ENGLISH 5 DOORSTROOM_WORLD WAR I_introduction

Introduction: WAR AND PEACE

  • The significance of World War I (The Great War) is marked by annual visits by many individuals to war cemeteries in Flanders and Northern France.

  • Personal anecdotes from visitors, e.g., Pete Waterman and his daughter, illustrate the lasting impact of war on families.

  • History reflects through personal stories:

    • Pete's grandfather suffered lifelong consequences from mustard gas poisoning from Passchendaele.

    • Another grandfather, Walter Loyd, discharged after suffering from shell shock, reveals the psychological toll of war.

  • Questions for personal reflection:

    • Family stories related to WWI.

    • Visits to war cemeteries.

    • Participation in commemorative ceremonies like the Last Post.

Vocabulary

  • Artillery: The military branch using large guns.

  • Examples of other vocabulary related to military ranks and equipment:

    • Lieutenant: Luitenant

    • Major: Majoor

    • Soldier: Soldaat

    • Trenches: Loopgraven

    • Bomb: Bom

1. FOCUS VOCABULARY

1.1. The Great War

  • Translation exercises for English to Dutch and vice versa on military terms such as:

    • Artillery - de artillerie

    • Captain - een kapitein

    • Trench - een loopgraaf

    • Cemetery - een begraafplaats

1.2. Private Peaceful

  • Michael Morpurgo focused on real locations and experiences of soldiers in Ypres, capturing:

    • Battlefields and their significance.

    • Soldiers' lives outside of combat in places like Talbot House.

1.3. A Different Story

  • The war developed into a stalemate and a war of attrition from late 1914 onwards.

  • Describes the tedious daily routines of soldiers:

    • A typical rotation pattern for infantry soldiers.

    • Daily activities defined by strict discipline.

1.4. A Letter Home

  • Communication during wartime was monitored with letters often being censored.

  • Special occasions like Christmas truces and their impact are noted.

1.5. The Squalor

  • Life in trenches was unbearable:

    • Presence of disease and vermin like rats and lice created unsanitary conditions.

    • Soldiers dealt with not just physical suffering but psychological fears of constant attack.

1.6. Shell Shock

  • The effects of war-induced trauma were profound:

    • Symptoms included uncontrollable diarrhoea and anxiety.

    • Describes how psychological factors contributed to soldiers' breaking points.

1.7. Remembering the Fallen

  • The end of WWI is commemorated worldwide on November 11.

  • The red poppy symbolizes remembrance of sacrifices made.

  • Moina Michael's vow to wear a poppy strengthens the message of remembrance.

1.8. Life on the Battlefield (Vocabulary Exercise)

  • Categorization exercise involving terms like:

    • Trenches - The structure of the battlefield.

    • Medical aspects - Terms related to care and trauma.