https://www.ima-usa.com/products/original-french-wwi-entrenching-shovel-dated-1917?variant=26168178117
Standard French Trench Shovel, 1917. I choose this artifact as trench warfare was the hallmark of WWI and the tools that helped to build the trenches are just as important. |
Trench
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1911_pistol#/media/File:M1911A1.png
A Remington Rand version of the Model 1911A1 I chose this artifact due to the lasting impact that it had on the world. This design was incredible for its time and the fact that it has been the choice of militaries the world over for many years to come shows that.
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M1911The M1911 was the standard issue sidearm of the United States during the First World War, and many more preceding it. This firearm represents the explosion in technological advancement preceding and during the Great War. The design was simple yet reliable and incredibly cheap to manufacture. The attributes were staples of WWI. Although, this weapon stands out among others. This firearm has been in production for over 100 years as of late. The lasting legacy of this firearm shows the impact the first World War had.
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https://bit.ly/2To9qsA
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PropagandaHaving the public's favor is an important part of any time of crisis, especially when a war is raging. Due to the horrible nature of WWI, soldiers were dying faster than they could be replaced. In a desperate measure, large countries would resort to propaganda to sway the public's minds. Some were to distract from the war going on, and others meant to inspire. The ladder aimed to recruit more and more soldiers for the ever growing fighting. Using fear mongering, these posters were plastered every where, meant to inspire young men into fighting for their country.
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British Mark VThe tank was the metaphorical peak of war time technological advancement. A hulking mass of steel and firepower. When first deployed, the Germans ran in fear over what they saw as an imperishable mobile fort. While it was soon found out how to slow/disable or even destroy these beasts, their success was nothing to scoff at. These blueprints laid out the foundation of future warfare, focused on mobility and speed (German Blitzkrieg).
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I choose this artifact because World War 1 influenced an arms race that lasted over 50 years, and along that race, there have been milestones to look at and reflect. The Mark V is a perfect example. The technological peak of advancement during the first World War showed that there was a much larger area to explore in warfare, other than infantry.
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The Vickers Machine GunThe Vickers Machine gun was used for all of the first World War. The gun was especially effective in defensive positions, which included encampments and trenches. The firearm combined with the dreaded "no mans land" proved to be a fatal combination. It cut down enemy advancements at an unprecedented rate. The mounted machine gun proved to be an extremely effective design and the Vickers Machine was used as a footprint for future weapons of mass destruction such as the German made MG-42, which was used to great effect during the Normandy Landings during WWII.
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I choose this artifact because of its use in future conflicts and how it shaped combat as a whole. In the wars preceding WWI, defensive strategies were used to great effect. Taking advantage of the massive firepower provided by the mounted machine guns.
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Interesting Sources of Information
Podcasts:
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YouTube Videos:
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This is by far no means a comprehensive list, but these are the sources that I personally found very useful.