Teaching World War I in the 21st Century 1 | Page 23

strength of military history: the capacity to support the
study of almost any subject.

Students interested in medicine and psychology can
study how the concept and treatment of shell shock

evolved. Those with an interest in chemistry can learn
about the effects of gas warfare and how soldiers
protected themselves from the various chemical

agents. Want to learn about the history of women and

minorities? Study the 93rd Infantry Division (see photo
Cartoon from the Brooklyn Eagle, published in July 1914, illustrating the
chain of alliances in Europe. (Image courtesy of the BBC)

window into the chain of cause and effect that drives
history forward.

The intricate history of the European alliance

systems in 1914 is challenging for students to fully

comprehend. Teachers need to help them understand
how the complex alliance system was triggered by
the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz
Ferdinand and his wife, the Empress Sophie.

below), or learn about the fate of the nearly 10,000
members of the Army Nurse Corps who deployed

overseas. Mechanically minded students can dig into
the history of the machine gun to find out how it

came to dominate the battlefield, or study the role of
airplanes and motor vehicles in an era when armies
still relied on horsepower to move equipment.

Whereas a macro level examination of the war provides
clarity, the micro level provides endless questions for

the curious student: Why was trench warfare so brutal

Analysis of the subtle thrusts and parries involved in
military strategy may be beyond the grasp of many

high school students, but the grand stalemate of trench
warfare and the power of the machine gun in the
defense are easy to convey in the classroom.

Likewise, the convoluted intrigues of international

politics might be opaque to many, but the impact of

unrestricted submarine warfare and the intercepted
Zimmermann telegram (a coded proposal from the
German Empire, inviting Mexico to join the Central

Powers) on the U.S. decision to enter the war are clear.
World War I also provides students with fantastic

opportunities for deeper investigation of a variety of

topics, from technical innovations to the advancement
of women and minorities. Here again we see the great

The segregated 369th Infantry Regiment of the 93rd Division, known
as the “Harlem Hellfighters” or “Rattlers,” was the first AfricanAmerican unit to serve in the American Expeditionary Forces. General
Pershing refused requests to break up American units and send
them to reinforce French and British units, but this did not extend to
the all-black units of the 93rd Division. The 369th, which fought with
distinction, was the first American unit to reach the Rhine. Shown here
are members of the 369th in the trenches near Maffrecourt, Marne,
France, May 4, 1918. (Image courtesy of the U.S. Army Heritage and
Education Center)

Essays & Resources

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