Soldiers of WW1: Superheroes, Heroes or Common People
WW1 was the worst of our history. The number of the dead soldiers remains the higher ever!
We can find details about WW1 in letters of soldiers , documents , newspapers and interviews. The order was "fight to the death". But they had to fight under the most extreme stress : witnessing daily the loss of their friends , the brutality of the war , the mental and physical collapse , the chemical weapons! Hundreds were unable to cope , many were driven crazy and several ran away.
In order not to bring shame on their country 306 British , 48 German , 600 French , 13 Belgians , were executed from their commanders and their names still do not appear on official war memorials.
We have to mention that military courts could also - and so did they - decide their execution , despite the fact that many of them were only 16 or 17 years old and had lied about their age , in order to join the army. Military death penalty was outlawed in 1930. The real issue is not only about the convictions , but about the severity of the sentences.
Because of the stigma and disgrace for ''cowardice'' their families were let down. Many of their relatives still fight to win them a posthumous pardon (a minority has succeeded), which the other side considers as inappropriate and impossible.
Those who did survive were lucky , but they were changed forever. Injured, if not physically at least psychologically, suffered from shell shock - a post-traumatic stress disorder - and from memories of the unforgettable situation in the battle fields.
So under those circumstances I consider them all heroes!
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