[Vocabulary] what is the meaning of "hats on sticks" here?

[Farshad.021]

Hey guys,

My question as you can read in the title is about the meaning of "hats on sticks".
It's from the newly released TV mini series called "The Passing Bells" which is about WW1.
The context is here:

A: It's not much of a war if we don't hate each other.
A: I don't think I did when we got here, When it started, I just thought of them as hats on sticks. Like a game at the fairground.

(They are Germans and are talking about the British)

Thanks in advance,

 

[Raymott]

It seems that it's meant literally. He did not attribute any human value to them.

 

[Farshad.021]

It seems that it's meant literally. He did not attribute any human value to them.

Thank you for answering,
Dear friend, in this text, what is the underlined part referring to?
Is he saying: When we got here, I didn't hate them?

A: It's not much of a war if we don't hate each other.
A: I don't think I did when we got here

 

[SoothingDave]

Thank you for answering,
Dear friend, in this text, what is the underlined part referring to?
Is he saying: When we got here, I didn't hate them?

A: It's not much of a war if we don't hate each other.
A: I don't think I did when we got here

Yes.

 

[Tdol]

My question as you can read in the title is about the meaning of "hats on sticks".

They were just targets to shoot at, like a fairground competition. He didn't hate them or feel anything about them.