Röda byxor och vatten till knäna : En fallstudie i Sven Bloms upplevelse av det första världskriget.

Sammanfattning: This essay explores a previously rather unexplored part of Swedish military history in the form of a Swedish volunteer in the great war named Sven Blom. The essay focuses on his mindset and thoughts regarding the war, his part in it as a combatant, and how these experiences changed his mindset regarding the war over time. Sven Blom, a Swedish man in his 30s, who lived in France at the outbreak of hostilities, chosed to side with his new countrymen and enlists as a volunteer in the French Foreign Legion. His enthusiasm and patriotism regarding the war changed slowly through his combat experiences. After he sustaines a serious case of frostbite throughout one of his feet, he is sent to recover at a hospital. He recovers, but does not enlist again. His mindset regarding the war is changed forever. The main source material of this essay is the two war-diaries written in Swedish by Sven Blom starting right before the declaration of hostilities to the time when he was discharged from the French foreign Legion. To analyze the material several books are used. Such as Svenskar i Krig, by Lars Gyllenhaal and Lennart Westberg, Det första världskriget by John Keegan, Ivan Lönnberg by Sören Björklund, Eldens återsken by Lina Sturfelt and Fallen Soldiers written by George L. Mosse.