Why didnt more soldiers in WW1 desert?

Question

i would have run off in the first few days, what would you have done?

Answer 1

in ww1 deserters got shot, some of those shot were suffering from shellshock, post traumatic stress as we call it now. Some of those who didn't get shot entered a dream world and never came back, permanent gaga land.

they saw explosions happening among them, friends dying next to them. If the cold,wet and disease didn't get them first.
some of the officers has no experience only rich parents.
which saw some troops ordered to climb out the trenches get in formation and march across no-mans land in straight lines . which gave the germans plenty of time to get out the machine guns and open fire. at easy targets.

What would i do??? in world war one , with 21st century knowledge... quickly invent better body armour. then do my best to stay alive. a lot of screaming might be involved like as already been suggested.

Answer 2

They shot them for desertion, even if they had shell shock, which most deserters did.

Many of the soldiers in WW1 were part of "Pals" battalions. They were from the same towns and factories and knew each other well. They went into action together and often died together.

In combat your life depends on the actions of those around you, so you all have to stick together.

Those are some of the reasons there were not more deserters (in the British and Allies forces at least - the Russians eventually mutinied)

Answer 3

1) They had a sense of comraderie/duty etc not to let ones unit/friends down.
2) They officers were issued with pistols, not to shoot the enemy, but to remind their men which way the enemy were.
3) Those who did desert were usually executed in full view of the other men of their unit just to remind them that it would not be a very good idea for them to do likewise.
4) Military training requires a great deal of dehumanising and brainwashing part of which is designed to prevent soldiers behaving like human beings are running in fear of their lives.

Note: somebody mention the 'Pals Battalions'. These took 2 years to train and 2 days to die (on the Somme). After the Somme there were no 'Pals Battalions' and the survivors were incorporated into the rest of the regular army.

Answer 4

The soldiers were raised with sense of duty and patriotism to their country. I think deserters were shot.

Answer 5

People had a sense of duty back in these days ,also you could be shot by firing squad for desertion.

Answer 6

The penalty for desertion was death so they though it was better to go down fighting also many believed in what they were fighting for

Answer 7

not too many places to run in the trenches

oh me, I would have stayed and been gassed and shot to bits

what a terrible war

have a good day

Answer 8

Because all our front line forces, on land, on sea, or air are all trained to kill. Running away is not encouraged especialy in war, any war.

Answer 9

They were raised with a sense of duty to country back then. I would have stood my ground with them.

Answer 10

Patriotism and a sense of duty.