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Post by jodak on Jul 28, 2016 6:06:20 GMT -6
I thought that we had a WW1 thread but couldn't find it. If there is one somewhere, sorry for the duplication. Anyway, I thought it worth noting that on this day (July 28) in 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on and initiated hostilities with Serbia, igniting the war. Although WW1 seems to be somewhat forgotten and overshadowed by WW2 today, it is my belief that it was immensely important in shaping our world of today and that we are still dealing with many consequences of it, such as the unrest in the Middle East.
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Post by Colt45 on Jul 28, 2016 7:47:25 GMT -6
Absolutely correct. The Sikes/Picot treaty and the division of the middle east in the 1919 Paris peace conference between the allies set the stage for the dislike and distrust of the west that persists to this day. The Arab revolt against the Turks was operating under the assumption that once they defeated the Turks, the British would leave the area and the Arabs would be independent. Once they realized the British and the allies had no intention of leaving the region and independence was not going to happen, all bets were off, and they still remember that betrayal, even to this day.
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Post by jodak on Aug 4, 2016 7:12:38 GMT -6
I was flipping through TV stations last night and came upon and watched The Guns of August, which I suppose was on in recognition of the anniversary of the start of the war. It brought out the convoluted spider web of treaties and alliances that resulted in a war that no one other than Austria-Hungary wanted. AH made demands on Serbia that they thought no nation could accept, but Serbia surprised them by accepting them. That threw AH for a loop, and they refused to accept the acceptance and declared war. All of the other pieces fell quickly into place.
July 28, 1914 1. Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia 2. The British government orders its warships to their various war bases.
July 29,1914 1. Germany orders mobilization and the concentration of the High Seas Fleet
August 1, 1914 1. Germany and Russia declare war against each other 2, German troops occupy neutral Luxembourg and delivers an ultimatum to Belgium demanding that German forces be allowed to move through Belgian territory unhindered to pre-empt a French attack on Germany. 3. The government of Belgium proclaims that it will maintain its armed neutrality in any conflict, a position guaranteed by Britain and France. 4. French President Raymond Poincare issues a general mobilization order
August 3, 1914 1. Russian troops invade Eastern Prussia 1. The Belgian government rejects the German ultimatum. Belgium receives confirmation from Britain and France that they will provide armed support to combat any German attack. 2. Great Britain signs an order of general mobilization 3. Germany declares war on France 4. Turkey declares its armed neutrality and mobilizes
August 4, 1914 1. Germany invades Belgium without a declration of war 2. Britain declares war on Germany as the Germans reject a British ultimatum demanding that they leave Belgian soil 3. Denmark declares neutrality 4. President Woodrow Wilson formally proclaims the neutrality of the United States; a position a vast majority of Americans favored
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Post by jodak on Aug 16, 2016 6:40:27 GMT -6
August 16, 1914
Austrian born Adolf Hitler enlists in the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry regiment of the German army. He will serve throughout the conflict on the Western Front, suffer wounds, and receive various awards for valor.
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Post by jodak on Aug 16, 2016 9:07:16 GMT -6
Robb,
I don't recall the exact details, but I saw on some history program one time that a British soldier once had Hitler dead to rights but declined to shoot him. I don't know how he later knew that it was Hitler that he had in his sights, unless he recognized him from a photo, or it might have been Hitler that recounted the story, saying that a British soldier didn't shoot him when he had the chance. On a broader note, you have to wonder about all of the similar "what ifs" of history, such as what if any of the WW2 leaders such as MacArthur, Patton, etc. had been killed in WW1, who would have come to prominence in their stead? Would things have been better or worse as a result? On the other hand, how many others that were killed in WW1 might have gone on to be great leaders in WW2, found a cure for cancer or whatever, or, conversely, been another Hitler or worse?
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Post by edavids on Aug 17, 2016 12:56:23 GMT -6
Robb,
I don't recall the exact details, but I saw on some history program one time that a British soldier once had Hitler dead to rights but declined to shoot him. I don't know how he later knew that it was Hitler that he had in his sights, unless he recognized him from a photo, or it might have been Hitler that recounted the story, saying that a British soldier didn't shoot him when he had the chance. On a broader note, you have to wonder about all of the similar "what ifs" of history, such as what if any of the WW2 leaders such as MacArthur, Patton, etc. had been killed in WW1, who would have come to prominence in their stead? Would things have been better or worse as a result? On the other hand, how many others that were killed in WW1 might have gone on to be great leaders in WW2, found a cure for cancer or whatever, or, conversely, been another Hitler or worse? Speculation is always fun and keeps the mind flexible. Then again there is merit to the "dance with who brung ya" outlook. Good stuff.
