World War I 1914–1919:
A Source-based Study
A Source-based Study
World War I was in many ways the foundation event for the whole of the twentieth century. It led to much of what happened during the rest of the century. It was during the war that a communist government came to power for the first time, in Russia. Subsequently many other countries became communist in several parts of the world, especially after World War II. This laid the foundation for the ‘Cold War’ between the Soviet Union and the United States which occurred from 1945 until about 1990. Similarly World War I was a factor in the rise to power of Hitler and the Nazis in Germany in 1933 and in the outbreak of World War II six years later. These events have had a significant impact on the history of Europe ever since.
In this module you will look at World War I itself which went from August 1914 until November 1918 and then the Treaty of Versailles which was signed by the victorious Allied powers and Germany. The Principal Focus of the module is to use different types of sources and acquired knowledge to investigate key features, issues, individuals, groups and wants in the study of World War I.You will undertake your investigation of this topic by using a wide variety of sources: some written and some pictorial; some primary and some secondary. You will consider different perspectives and interpretations about World War I and its aftermath. You will use your knowledge and skills to respond to the different types of sources and historiographical issues that you will encounter in this module.
Outcomes
You will need to have a good knowledge and understanding of the following outcomes in order to complete this module successfully.
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
H1.1 describe the role of key features, issues, individuals, groups and events of selected twentieth-century studies.
H1.2 analyse and evaluate the role of key features, issues, individuals, groups and events of selected twentieth-century studies.
H3.2 locate, select and organise relevant information from different types of sources
H3.3 analyse and evaluate sources for their usefulness and reliability
H3.4 explain and evaluate differing perspectives and interpretations of the past
H3.5 plan and present the findings of historical investigations, analysing and synthesising information from different types of sources
H4.1 use historical terms and concepts appropriately
H4.2 communicate a knowledge and understanding of historical features and issues, using appropriate and well-structured oral and written forms.
Students learn about:
1 War on the Western Front
· the reasons for the stalemate on the Western Front
· the nature of trench warfare and life in the trenches dealing with experiences of Allied and German soldiers
· overview of strategies and tactics to break the stalemate including key battles: Verdun, the Somme, Passchendaele
· changing attitudes of Allied and German soldiers to the war over time
2 The home fronts in Britain and Germany
· total war and its social and economic impact on civilians in Britain and Germany
· recruitment, conscription, censorship and propaganda in Britain and Germany
· the variety of attitudes to the war and how they changed over time in Britain and Germany
· the impact of the war on women’s lives and experiences in Britain
3 Turning points
· impact of the entry of the USA and of the Russian withdrawal
· Ludendorff’s Spring Offensive and the Allied response
4 Allied Victory
· events leading to the Armistice, 1918
· reasons for the Allied victory and the German collapse
· the roles and differing goals of Clemenceau, Lloyd George and Wilson in creating the Treaty of Versailles.
