View Full Version : Armistice Day, November 11, 1918 + 100 Years.
Old Dog New Trick
11-10-2018, 15:20
Tomorrow is the centenary celebration of the day World War I ended. The war that was supposed to end all wars. We know that didn’t happen but we can all take a moment this weekend to reflect on the sacrifices made by so many people the experts can’t even agree on how many died. For the estimated 40 million people who died directly as a result of the war, a moment of silence and introspection.
Rest In Peace to all those who fought for freedom and to all those whom fought to defend the ideology of honor, duty and country (even if you were on the wrong side of history) people make mistakes, let’s make less of them moving forward in their honor.
A pictorial from USA Today: Check out this gallery from USA TODAY:
Remembering the end of WWI: The 100th anniversary
https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/world/2018/11/09/remembering-end-wwi-100th-anniversary/1941128002/
It's means a lot more than just a free meal, thanks for the reminder OD.
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The Reaper
11-10-2018, 22:36
Unbelievable casualty numbers.
I had a WW I vet for a neighbor growing up.
RIP and thanks.
TR
Yes, we must remember.. Incredible the untold casualties of that war...
No one left now either..
SALUTE
Scimitar
11-11-2018, 04:23
Romania was one of the worst hit nations.
- Mobilized - 750,000
- Killed - 335,706 = 45%
- Wounded - 120,000 = 16%
- Total Casualties - 455,706 = 61%
Most of the other major nations saw 50-70% casualty rates.
I can't imagine how a unit holds together under the near certainty of total destruction over any period of time.
Incredible.
S
Airbornelawyer
11-11-2018, 04:42
My father enlisted in the Navy to be a corpsman shortly after his eighteenth birthday, October 29, 1918. He was a conscientious objector, but back then that meant you still served your country even if conscience meant you couldn't carry arms. He was released from the Navy sometime after the Armistice, and went on to attend seminary. His father was born in Germany (actually, in the Grand Duchy of Baden since it was before German unification), so he had an added conflict, but things were different back then.
The war never really ended - we are still embroiled in it in the ME due to the Sykes-Picot (?) Treaty in which Britain carved up the kingdoms of Iraq; Iran; etc. We're still paying the price for the way the war "ended."
Old Dog New Trick
11-11-2018, 09:29
The war never really ended - we are still embroiled in it in the ME due to the Sykes-Picot (?) Treaty in which Britain carved up the kingdoms of Iraq; Iran; etc. We're still paying the price for the way the war "ended."
So correct and following up with the Marshall Plan, the League of Nations and ultimately the UN the embodiment of destructive financial and societal policies that have continued to pit one group of people against another.
Golf1echo
11-11-2018, 09:51
So correct and following up with the Marshall Plan, the League of Nations and ultimately the UN the embodiment of destructive financial and societal policies that have continued to pit one group of people against another.
The tendency is to look forward, seldom backwards at what the ramifications of that effort might be...
...Something in all that reminds me of the last administration.
Today as every 11/11 I think of Ted, one of two survivors in his Combat Engineer company. In the book he gave me all the casuallties in the Argoone were listed...
Old Dog New Trick
11-11-2018, 10:59
In the age of Trump you knew this had to go political. :(
AP headline: Macron, world leaders rebuke 'nationalism' at World War I event attended by Trump
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has criticized Trump's "America First" foreign policy, used his speech to decry*excessive "nationalism" at the root of the First World War and succeeding conflicts.
"Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism," Macron told a gathering of world leaders that ranged from Russian President Vladimir Putin to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as Trump.
I wonder if the irony is lost on the French and the world leaders in attendance that holding the ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe is akin to acknowledging Nepoleon’s quest to rule the world? Also that without US involvement in the outcome of the war there would not have been an armistice ending the war as it ended and Germany would likely have ruled most all of Europe.
Why not hold the ceremony at say Redonthes where the armistice was signed?
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
In the age of Trump you knew this had to go political. :(
AP headline: Macron, world leaders rebuke 'nationalism' at World War I event attended by Trump
I wonder if the irony is lost on the French and the world leaders in attendance that holding the ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe is akin to acknowledging Nepoleon’s quest to rule the world? Also that without US involvement in the outcome of the war there would not have been an armistice ending the war as it ended and Germany would likely have ruled most all of Europe.
Why not hold the ceremony at say Redonthes where the armistice was signed?
My note to Moron, uh Marcon, the short definition of patriotism is the love for or devotion to one's country, and nationalism is the loyalty and devotion to a nation.
Pretty much the same thing. Wanting the best for your country if other friendly countries benefit, well that is fine as long as it doesn't cost us anything.
Guymullins
11-11-2018, 12:20
My note to Moron, uh Marcon, the short definition of patriotism is the love for or devotion to one's country, and nationalism is the loyalty and devotion to a nation.
Pretty much the same thing. Wanting the best for your country if other friendly countries benefit, well that is fine as long as it doesn't cost us anything.
Taking moral advice, much less military advice, from the French is like taking skiing lessons from Haiti.
This is pretty damn cool: Polish Salute to the U.S. (https://twitter.com/Fundacja_PFN/status/1061272271602548736)
Old Dog New Trick
11-11-2018, 19:04
This is pretty damn cool: Polish Salute to the U.S. (https://twitter.com/Fundacja_PFN/status/1061272271602548736)
That is awesome!
^^^ Yes saw that on TV today... :lifter
doctom54
11-11-2018, 20:30
My grandfather Edd Harris was a Doughboy in France. He was gassed and survived until 1953 when he passed away from the long term effects of that.
https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/11/12/3614692/the-martial-chronicles-in-the-trenches
mojaveman
11-12-2018, 01:36
Had a grandfather on the American side and a great grandfather on the Austro-Hungarian side.
miclo18d
11-12-2018, 06:49
https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/11/12/3614692/the-martial-chronicles-in-the-trenches
Really great stuff there!
Watch the WW1 combatives film! Awesome! (Not to mention the Push Ball mention! We were doing that into the 90s! I’ve seen some bad injuries playing that game in Ranger Batt! Dislocated shoulders, many unconscious!)
Badger52
11-12-2018, 15:59
This is pretty damn cool: Polish Salute to the U.S. (https://twitter.com/Fundacja_PFN/status/1061272271602548736)Thanks for that. A buddy I served with couple hours away is serious Polish & his Dad served in the Holy Cross Brygada during WW-II. They take the coupling of this day as American citizens and their homeland's independence REEEEEALLY seriously. It's always a great occasion for a winter-chat between the rover-boys shooting/camping visits.
:lifter
bblhead672
11-12-2018, 18:28
This is pretty damn cool: Polish Salute to the U.S. (https://twitter.com/Fundacja_PFN/status/1061272271602548736)
The Polish people may be the last best friends American patriots have left in this world.
Happy Independence Day to the citizens of Poland.