Great War Letters

World War I or the “Great War” as it was known then brought about a profound connection between the home and war fronts in France. The letters of Paul and Marie Pireaud sent throughout the war give fantastic insight into the relationship between the fronts and the ramifications each front had on the other. The home and war fronts in France were intimately connected through social and economic ties corresponded primarily through letters that enabled soldiers and citizens like Marie and Paul to connect on different levels. This connection endured the duration of the war and showcased the importance literacy had on maintaining both fronts. Socially, the use of letter writing between the two fronts created a strong bond that facilitated the expression
This is important because it brought the fronts closer together by informing each party of the conditions experienced by their loved one. As the war progressed, the massive transfer of information regarding location, troop movements, living conditions, and state of morale communicated to the home front made it difficult for army censors to contain information. This is important because it showcases the large scale in which soldiers wrote about crucial details in their deployment against the behest of the censors. Naturally the correspondence of couples like Paul and Marie saw the expression of deep and intimate feelings to their partner because spoken conversations were far and few in between(Hanna, 243-244). This is important because it enabled couples to feel closer to their partner in spite of the large distance that separated them. In the case of Paul and Marie, each of them tried to write a letter each day to keep in as close contact as possible to minimize the misery of separation(Hanna, 29). The letters also inspired hope to the soldiers that received them by reminding them of their loved ones back home