Studies in the Social and Cultural History of Modern Warfare: The Broken Years by Sumpf Alexandre

Author:Sumpf, Alexandre
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2021-12-30T00:00:00+00:00

A Selective Retraining

In the spring of 1917, a poster titled ‘Work Will Restore You to Life and Happiness’ invaded the walls of Moscow’s streets. Underneath this engaging slogan formulated by the Society for Work Assistance to Disabled Veterans for its fund-raising event of 10 and 11 May 1917, passers-by could see a disabled man who had nothing in common with the profiles of those of years past. Viewed from the side with his crutch propped up behind him, a stocky man is seated cross-legged, even though the lower part of his left limb is missing. The sketch eschews any attempt at realism, thus making the absence of uniform, medal, and any military context stand out. Discharged from the army, having returned to civilian life as someone who has recovered without an artificial limb, the man appears to be leaning over his manual task in the environment of his workshop. Calling out in familiar terms in the context of democratisation, the poster was intended first of all for the disabled veterans, who for the most part were reluctant to follow a training programme. In their advocacy, reformist activists combined an appeal to patriotic duty with the prospect of a second chance, playing on both moral and psychological notions.

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