Assess how useful Sources C and D would be for an historian studying the impact of total war on the home fronts during World War I.
In your answer, consider the perspectives provided by the TWO sources and the reliability of each one.
Both sources C and D would be very useful to an historian studying the impact of total war on the home fronts during World War I.
Source C is a primary source from a former American ambassador, James Gerard's "My Four Years in Germany." This source would be useful to a historian as it describes the rations that were applied to meat, potatoes, milk, sugar, butter and soap in Germany. It also explains the class separation between the rich and poor as the rich's life style did not change all that much as they were still able to eat well just for higher prices. This would have separated the classes even more than before, with two extremes- the really rich and the really poor as the working class suffered the worst effects of the new rations. The source explains women's roles when the men went to war and how public places such as theatres and picture galleries were closed which is also useful because of the indication that life was very different from how they had originally anticipated. Originally the ideology was that the war would be over quickly and it, as it had done in previous wars, would not affect the home front, however as the war progressed the home front was met with a serious reality check. All luxuries were no longer available and all metals and coal were focused at the war effort. The source describes this by stating the lack of coal and explaining the reasons for the public places closing was so the coal was not wasted. The source is only focused on the German home front and does not give an indication on the situation in other countries.
Source D is equally useful, but from a British perspective instead. The source is a British propaganda poster from 1917 demonstrating a woman cutting bread and a British...