If you are a secondary school pupil (or if you know one), consider entering our First World War foreign language writing competition (deadline 30th May 2014).
The internet has made it easy to access a wide range of First World War resources in diverse languages. If you’re interested in exploring the First World War in German, here are 10 sites that should inspire you.
This is simply a stunning project and well worth a look. Europeana has collected items related to the First World War from across Europe and digitalised them. There are diary entries, postcards, letters, photographs, maps and objects, each with accompanying information where available. The handwriting in the letters is often difficult to read (do give it a go) but the other information allows you to explore primary resources from afar. They also have a highlighted collection of previously untold stories from the First World War here.
- The BPB (Federal Agency for Civic Education)
This is a German government agency but I’ve found it an invaluable resource on a number of topics. The BPB’s section on the First World War gives insight into the German side of the First World War – there is section on domestic and foreign policy, as well as documentation on soldiers’ experiences of war. The website is well worth a visit for the photographs it includes – both showing “everyday life” and the greyer elements of war.
This is a commemoration site but contains First World War photographs and teaching material for teaching the First World War on its “Downloads” page. There is a vast amount of teaching material with excerpts from soldiers’ letters and poetry. Some of the documents are multilingual. This is not a good site if you want a quick overview as it’s not wonderfully organised but when you do encounter information, it can be a very interesting read.
The Lebendiges Museum Online has a lot of information on the First World War, including information on propaganda and the naval blockade.
Deutsche Geschichten provides information and media resources on German history from 1890 to 2005. Their section on the First World War period is wide-ranging with some interesting audio and video material.
- Letters and diary entries
A number of individuals and institutions have typed up German soldiers’ letters and diary entries. Search for “Feldpostbriefe” or “Tagebuch” and you will probably find something. Here are a few examples:
– Letters and diaries of Oberleutnant August Dänzer
– Theodor Zuhöne’s war diary
– Otto Borggräfe’s diary
- Süddeutsche Zeitung
Süddeutsche Zeitung has published an incredible collection of First World War photographs.
http://www.sz-photo.de/suddeutsche-zeitung-photo/kalender/erster-weltkrieg/
- Austria-Hungary in the First World War
I could find surprisingly few resources in German or English on Austria-Hungary in the First World War. Here’s a couple I did find:
On Vienna in the First World War: https://erster-weltkrieg.wien.gv.at/site/
An English resource: http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/minorpowers_ah.htm
- Resources in easier German
If you’re looking to teach the First World War in your German class and you’re concerned by the complexity of the language, Was ist was has a good selection of the material on the First World War aimed at younger children. It could easily be adapted for a language class.
10. A few more…
http://www.gallipoli1915.de/ (Detailed information on German involvement in the Battle of Gallipoli)
http://mises.org/daily/4308 (English information on the effects of the British naval blockade on the German home front)
http://tiny.cc/xj17ex (German information on the German home front)
Evident Language 