William P. Gonzalez

  "We are fighting blindly... without knowledge, without preparation, and with no clear plan. We are throwing men into the fire simply to satisfy political demands." — General Mikhail Alekseyev, 1915 Russia in 1914 was in turmoil because of the Tsar's lack of military and critical thinking skills. This resulted in a lack of discipline for a military that was divided by adversaries. Lack of control of the military caused poor communication and leadership, which resulted in a series of defeats on the battlefield. Therefore, talented but untrained soldiers were used as collateral damage, which caused low morale that resulted in desertions, mutinies, and revolution. Therefore, Tsar Nicolas was not capable of running a modern government or leading a military to reach Russia's objective. If you mean the impact that war posters had as a psychological weapon to sway public opinion for government objectives, yes,   Phagan, Patricia, and Peter van Alfen, editors. The Art of De...

 "A house divided against itself cannot stand"- Abraham Lincoln Frank H. Simonds' objective in writing "The Lusitania Anniversary" was to sway public opinion. Simonds uses symbolism to portray a picture in Americans' minds about the consequences that will be faced if Germany wins the war. However, the German government gave warning that any ship entering the war zone will be subjected to an attack. Consequently, the passengers were used as human shields for the transportation of munitions for Britain. Britain's objective in allowing a ship to cross the Atlantic may have been to get America involved in the war. Therefore, responsibility should lie partially with Great Britain because they should have known the vulnerabilities those passengers faced in going into a war zone. When a country is at war, there is no morality; it is just what the winners say it is. The U-boat commander who sank the ship had no remorse.

 “The men had to be able to see their general.”- Lieutenant General Ralph Huebner Lieutenant General Ralph Huebner is an example of how World War I shaped military careers. Ralph Huebener worked his way up in rank from a private to a general by fighting in some of the fiercest battles in American history. At the same time, the Army changed as America became a world power. The army now awarded commissions to soldiers who showed courage, leadership, and tactical skills on the battlefield. A soldier who had experience saved lives on the battlefield. The army needed leaders such as General Hubner, whose experience helped bring America to victory in two different wars.  “The men had to be able to see their general.”- Lieutenant General Ralph Huebner World War 1 changed how military institutions gave commissions to their servicemen. The United States Army started giving promotions based on courage, tactical skills, and leadership. General Huebner is an example of an improved merit s...

  "During World War I, the impact of the poster as a means of communication was greater than at any other time during history." — Library of Congress The government's use of war posters should not be underestimated. The goal of war posters was to help stir public opinion, where the general public could help either by enlisting or buying war bonds. War posters were used as a psychological weapon targeting the public's emotions, such as shame, guilt, and patriotism. A person's morality was also targeted, drawing a line between good and evil. Therefore, conflict-era messages were a powerful tool that governments used to reach the minds and hearts of the public so they could help in the war effort one way or another.

“The wounded soldier must be made to feel that he is not a cripple, but a man who can still be of use to himself and to society.”-Dr.Albee It is a travesty that, through world-changing events, physicians, scientists, and psychiatrists create innovations that help people live better lives. Physical therapy gave hope to tens of thousands of veterans who may not have lived a normal life. Soldiers needed functionality after getting wounded, which led the way to rehabilitation medicine and physical therapy. However, WW1 was the gateway for numerous medical inventions such as plastic surgery, blood transfusions, triage systems, and PTSD. Therefore, through WW1, doctors started realizing that treating the person was equally important as treating the wound. When wounded veterans feel valued emotionally and spiritually, they make an effort in their recovery to be part of society again. “The wounded soldier must be made to feel that he is not a cripple, but a man who can still be of use to himse...

  “No fortress can be so strong that it will not yield to time and patience.” — Jean-Jacques Rousseau In today's world, the German officers who gave orders that sent hundreds of men to their deaths by hunkering down in the tunnels would face court martial, or there would be a war crimes investigation. The soldiers found a false sense of security in the well-lit, fortified tunnel system. Officers should have been informed about the limitations of the tunnel's protection and how soldiers can survive in them if a bombardment happens. Wolf's letters describe the tunnel system, where he was probably surprised that it became a death trap. Therefore, the lessons learned from this tragedy are ethical, military, and psychological. This signifies how technology cannot replace human intuition.   “No fortress can be so strong that it will not yield to time and patience.” —  Jean-Jacques Rousseau Hundreds of German soldiers were killed because of the military orders from their office...