World War I: Enemies Abroad and Challenges on the Home Front

Letters from the Front and a Poem

• Question 1: Using your encyclopedia background research (and unit slides where appropriate) and your chosen discussion readings, briefly describe what is being depicted here: what is the main topic, people, themes, events etc. Do not simply cut and paste content. Instead, show you understand all you have read and researched by communicating this in your own words.

• Question 2: Using “how to read” a primary source” and/or “how to read a secondary source,” analyseyour selected unit readings, using the discussion questions on that week’s slides as a starting point and focusing in on issues such as what we as students of history can learn from these readings about the era, values/priorities of that time period, what questions still require attention, what issues of bias are present, how we can interpret the words in the readings from our perspective today in the present etc.

• Question 3: Looking back now over our course so far, how does a careful understanding of this unit’s discussion readings and your encyclopedia research help you understand other parts of our course? Be specific in making links to course content/units/topics. How will having completed this critical analysis assignment help you be more successful in our future in class discussions? Be direct and specific in your answer.
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• Use Headings and subheadings for the questions

Letters from the Front and a poem

Miss Esmee Sartorius

August, 1914

“Like so many others when war was declared, I applied at once to the St. John Ambulance, to which I belonged, to know if there was any possibility of their making use of me, my only recommendation being three months' training. I was told that only trained nurses were wanted, and so gave up hope, but three days later the British Red Cross got an appeal for forty nurses to be sent out to Belgium; five St. John Ambulance nurses (V.A.D.'s later on) were being sent, and I was asked if I would go. I naturally accepted with alacrity, and August 14th found us in Brussels.  Most of us were taken to the Hotel Metropole, where we were to await orders.  As there was a big battle expected any day, we should all be badly wanted. Next day some of the nurses were sent to hospitals outside Brussels, and others, including M., my cousin (who was a fully trained nurse), and myself, were given posts in the Royal Palace, which posts, however, we never filled, as the next thing we heard was that the Germans were outside the gate of Brussels, and all the allied wounded were to be evacuated to Antwerp. At 3 p.m. next day the Germans marched in; it was a soul-stirring sight, seeing these impassive and tired-looking troops marching in to what seemed like a deserted town, every door and window shuttered and barred, and not a civilian to be seen, or a sound to be heard, save the steady tramping of the German troops, regiment after regiment, guns, cavalry, Uhlans with their fluttering pennons on their lances. One felt that thousands of Belgians were waiting and watching behind their shuttered doors and windows, with bated breath and terrible anxiety lest anyone or anything should cause a disturbance, and so bring down the punishment of the enemy. However, nothing happened, owing to the notices which had been posted up everywhere, and the wonderful influence of Burgomaster Max, who had implored everyone to be careful and to give no cause or excuse for trouble.  Brussels being an unfortified town, he had begged the people to help in a peaceful occupation. His words had the right effect and, after a time, doors and windows were opened, and cafes put their chairs and tables outside again, and the town gradually resumed its everyday life, but with a strong undercurrent of fear and consternation at the terrible feeling that the enemy was really in occupation, and Brussels under German rule. Panics were easily started these days, and one sometimes met a crowd tearing down a street terror-stricken, crying that the French were outside the gates and a battle beginning, and one had to turn and run with the crowd till the panic was over.”