Printed Page 405-0(cont.)

SOURCES IN CONVERSATION

Sources for Western Society: Printed Page 405

25-2 |Klaxon Horn Used to Warn of Gas Attacks (1917)

In this 1917 photograph, a French soldier wearing a gas mask mans a Klaxon horn used to warn his fellow soldiers of an impending gas attack. As you examine the photograph, focus on the details that reveal aspects of industrial warfare. What does this photograph tell you about the differences between World War I and earlier conflicts?

image

Illustration from The Illustrated War News, 24 January 1917, French photographer (20th century) / Private Collection / The Stapleton Collection / The Bridgeman Art Library.

READING QUESTIONS

  1. Question

    What light does the photograph shed on the role of new military technology in World War I?

  2. Question

    How does the photograph reflect the anonymity of modern warfare?

  3. Question

    What does the photograph suggest to you about the experience of ordinary soldiers in World War I?