Military Youth Education in First World War - Idea(s), Organization(s), Experience(s)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Markus Raasch
• Subject Area: Modern and Contemporary History
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 457244068

The project scrutinizes social militarization in First World War. The astonishingly little-worked field of military youth education, which primarily includes school gymnastics lessons and training in youth companies, serves as a probe. The special thing is on two levels: On the one hand, an institutional historical perspective is chosen which takes discourses and structural questions as important as experiences, imprinting and character formation. On the other hand, the German case is treated in a particularly profound manner and at the same time it is consistently asked about transnational developments. So – beyond all the theories of German “Sonderweg” – In-depth knowledge of First World War’s social history, the supposed existence of national “war cultures” and the (dis-)continuity of European history, also with regard to the rise of National Socialism, can be expected. The project is consequently based on an exceptionally broad foundation of sources: First of all, contemporary literature, especially those from thought leaders, experts and opponents of military youth education, but also practical instructions, training books and relevant poetry and song collections, then administrative file material, which takes regional differences into account and, last but not least, self-testimonials, this means Field post, diaries and memories.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants