Chapter 3 Britain at war 1914-18

why were there different attitudes to war?

why did war break out?

• 4 august 1914- outbreak of war
• came about through quite a rapidly developing crisis
• result of a long period of tension between Britain and Germany
• not unexpected
• build up of suspicion and hostility between governments
• increasing number of the general public held hostile attitudes towards Germany
• sense that matters were coming to a head
• reinforced by reports of atrocities committed by German troops as they moved through Belgium and the execution of civilians who resisted when German troops entered France
• concerns about German naval expansion
• popular campaign to build up the British fleet to meet a possible threat
• campaigns about German economic competition
• publication of spy and adventure stories in which British heroes battled with sinister German plots helped to create a mood of hostility before 1914
• invasion of Belgium by Germany confirmed Britain had a moral duty to oppose rampant militarism and disregard for the rights of independent nations

uniting the people

• sense that war might unite the people of Britain behind a cause
• on going debate about the need for national efficiency, improvements in the physical condition of the nation, need for greater moral health
• chance for British people to show the moral qualities that had won the empire
• show sacrifice, unity and 'manhood'
• case of national revival after a period of internal conflict

expectations of war

• based on the short wars in Europe in the 1860s, short war between Russia and Japan in 1805
• huge forces of France and Russia, Britain's great navy
• seemed obvious that the Allies would win
• not thought that the war would be drawn out or involve the total commitment of Britain's population
• Britain's industrial power, great empire and strong allies made war a frightening prospect for its enemies
• consequences of a modern war involving a large number of nations were not foreseen
• became clear that the war would be a long one and casualties would be high
• commitment had been made
• a new attitude emerged
• no longer a support for a dash to glory that led some to rush to volunteer before it was too late
• became a test of resolve, character and willingness to sacrifice for a cause
• determination that those who had died should not have done so in vain
• 'thing had to be seen through'
• constant- expectation that Britain would win

volunteering to fight

• regular peacetime army was highly skilled but small
• relied on volunteers- by 1915 had largely replaced the pre war force, most had been killed
• few had experience of fighting
• sense of adventure and testing oneself
• chance to break away from the dull routine of office or workshop
• group decision- different clubs and societies often led men to want to maintain comradeship in war
• 'pals' battalions to keep friends together
• certain amount of social pressure- expectation of employers, friends, families, girlfriends, people in the street that men should do their bit
• government recruitment campaign was extensive
• became increasingly apparent after the disastrous and costly…