Final answer:
Soldiers' experiences in World War I were marked by the stark horror of trench warfare, revealing the futility of conflict and leading to profound psychological trauma. The war's impact on society, culture, and individuals' worldview was immense, and these experiences were widely reflected in literature, poetry, and art.
Step-by-step explanation:
The experience of soldiers during World War I was one of unprecedented horror and disillusionment. The initial enthusiasm that many intellectuals and citizens displayed at the outbreak quickly dissipated as the realities of trench warfare, with its mud, cold, and senseless slaughter, became apparent.
Soldiers on all sides encountered the constant threat of death from machine guns, artillery, and gas attacks, with little opportunity for valor in the face of industrial-scale killing.
The war's brutality was reflected in cultural works such as the novels 'A Farewell to Arms' by Ernest Hemingway and 'All Quiet on the Western Front' by Erich Maria Remarque, which captured the futility and absurdity of conflict.
Furthermore, the shared misery of the trenches brought together individuals from diverse social classes, leading to unique interactions and altered perspectives on society. The trauma of combat, particularly 'shell-shock' (now known as PTSD), left deep psychological scars on many veterans, as portrayed in Virginia Woolf's 'Mrs. Dalloway'.
Despite limited combat experiences for some, such as many Americans who joined later in the war, the overall impact of the Great War on soldiers and civilians alike was profound and left an indelible mark on the collective memory of participating nations.
Cultural critiques of the war arose through the poetry of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, and the art of Käthe Kollwitz, expressing the despair and mourning of a generation. The 'modern crisis' that followed the war was a direct reflection of the collective trauma and disillusionment that arose from the horrific experiences of soldiers at the front.