Signs in the trenches during WWII
Today was a heavy day. We talked about the origins of the World Wars and how it affected Britain. Honestly for my post today, I’m just going to write my notes from class and from my own research. We went to the war museum. My favorite part of the museum was the war through children’s eyes. I cried when I saw how much those children went through. I bought a small book of encouraging words. During the war, Britain put posters all over that said, “Keep calm and carry on”. I think those are some powerful words. Britain went through so much and I had no idea. There are buildings all around London that have chunks taken out from the bombings in London during the wars. War is horrific. It is tragic. I learned so much today and I felt so much today. There is a poem called In Flanders Fields that is very poignant. Read it. I think you’ll get some really good inspiration from it. I am so grateful they had us learn about the wars from Britain's perspective. My eyes really have been opened.
HOMEWORK
What significance the wars hold for me personally
Both Grandpa’s fought in WWII
Favorite book The Hiding Place
I have a fascination with WWII
Grandpa Gardner was on a submarine that was never ever attacked. He said there were some scary times though
I studied WWII with my sister in-law in depth for about 2 months
President Uchtdorf’s stories
Vietnam war... had an impact on my parents getting married when they did.
Grandpa Jim was in the air force. He doesn’t talk about what happened
Nauvoo escorting military up the steps to sing all of the military songs to them and honor them for their service. Crying many times because of what they had been through and that I could see how it had impacted them.
I’ve been to Pearl Harbor. The exhibit there was very moving
Cambridge War memorial was very moving for me.
CHORAL WORKS
The one that I heard in music history that was Hiroshima
I remember a cello composer - I don’t remember his name though
High Flight
Benjamin Britten - War Requiem
Battle Hymn of the Republic
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Keep the Home fires Burning
Flanders Fields
Yankee Doodle
Reasons for WWI to start:
Britain was had the most power out of all the countries in Europe in the 1900’s. Britain had the largest navy and the most money. Germany was jealous and decided to build up their navy. Germany took over some areas of France and that made France upset. Also, Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated by the Serbians and that began the conflict between the Austro-Hungarian government and Serbia. Germany sided with Austro-Hungary and Russia sided with Serbia. Germany therefore declared war on Russia and on their Ally France. Germany also sent troops into Belgium which broke the peace treaty and started WWI.
Notes from class:
WWI began as a “spat between cousins”
The “Great War”
The governments are not the same! Germany didn’t become a nation until 1871 - before that it was a number of principalities but not a nation. It was very autocratic and militaristic. England was stressing parliamentary government, culture, trade etc... This created a lot of tension between Germany, England, Russia, and France. England felt they had solved the tension with the alliances that had been formed.
England felt that if you can balance power then no one with drop the bomb.
Because of all the alliances, everyone became involved.
WWI was fought over about 40 miles because of the accuracy of the weapons.
God was one of the casualties of this war - at least faith
Three reasons for the war
Imperialism
Competition about who could go the farthest
Alliances
Arms race
Who could accumulate the most
Reasons for WWII to start:
Germany was bitter because of what happened during the first WW. Germany had to be reparation damages of the war. They were blamed for the war. They were upset! WWII began when Germany invaded Belgium. The treaty of Versailles had been broken with that invasion. France and Britain now care because Belgium was completely neutral until the day the Germans invaded. The treaty of Versaille threw Germany into deep poverty. There was worldwide depression but it was even worse in Germany. Because they were poor and did not have employment, it enabled the Nazis to begin. The Nazis were led by Adolph Hitler who was a corporal from WWI. He used this group to preach his brand of subversive rhetoric. Eventually, Germany followed Hitler to go annex back territories that had been taken because of the Cersailles Treaty. Eventually, this led to the invading of Poland. France and Britain had to declare war on Germany because they had a pact with Poland. Other factors contributed to the war like Japan invading Manchuria, but the biggest problem was that Germany invaded Belgium which broke the peace treaty because before they did that, Europe didn’t really care so they didn’t need to do anything.
Timeline WWII-
1939
• Hitler invades Poland on 1 September. Britain and France declare war on Germany two days later.
1940
• Rationing starts in the UK.
• German 'Blitzkrieg' overwhelms Belgium, Holland and France.
• Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain.
• British Expeditionary Force evacuated from Dunkirk.
• British victory in Battle of Britain forces Hitler to postpone invasion plans.
1941
• Hitler begins Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of Russia.
• The Blitz continues against Britain's major cities.
• Allies take Tobruk in North Africa, and resist German attacks.
• Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, and the US enters the war.
1942
• Germany suffers setbacks at Stalingrad and El Alamein.
• Singapore falls to the Japanese in February - around 25,000 prisoners taken.
• American naval victory at Battle of Midway, in June, marks turning point in Pacific War.
• Mass murder of Jewish people at Auschwitz begins.
1943
• Surrender at Stalingrad marks Germany's first major defeat.
• Allied victory in North Africa enables invasion of Italy to be launched.
• Italy surrenders, but Germany takes over the battle.
• British and Indian forces fight Japanese in Burma.
1944
• Allies land at Anzio and bomb monastery at Monte Cassino.
• Soviet offensive gathers pace in Eastern Europe.
• D Day: The Allied invasion of France. Paris is liberated in August.
• Guam liberated by the US Okinawa, and Iwo Jima bombed.
1945
• Auschwitz liberated by Soviet troops.
• Russians reach Berlin: Hitler commits suicide and Germany surrenders on 7 May.
• Truman becomes President of the US on Roosevelt's death, and Attlee replaces Churchill.
• After atomic bombs are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrenders on 14 August.
The GreatWar 1914-1918
In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
