The collection of oral histories that comprise this section focus on World War I. Otto von Hapsburg writes that in 1914, most Europeans had never had the experience of a war, since there had been a century without any major wars. Discuss with a group of classmates what impact their lack of war experience might have had on Europeans' attitude toward the war. Then discuss your own experiences. Most of you probably only remember the short-lived Gulf War. What other factors shape your attitudes toward war-e.g., war movies, video games, etc.
Technology can be a major factor in warfare.
Then read between the lines. Choose a new color and mark technological developments on your time line. Americans were fighting to make the world safe for democracy, but there was still a great deal of inequality at home. Although segregation is not at the heart of his account, Herbert Young describes his experiences serving in the French army because the American army did not accept African Americans. Generate a list of questions you would like to ask him about his experiences as a black American during the war and after the war.