Quote:
Originally Posted by surferguy
That's too bad - I find WWI fascinating. I was lucky enough to visit Vimy while in high school some 20 yrs ago. In hindsight, I think I have a greater appreciation of the sacrifices made nowadays.
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As much as I talk about the 2nd World War and the modern era wars. WW1 history is a guilty pleasure because it was the war that really tried to bridge the gap between civility and barbarism.
The senior leadership and officer corps of the nation almost approached this war in a manner similar to camelot, even the way that they promoted recruiting was along the lines of the whole by gone age of get your glory, fulfil your quest, be home by christmas.
The reality and the actual split between the officers and the men was massive. I tend to believe that it had to be to fight a war of that style.
It was also the first war that really combined old thoughts with new technology and then eventually new tactics. It was also a war that bread the main architects of facist evil. Something monstrous came out of those trenches, something callous and uncaring was born in the trenches of WW1 and later the uncaring economic collapse in the world.
Not to wax on.
But my biggest fear of any war large or small is that it usually is followed by the rise of extremist ideas.