) WEST FRONT 1918. A German made movie. Very haunting they have a lot of battle field scenes and the affect it has on the soldiers.

3) The Big Parade

4) Lawrence of Arabia People forget that is a WW1 movie.

5) Gallipoli A Australian view of a failed battle during WW1. I believe it is Mel Gibson first movie.

6) Sergeant York

7) The Blue Max. So bad it is good.

8) The Lost Patrol. A John Ford movie. Takes place in the same area Lawrence of Arabia and is one of the most suspenseful scary movie I ever seen. You are on the edge your seat from beginning to end. This movie has a performance in from Boris Karloff that has to e seen to believe, he should of gotten a Oscar for it.


Paths Of Glory is a great movie but it is more about the higher ups who make a big strategic mistake and used some soldiers as scapegoats. Something I am sure goes on more then we think.