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Post by tubman13 on Aug 17, 2016 15:37:36 GMT -6
Ugh, number one. But unfortunately true. Wrong place.
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Post by tubman13 on Aug 18, 2016 3:16:58 GMT -6
Nah!
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Post by jodak on Aug 18, 2016 6:09:23 GMT -6
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Post by jodak on Sept 28, 2016 6:04:44 GMT -6
September 28, 1918
From wiki -
Henry Tandey VC, DCM, MM (born Tandy, 30 August 1891 – 20 December 1977) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the most highly decorated British private of the First World War. Born with the family name of Tandy, he later changed his surname to Tandey after problems with his father,[1][vague] therefore some military records have a different spelling of his name.
......
Hitler incident
Although disputed, Adolf Hitler and Tandey allegedly encountered each other at the French village of Marcoing. The story is set on 28 September 1918, while Tandey was serving with the 5th Duke of Wellington's Regiment, and relates that a weary German soldier wandered into Tandey's line of fire. The enemy soldier was wounded and did not even attempt to raise his own rifle. Tandey chose not to shoot. The German soldier saw him lower his rifle and nodded his thanks before wandering off. That soldier is purported to have been Adolf Hitler.[8][9][10] The author David Johnson, who wrote a book on Henry Tandey,[11] believes this story was an urban myth.[12]
Hitler apparently saw a newspaper report about Tandey being awarded the VC (in October 1918, whilst serving with the 5th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment), recognized him, and kept the clipping.[10]
In 1937, Hitler was made aware of a particular Fortunino Matania painting[13] by Dr Otto Schwend, a member of his staff. Schwend had been a medical officer during the First Battle of Ypres in 1914. He had been sent a copy of the painting by a Lieutenant Colonel Earle in 1936. Earle had been treated by Schwend in a medical post at the Menin Crossroads and they remained in touch after the war.[14]
The painting was commissioned by the Green Howards Regiment from the Italian artist in 1923, showing a soldier purported to be Tandey carrying a wounded man at the Kruiseke Crossroads in 1918, northwest of Menin. The painting was made from a sketch, provided to Matania, by the regiment, based on an actual event at that crossroads. A building shown behind Tandey in the painting belonged to the Van Den Broucke family, who were presented with a copy of the painting by the Green Howard's Regiment.[15]
Schwend obtained a large photo of the painting. Captain Weidemann, Hitler's adjutant, wrote the following response:
"I beg to acknowledge your friendly gift which has been sent to Berlin through the good offices of Dr. Schwend. The Führer is naturally very interested in things connected with his own war experiences, and he was obviously moved when I showed him the photograph and explained the thought which you had in causing it to be sent to him. He was obviously moved when I showed him the picture. He has directed me to send you his best thanks for your friendly gift which is so rich in memories."
Apparently Hitler identified the soldier carrying the wounded man as Tandey from the photo of him in the newspaper clipping he had obtained in 1918.[16]
In 1938, when Neville Chamberlain visited Hitler at his alpine retreat, the Berghof, for the discussions that led to the Munich Agreement, he noticed the painting and asked about it. Hitler replied:
"That man came so near to killing me that I thought I should never see Germany again; Providence saved me from such devilishly accurate fire as those English boys were aiming at us."[17]
According to the story, Hitler asked Chamberlain to convey his best wishes and gratitude to Tandey. Chamberlain promised to phone Tandey in person on his return, which apparently he did. The Cadbury Research Centre, which holds copies of Chamberlain's papers and diaries, has no references relating to Tandey from the records of the 1938 meeting.[18][19] The story further states that the phone was answered by a nine-year-old child called William Whateley.[20] William was related to Tandey's wife Edith. However, Tandey at that time lived at 22 Cope Street, Coventry, and worked for the Triumph Motor Company. According to the company records, they only had three phone lines, none of which was at Tandey's address. British Telecommunications archive records also have no telephones registered to that address in 1938.[21]
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