WW I

[Steve - K4HX]

The Great War started 100 years ago. Some numbers on the devastation.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11004301/World-War-One-in-numbers-the-shocking-figures-behind-the-slaughter.html

[ka4koe]

"The World Crisis", Churchill....highly recommended reading on the Great War.

[KA0HCP]

I came across an Italian war cemetery near Trieste and the Italia/Slovenia border.  It ranged up the slide of a small mountain in the Dolomites.  I was taken aback at the number of headstones and the size of it.

[KA0HCP]

One day in the life of a frontline radio operator, British Infantry
http://www.firstworldwar.com/diaries/awirelessoperator.htm

[KB2WIG]

A good read.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guns_of_August

klc

[n1ps]

Yes a family feud started it.

[W6TOM]

   I have a copy of Guns of August given to me when I was very young, it's been a long time since I read it, this might be a good time to reread.

   My father was born in 1917, last child in a big Irish family in Cambridge, Ma. The following year his brother, the oldest of the children, born in 1895, died of wounds in France, he was in the US Army. Just six weeks before it all ended on November 11th.

   My father named me after his brother.

   A Century, a long time, lots of changes but Human Folly remains.

[K1JJ]

For a real heavy dose, these WWI  documentaries on U-Tube done by the BBC are some of the best I've seen.  There are at least 25 in this series. Each succeeding video (1-25) can be clicked on at the top right of the screen.  Excellent narrative detail.


Beginning series 1 & 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXhiagFG8KE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqW1cH_q0EQ


There are other WWI videos listed at the first link too.


Also, this Monday night at 9PM EST on the AHC (American Heros Channnel) there will be the second in a series on WW1. (All new)    They are using original B&W film dubbed with color. The first show last Monday was excellent.


It's amazing how many parallels to WWII there are. I can just imagine the horror of folks who had just suffered thru WWI having to do it all over again 20 years later.  Such insanity.  And it could easily happen again. In 100 years, nothing  has changed with basic human nature.


T

[WA2OLZ]

Found this this afternoon while browsing international news:

http://www.watoday.com.au/national/fort-nepeans-sergeant-john-purdue-fired-first-shot-of-world-war-i-20140803-3d2aw.html

[Steve - K4HX]

A more recent book on WW 1 is The First World War by John Keegan. I think the History Channel also had a multi-part series based on the book. It's a little light for some (only one volume for such a large subject), but a fairly easy read for the non hardcore historian or militarist.

[K1JJ]

I'll check out that book, Steve.   Tnx.

After viewing  14 of the 25 videos series, (about 8 hours)  I'm starting to realize how little I knew about WWI and how lopsided my WWII  knowledge is.

This series has about 16 hours of information and is about the best I've seen.  

A shocker:  The French suffered  995,000 men killed, wounded or missing in the first three months of WW1. And many more later.  Just imagine the USA losing that many men in three months.  

1.25 million Europeans later died or wounded at the Somme battle.

In 1915-16 the British sent in 1.5 million newly trained men and within the first two months lost 360,000... and more later.   The Russians and Germans experienced similar loss rates.

There were many, many  land and sea battles all over the world where sometimes 100,000+ men were casualties.  I always thought WWI was a tamer war than WWII and was limited to trench warfare in France, but WWI really was a whirlwide ass kicker.  

The parts about the introduction of the first tank at the Somme in 1916 and gas in 1915 are interesting.


Don't miss this series.    #1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXhiagFG8KE


T

[N0WEK]

I'll check out that book, Steve.   Tnx.

After viewing  14 of the 25 videos series, (about 8 hours)  I'm starting to realize how little I knew about WWI and how lopsided my WWII  knowledge is.

This series has about 16 hours of information and is about the best I've seen.  

A shocker:  The French suffered  995,000 men killed, wounded or missing in the first three months of WW1. And many more later.  Just imagine the USA losing that many men in three months.  

1.25 million Europeans later died or wounded at the Somme battle.

In 1915-16 the British sent in 1.5 million newly trained men and within the first two months lost 360,000... and more later.   The Russians and Germans experienced similar loss rates.

There were many, many  land and sea battles all over the world where sometimes 100,000+ men were casualties.  I always thought WWI was a tamer war than WWII and was limited to trench warfare in France, but WWI really was a whirlwide ass kicker.  

The parts about the introduction of the first tank at the Somme in 1916 and gas in 1915 are interesting.


Don't miss this series.    #1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXhiagFG8KE


T

I've gone through the first five episodes and it's a great history lesson, but hell on my productivity!

Addicting, as well as horrifying!

[K1JJ]

I've gone through the first five episodes and it's a great history lesson, but hell on my productivity!
Addicting, as well as horrifying!

Hi Greg,

Yes, it's addicting, a time sink and can be depressing.  It's hard to believe it actually happened. Millions of young men in their primes - gone. And all those elderly, pompous generals and statesmen talking about the honor of war and fighting for freedom and the motherland. And all the new machine guns being tested out on men's chests. And those giant artillery guns. And countries accepting "total war" turning their whole economy into a war materials machine.

Throughout the war, especially in the beginning, I noticed trouble escalated because of old treaties and alliances for countries to stick together, regardless of who they were fighting.

It reminds me of a rowdy bar where someone walks in and starts a fight.  Another guy jumps in cuz he is friends with one of them. Then one by one more guys back up their friends until the whole joint is in bloody chaos.

T

[ka4koe]

WW1 Apocalypse, tonight, parts 1 and 2, American Heros Channel.

[N0WEK]

Try also "Paths of Glory" 1957 starring Kirk Douglas and directed by Stanley Kubrick...

http://former.imdb.com/title/tt0050825/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_10

[N8ETQ]

  A&E Made a movie called the lost Battalion a few years ago.

       "Caution: This will kill your Day!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLhasKqP3Yw&index=1&list=PL5898DA1E402BA636

Sorry.. Correct URL ...

/Dan

[n1ps]

There have been certain benefits in consequence of wars.  The list is quite extensive.  Perhaps my favorite is this one of WW1  :

http://www.ozy.com/flashback/birth-of-the-bra/32740.article?utm_source=C1&utm_medium=pp&utm_campaign=pp&hpt=hp_bn8

p