Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Hephner, Richard H.
URN	etd-5946112339731121
Title	"Where Youth and Laughter Go:" Trench Warfare from petersburg to the Western Front
Degree	Master of Arts
Department	History
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title James I. Robertson Jr. Committee Chair Hayward Farrar none Steven Soper none
Keywords	trench warfare petersburg va western front experience fraternization shell-shock
Date of Defense	1997-04-17
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract The study of soldiers' experience is important to understanding the effect that wars have on society. In the latter part of the 19th century the experience of warfare changed due to advances in weapons technology. The defensive tactic of trench warfare gained new importance. The most prolific use of trench warfare occured on the Western Front in the First World War, but it was during the siege of Petersburg in the American Civil War that extensive trenches were first used with technologically advanced weapons. By comparing the siege of Petersburg with the Western Front, it is clear that similar conditions elicited similar emotional reactions from soldiers. The most common reactions were fraternization and war neurosis. Fraternization was more prevelant during the siege of Petersburg than at other times during the war. Fraternization was also common on the Western Front. The reasons for this vary, but are all linked to the nature of trench warfare. War neurosis was also caused by the conditions of the trenches. It was a bigger problem at Petersburg and on the Western Front than it was for soldiers in other conflicts. Trench warfare created these emotional reactions.
Files	Filename       Size       Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)     28.8 Modem   56K Modem   ISDN (64 Kb)   ISDN (128 Kb)   Higher-speed Access    THESIS.PDF 428.56 Kb 00:01:59 00:01:01 00:00:53 00:00:26 00:00:02

If you have questions or technical problems, please Contact DLA.