‘over the top’ lesson starter 1.write a short description of what a soldier would see standing...
TRANSCRIPT
‘Over the Top’Lesson starter1. Write a short description of what a
soldier would see standing inside a WWI trench.
Today we will learn about going ‘over the
top’
Today we will…
• Understand what was meant by going ‘over the top’
• Understand the meaning of a ‘breakthrough’
• After days or weeks of little activity, Generals would order soldiers to go ‘over the top’
• Soldiers were literally sent out of the trench to charge at the enemy trench
• Hours of bombardment by artillery would come before going ‘over the top’
• Generals hoped a breakthrough would finally come
• Going ‘over the top’ was rarely successful as soldiers were mowed down by machine gun fire
• The order would come to retreat and soldiers would try to get back to their own trench alive
Did a breakthrough come?
Task 1Generals hoped to achieve a ______ through
sending soldiers ________. For hours before they would ______ the enemy trench Many were killed by machine gun fire and waited
for the order to ________. The tactic was unsuccessful and _________ continued on
The Western Front.
STALEMATEBREAKTHROUGH BOMBARD
RETREAT OVER THE TOP
Task Two
• You will watch All Quiet on The Western Front, a film about life in the trenches
• The opening scenes show one of the best depictions of trench life and going ‘over the top’
• You will have a question sheet to fill in as you watch.
Attitude Question• Source A was written by John Clark, a
British citizen at the outbreak of WW1.
Everyone in Britain was excited at the outbreak of war. I was one of the first to join up and did so with my old school mates. I was optimistic about the war and couldn’t wait to fight the Germans. I thought the war would be over quickly.
What was the attitude of John Clark to the outbreak of WW1? 3
How Fully Question• Source A was written by John Clark, a
British citizen at the outbreak of WW1.
Everyone in Britain was excited at the outbreak of war. I was one of the first to join up and did so with my old school mates. I was optimistic about the war and couldn’t wait to fight the Germans. I thought the war would be over quickly.
How fully does Source A describe the British public’s reaction to the outbreak of war in 1914?
4
How Useful Question• Source A was written by John Clark, a
British citizen at the outbreak of WW1.
Everyone in Britain was excited at the outbreak of war. I was one of the first to join up and did so with my old school mates. I was optimistic about the war and couldn’t wait to fight the Germans. I thought the war would be over quickly.
How useful is Source A as evidence of the British public’s reaction to the outbreak of war in 1914?
4
How useful is Source A as evidence of the British public’s reaction to the outbreak of war in 1914?
4
WHAT?
• What information is in the source?
• What does the source tell us that helps answer the question?
WHEN?
• Look at the date above the source.
• When was the source written – at the time of the event?