Thursday 4 September 2014

More About The First World War


Good afternoon, I am doing another post about the First World War, yes this topic does interest me a lot and I have a couple of more posts in the works but for today you get this.

Ok the First World War started in August 1914 I think we all know that but do you know who the war was between, or what caused the war to start with, my research says it had a lot to do with the decisions taken my statesmen and generals during the July Crisis of 1914 caused by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie.

When people think of the war they will usually think of the trenches which were massive, the trench system stretched from the Swiss mountains to the English channel. We can envision the mud full trenches with the barb wire, well I can.

We all know that the winners of the war were the Allies but what name was given to the other side, my daughter Jessica asked me that question not long ago while I was watching a show about the First World War so I had to look it up they were called the Central Powers which was composed of the following nations, Austria-Hungary who entered the war on the 28th July, the German Empire from the 1st August, the Ottoman Empire who secretly entered the war on the 2nd August and openly on the 29th October and there was the Kingdom of Bulgaria who joined the war on the 14th October 1914

The war ran from the 28th July 1914 to the 11th November 1918 so it lasted 4 years 3 months and 1 week, we all should know about Armistice Day which is the same day as Remembrance Day. The very first Armistice Day was held at Buckingham Palace on the morning of 11th November 1919, this would set the trend for a day of Remembrance for decades to come. In fact here in Australia and I know in New Zealand as well on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we stop for a minutes silence to remember those in all wars that have died.

So many died and really it was just the start of things as I am sure many people would agree that the Second World War was a continuation of the First World War.

I wonder what the British soldier who could have killed Hitler but didn't would think later on after Hitler came to power and caused so much destruction and death. Private Henry Tandey couldn't have know what type of man Hitler was or would become. Yes the above photo is of Private Tandey,

Private Tandey would become the most decorated British soldier of the First World War, his courage and bravery in his determination to take down the enemy and rescue his wounded comrades earned him a chestful of medals including the distinguished Victoria Cross and Military Medal. 

The below photo is of Tandey carrying a wounded comrade. 



10 comments:

  1. An interesting article. All wars are horrible.

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  2. How might Tandey have killed Hitler? I didn't know the trenches stretched so far, and I didn't know the term "Central Powers."

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Tandey had Hitler in his gun sight and because he didn't consider Hitler a threat to his life there and then he didn't take the shot that would had killed Hitler.......Good to know I am not the only one who didn't know the term Central powers

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  3. The Tandy question is like the one that goes, "If you could go back in time to when Hitler was a baby in a crib, would you kill him to save all those lives?" In other words, you can know what you'd do unless you were wearing the shoes.

    And you are so right about WWII being a continuation of WWI. As one diplomat said at the signing of the Versailles treaty, " This is not a peace, this is a 20-year truce."

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    1. Yeah know one knows what they would have done in a situation unless they are there, no one knew Hitler would become the monster he was

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  4. Dear Jo-Anne, thank you for this posting on WW1. I look forward to more from you. I've been doing a little reading on the war since this is the centennial of the year it began--as you say, on July 28, 1914. That war--the war to end all wars--killed or maimed a generation of men. A generation whose wisdom wasn't there for WWII.

    I don't know if you like to read novels, but if you do, you might be interested in the following: The Massie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear (the first book is called "Massie Dobbs." The Bess Crawford series by Charles Todd. The Ian Ruthledge series by Charles Todd. The four-book series by Anne Perry. Just a few novels that have helped me realize the true horror of "No Man's Land" and the trenches. Peace.

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    1. Thanks I will have a look for those books, I do indeed like to read I have just written them down, not only do I like to read but my dad is doing a lot of reading about the World Wars and he might like them as well.

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  5. And Armistice Day is the same as Remembrance Day is the same as Veterans Day.
    WWI/WWII: the two part mini-series which was anything but "mini" and neither was the war to end all wars.
    Great post. I read these to be educated, impressed (at your research skill), and depressed.
    Done, done, and done.

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    1. Thank you I knew that Armistice Day and Remembrance Day was the same day didn't know about Veterans Day.

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