This thesis examines the conceptualisation of ‘civilian morale’ as a military idea in Germany and the United Kingdom between 1919 and 1939, arguing that the First World War played a major in morale...Show moreThis thesis examines the conceptualisation of ‘civilian morale’ as a military idea in Germany and the United Kingdom between 1919 and 1939, arguing that the First World War played a major in morale’s emergence within military theory. Adopting a hybrid approach to total war theory, the thesis employs the ideal-types of total mobilisation, total control, total aims, and total methods for its basic structure, but also looks at morale in relation to war as it was understood by contemporaries in a its historical context. Using the ideas of two prominent theorists: Erich Ludendorff and Basil Liddell Hart, this study concludes that morale was conceptualised as a new determinant factor in future warfare. It shows that the key lesson of the Great War had been that nation formed the core of any military effort, and whoever could successfully mobilise the nation possessed the greatest strength. Morale served as the variable that determined the success of this mobilising process. Controlling home front morale was thus essential for avoiding your own military collapse, but the theorised ways for achieving this differed between Liddell Hart and Ludendorff, which this thesis attributes to a dichotomy between Liddell Hart’s liberalist views as compared to Ludendorff’s totalitarian views. This divide also informed morale’s conceptualisation as a war target, with Ludendorff viewing the enemy’s morale as one of the elements that needed to be completely annihilated, with Liddell Hart conceptualising it as means for limiting war; the collapse of morale hastening the end of a war. Finally, this thesis examines two major technological innovations to come from the First World War: poison-gas and the airplane, and tracks how their role was theorised for use against morale as a war aim, underwriting civilian morale’s emergence as a concept of modern warfare.Show less
The writings of André Gide and Julien Green are very much influenced by the oppression they felt by the strict moral rules of Christianity during their childhood. The spiritual struggle they have...Show moreThe writings of André Gide and Julien Green are very much influenced by the oppression they felt by the strict moral rules of Christianity during their childhood. The spiritual struggle they have had during their entire life made them criticize the demanding character of religion, and of Protestantism in particular. The two writers are very different when it comes to their origins, their attitude towards religion and their literary style, but in these novels, it is clear that they elaborate the same theme: that of the excessive Christian morality. In this study, the focus will be on the way both authors underline and question the strict moral rules that the protagonists of their novels impose themselves. First, a closer look will be taken at the spiritual quest the authors have gone through themselves in respect to the religious heritage of their childhood. Secondly, the novels will be studied by focusing on the way Gide and Green deal with the theme of excessive morality and express the critical attitude they adopt towards these excesses of the Christian religion.Show less
