The Reality of War: How Soldiers' Expectations Changed in World War I

This essay delves into the profound transformation of soldiers' expectations during World War I, contrasting their initial romanticized views with the brutal realities of trench warfare. The essay highlights how the soldiers' perceptions shifted from glory and swift victory to the harsh experiences of cold, hunger, and the constant threat of death. It explores the physical and psychological toll of the war, including the impact on their mental state and the disruption of their lives. The essay underscores the disillusionment of the soldiers as they witnessed the war's prolonged nature, the loss of experienced soldiers, and the ignoble aspects of combat. The essay also discusses how the war affected the soldiers' working memory and their inability to experience everyday life. The essay concludes by emphasizing the stark contrast between the initial expectations and the actual experiences of the soldiers, highlighting the war's devastating impact on their lives and perspectives.

Running head: REALITY OF WAR
REALITY OF WAR
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
REALITY OF WAR
Earlier soldiers thought that war had something romantic and noble in it. However
with time they realized the reality and gruesomeness of war. The essay aims at discussing
how the experience of war changed the initial expectations of the soldiers.
Initially the soldiers glorified the war and had romantic notions about it. As said by
one of the soldiers the war made the soldiers look like ‘animals’ and even when the weather
was freezing cold the soldier was not allowed to light the fire hence the enemy would come
to know about their hideout. The soldiers in the war are exposed to all kinds of dangers and
are also vulnerable. When the soldiers recall the earlier ancient victories they realise that the
war is ignoble instead of being noble because the war brings out the worst in them. The
soldiers were also not allowed to look out of the holes or the trenches. They only did so to
either fight or to feed themselves. The soldiers were always surrounded by the sounds of
canons as well as guns 1. Similarly those who thought that young men will be more
enthusiastic fell ill and became more anemic and needed rest that the war was unable to
provide them. Initially the soldiers thought that experienced soldiers would help in ending the
war but by the end there are very few experienced soldiers left. The war showed the brutal
and bloody reality of the war. Initially the soldiers thought that the war would end quickly but
things changed completely2. The war had mentally as well as physically strained the soldiers.
According to the soldier’s some of the events in the war was quite clear and could be easily
remembered while there were some events that were ‘uneven and confused’. The war had
unhealthy effects on the people’s working memory. They had to miss many interesting
happenings due to their presence at war. They had to live away from their family for a long
period of time. The war had stopped all kinds of transportation and the only train that was
running was for military purposes3.
1 Alan Seeger, French Legionnaire's extract from Diary and Letters
2 From Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front (1928)
3 Four Weeks in the Trenches by Fritz Kreisler, officer in the Austrian Army (1915)

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REALITY OF WAR
Thus to conclude it must be noted that though the war was thought to be glorious it
was completely different from the initial expectations of the soldiers. The war was brutal and
led to the death of many lives. There was nothing romantic about the war and the soldiers
soon realized the seriousness of the war.