Session 3: Global war experiences

Introduction

This session was written by Annika Mombauer.

The First World War was a global war which affected and drew in people from around the globe, as soldiers, carriers, nurses and civilians who suffered from the direct and indirect consequences of war. In this session, you will consider war experiences of African-American, First National Canadian and French colonial soldiers before examining two case studies: the war experiences of African-American soldiers in the infantry regiment known as the ‘Harlem Hellfighters’, and those of an indigenous native Canadian, Mike Mountain Horse. We also look at war time attitudes towards non-white combatants by examining French and German views which reveal similarities in the prejudices that existed.