World War example essay topic

World War I marked a change not only in military strategy and technology of war, but also in consciousness in those who served as soldiers and those who watched the innocently as the western world was transformed forever. Never again would the world regain the innocence, or at least the simplicity it had previously enjoyed. Carl Zuckmayer, through his account of his life pre- during and post war is clearly exemplifies the epact of WWI on the person. He as with many young Germans was changed nearly overnight from a passively alle giant civilian who as he had stated while on holiday in Holland "I will not shoot at other people, I'd rather go to prison", to a patriotically consumed non-individual. Driven by the mass consciousness of war propaganda and the enthusiasm of the war legacies. He found his most cherished ideals, as expressed in his poems "false and stupidly innocent, shameful.

He did not feel forced to join the military, rather compelled and overwhelmed to do nothing else. At that moment, caught up in the collective patriotism of the glory of war and the attitude of righteousness for purpose he as with his comrades wanted to engage in the glory of this undoubted victory which "would mean a new Europe, united culturally and politically under the aegis of the German spirit. His mother was bravely anxious but certain the war would be brief, after all, the Kaiser had announced that the troops would be back before the leaves would fall. The military training that Carl experienced seemed to be rushed and brief. Lacking in adequate quarters and probably equipment as well.

He found it as liberation from the pettiness of middle class life and the doubts that are interwoven with choice, rather than bane fully confining and subordinate as he had contemplated previously. I believe he found the pseudo-scholarly esoteric debate that seemed to continually rage somewhat reassuring possibly redeeming. Actually I'm not sure if it is only my interpretation of his account or if it is as he intended it, but I find his experience at war as distanced, removed and surreal. His accounts of particular situations and events seem muted by an overlying desire to detach from all that he is seeing. His most remorseful account of a comrade's death was at boot camp. This event also was his first at doubting the goodness of the German soldierliness as he saw the mistreatment of the Alsatians among the troops.

Subsequent accounts of the death that surrounded him seemed rather detached, kind of a denial of the truth of what was happening to his friends and foe. He eventually found himself realizing that the war was not some destiny but rather it was the result of a failure on the part of our western world, a "suicide, a world's end" as he states. This however had led him to be seized by another kind of intoxication, an insatiable desire for knowledge, culture, insight, and learning. This led to the nicknaming 'the reading lieutenant'. Carl did find solace in his literary endeavors. He was able to lead his men into position unstintingly while his beliefs and hopes were with the 'International of all liberated peoples'.

Carl's account of his life prior to the war was somewhere between average and idealistic and at the least uncomplicated. His views were optimistic and humane. He had an unquestionable loyalty to his fellow countrymen, as well as compassionate optimism toward all of humanity. The experience of war and the group consciousness of the 'war machine' forever changed is perception of the external reality and the predictability of the future of humanity.

However I do believe he held on to his faith in the possibility of a better world throughout his life.