Marshall Poe
Marshall Poe
Adam Zientek, "A Thirst for Wine and War: The Intoxication of French Soldiers on the Western Front" (McGill-Queen's UP, 2024)
Adam Zientek, "A Thirst for Wine and War: The Intoxication of French Soldiers on the Western Front" (McGill-Queen's UP, 2024)
Adam Zientek, "A Thirst for Wine and War: The Intoxication of French Soldiers on the Western Front" (McGill-Queen's UP, 2024)
Friday 24th May 2024
Explore how daily wine rations affected French soldiers' morale during WWI in this fascinating episode with Adam Zientek.
45 minutes
Informative
Eye-opening
Educational
Engaging
Historical
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Get the buttons here!Wine and War: How Alcohol Shaped French Soldiers' Morale in WWI
Episode Overview
- French soldiers received daily wine rations to boost morale.
- Wine consumption was believed to have health benefits.
- Excessive drinking sometimes led to disciplinary issues.
- Trench journals reveal personal experiences with alcohol.
- Wine was seen as a patriotic duty and energiser for soldiers.
The wine ration will serve as a kind of omnipedicine that reverses the negative effects of trench life on soldiers.
Ever wondered how wine played a role in World War I? In this episode of New Books in Drugs, Addiction and Recovery, host Jana Byars sits down with Adam Zientek, Assistant Professor of History at UC Davis, to chat about his fascinating new book, 'A Thirst for Wine and War: The Intoxication of French Soldiers on the Western Front'.
This intriguing discussion takes you back to the trenches of the Great War, where every French soldier was given a daily ration of wine. Starting with a modest quarter litre in 1914, the ration grew to a full bottle by 1917. The idea was to keep morale high and make the grueling conditions more bearable. But did it really work? And what were the unintended consequences? Zientek dives into the logistics and reasoning behind this unique military strategy.
You'll learn about the French military's belief that wine could boost morale and even have health benefits, a concept supported by the French medical establishment at the time. He also touches on the darker side - how excessive alcohol consumption sometimes led to disciplinary issues and even mutinies. The conversation also explores the broader social and cultural implications of this practice.
Zientek shares personal anecdotes from soldiers' trench journals and memoirs, painting a vivid picture of life on the front lines. He explains how the regular wine ration was seen as a patriotic duty, energising soldiers and preparing them for battle. This episode is not just for history buffs; it's a compelling look at how substance use can shape human behaviour in extreme conditions. If you're curious about the intersection of war, culture, and addiction, this episode offers a captivating perspective.
So, why should you tune in? Because it's an eye-opening journey into a lesser-known aspect of World War I that will leave you thinking about the complex relationship between alcohol and society. Don't miss out on this chance to gain a deeper understanding of history through the lens of addiction and recovery.