Talking about the everyday experiences of ordinary people and soldiers in the First World War, the experiences of colonial men and women, and why PTSD was considered a 'syndrome of femininity'. Discussion of the myth and absurdity of Czech national identity and the positives and negatives of nationalism.

Emma is doing a PhD in History at the University of Oxford where she is researching Czech national identity.

Timestamps:

(1:30) Roots of WWI and could it have been avoided?

(16:10) Did ordinary people hate other nations before WWI and what motivated them to fight?

(29:07) A typical day of a soldier in a trench - fighting, food, entertainment, diseases, relationships

(50:35) Shell shock

(58:20) Feminist and post-colonial views of WWI - experiences of women and colonial soldiers

(1:25:00) The benefits and helpful inventions of WWI

(1:33:55) National identities and their positive and negative aspects

(1:42:20) Czech national identity and its origins

(2:02:08) Emma's personal story, values, life goals