History
During World War I, soldiers often faced extreme danger and fear in the trenches. Sometimes, individuals chose to leave their posts without permission, which is called desertion. Others refused to follow orders from their leaders, which is known as mutiny. Both actions were seen as very dangerous to the army.
Cowardice was another charge that could lead to punishment. This happened if a soldier was seen as failing to act bravely during an attack. Because commanders needed every man to fight, they often used strict discipline to keep soldiers focused on the mission.
Many of these soldiers were young and had never seen war before. The pressure of constant shelling and lack of food often caused great suffering. While history books record their actions, many people today look at these cases with empathy, wondering how the mental toll of war affected their choices.
