World War I
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How was he/she or his/her family involved in World War I? From time spent overseas to time at home, many people's lives were significantly affected by this period of turmoil. Record the memories by selecting this Topic.
In 1914, World War I broke out in Europe. Was he/she interested in the events leading up to U.S. involvement in World War I?
- After the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria's assassination in 1914, Austria declared war on Serbia. Other European nations then joined the war because of their alliances with these countries. What did he/she think of the war in Europe? Did he/she have relatives overseas to worry about?
- Did he/she agree with the U.S. policy of neutrality? Why or why not? Many people's opinions changed after Germany sank several U.S. vessels, and plans for a German-Mexican alliance were discovered. Were his/her opinions affected by these events?
- How did he/she react to the U.S. declaration of war when it was announced in April of 1917? Did he/she worry about family members that might have to fight? Did he/she agree that the U.S. should get involved overseas?
- The draft was instituted in 1917 in order to raise enough men for an army. Was anyone in his/her family affected by this? Who had to sign up? Did they try to avoid it? Did this make the war seem closer to home?
Did he/she serve in the military during all or part of World War I?
- Which branch did he/she serve in? Did he/she enlist or was he/she drafted? How did he/she feel about the draft? Was he/she opposed to serving in the military or was he/she proud to serve his/her country?
- Describe basic training. Who was his/her commanding officer? Who were his/her peers? Where and for how long was he/she trained? What did he/she learn?
- Did he/she have trouble getting along with anyone in his/her unit? Why? What became of it? How did he/she deal with it?
- Did he/she have a nickname? What were the memorable nicknames of others?
- How did he/she feel about sharing his/her space with others? Did it feel cramped at first? Was it easy to get used to?
- What was his/her most vivid memory of this time? Specific people or places? A certain event?
- Did basic training build up or cut down his/her self-confidence? Why or why not? Did he/she feel as if he/she was well-prepared for his/her duties? Did it turn out that he/she was prepared?
- Was he/she especially skilled at one particular task? Did it become his/her "specialty"?
- Where was he/she stationed after basic training? What were the people and the surrounding areas like? How long was he/she there?
- How did he/she keep in touch with his/her friends and family back home during this time? Did he/she save any letters he/she might have written or received?
- Did he/she become close friends with any of those he/she fought with? Did they keep in touch in later years? Did he/she save any of their lives? Did they save his?
- Which battles did he/she fight in? Describe the time, place, number of participants, and what happened. How did these battles affect the war as a whole? What role did his/her unit play in this battle?
- World War I is often described as a war fought "in the trenches." Did he/she experience this type of fighting? Describe what this was like.
- World War I introduced many new things to warfare, including tanks, U-boats, poison gas, and aviation. Did he/she use any of these innovations during the war? What were his/her experiences?
- Was he/she injured in any way? Describe what happened. What went through his/her mind when he/she realized he/she was hurt?
- If he/she was injured, did he/she heal quickly or not? Did he/she return home because of the injury, or did he/she go back to fight? How did it change him in ways that he/she noticed years later?
- Did he/she ever need to take someone's life? Describe the experience and how it affected him both immediately and in the long term.
- An armistice was declared on November 11, 1918, after 10 million soldiers had been killed. Did he/she join in any victory celebrations? What was the mood of the soldiers?
- What did he/she think of Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points and his/her treaty making capabilities? Did he/she think that this was a peace that would last? What did he/she think of the League of Nations?
- Why did he/she leave the service? Honorable discharge? Injury? End of active duty? Describe the circumstances and how he/she felt about them.
- Was he/she able to return to "normal functioning"? Was it easy to put it all behind him and get on with his/her life, or did he/she have to struggle? What was hardest to adjust to once he/she returned?
- Was there someone or something that was helpful in getting him through this period of adjustment? Could he/she suggest anything helpful to someone going through a similar situation?
- After all was said and done, what did he/she learn from his/her experiences in the military? Why were these lessons valuable to him? How did they change him and his/her ideas or values?
- How would he/she be different if he/she had never had these experiences?
- What sort of memorabilia did he/she save from this time? What did it symbolize to him? What memories and feelings did it bring back after the war?
Did he/she stay home during a portion of World War I?
- Why did he/she stay home for that time? Was he/she not called up or was his/her tour of duty shorter than the duration of the war? Was he/she too young or too old? Did he/she wish that he/she could have gone?
- What was it like at home? How was life different because of the war? What was the biggest sacrifice he/she had to make because of it?
- What did he/she do at home to help the war effort? Did he/she buy "Liberty Bonds"? Did his/her family observe wheatless Mondays and Wednesdays or meatless Tuesdays so more food would be available to send overseas?
- Did any friends or family fight in the war? How did he/she feel when they left? Was he/she scared? Did he/she think that he/she would never see them again or did he/she feel that they would return? How did it turn out?
- How did he/she keep in touch with his/her loved ones who were away during this time? Did he/she save any letters he/she wrote or received?
- Did any friends or family die because of the war? Who? Did he/she know how he/she or he/she died? When did he/she find out about their death?
- During the war years, many minorities and women took jobs that they couldn't get previously. Did he/she notice these changes? What did he/she think of them?
- When did the war end for him? Was it when the armistice was declared? Or perhaps it was when a loved one came home. Describe that day.
- An armistice was declared on November 11, 1918, after 10 million soldiers had been killed. Did he/she join in any victory celebrations? What was the mood of the population?
- What did he/she think of Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points and his/her treaty making capabilities? Did he/she think that this was a peace that would last? What did he/she think of the League of Nations?
- What was it like when his/her friends and family finally came home? Had they changed in ways he/she didn't expect? Had he/she changed in ways they didn't expect? What was hardest to adjust to once they got back? What was easiest?
- Did it take a long time for life to return to normal? Did it ever? Was it easy to put it all behind him and get on with his/her life or did he/she have to struggle? Why?
- What sort of memorabilia did he/she save from this time? What did it symbolize to him? What memories and feelings did it bring back?