100 Years Ago Today
 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psu1pe5hg9.jpg

.... dominoes falling

And so it began...

The war to end all wars. :nope:

And I'm only a few hours drive from Sarajevo :hmmm:
Should have went there just to say I was there exactly 100 years later

Pity that it didn't.:-?

The spark that ignited the world.

It still echoes over Europe ...

.

Ah yes might as well put this down here after Oberon showed it to me the other day:

Rap Battle - WW1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCEUZ4rFiac

It pretty much sums up the prelude to war in an...ehm....interesting way but it works :)

So the poor old ostrich died for nothing

Live news from 1914 Sarajevo:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-27978407

I blame it all on whoever invented the reverse gear.

Brilliant! Thanks for the (now bookmarked) link.

I have something prepared for certain 100th anniversary dates, mainly a series of posts I did years ago for another website on the major and minor naval confrontations. I also have a "day-by-day" book I can get info from, but that link looks like it might be a good one to follow.

Total of 16 million killed and 24 million injured.

Not as long we the humans are on the earth

Markus

I say to some extent WWI can share some blame it certainly helped spread the flu much more rapidly than it otherwise would have.

Or the sandwich and bad directions... From a Cracked article.

Rgr that and I think I know who this guy is in the picture :)

http://s30.postimg.org/usu6zvwc1/image.jpg

Another interesting read.
14 Reasons World War I Happened (And Four Things That Could Have Stopped It)

The Ultimatum: With the assassination of the Archduke there were demands for immediate reprisals in Austria, but cooler heads convinced the parliament to try to negotiate first. On July 5 Germany promised that if war came with Russia, Serbia's ally, that Austria would have Germany's full cooperation and backing.

On July 21 there was still no word from Austria as to her intentions regarding Serbia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Sazanov issued a warning to Austria: "If Austria-Hungary is absolutely determined to disturb the peace, she ought not to forget that she would have to reckon with Europe. In no case should there be any talk of an ultimatum."

On July 23, convinced that the Serbian government was involved in the assassination, Austria did indeed issue the ultimatum, which required that Serbia pretty much give up autonomy to Austria and follow every Austrian demand involving any anti-Austrian speech or writing within Serbia. Serbia is given 48 hours to reply.

Meanwhile Tsar Nicolas is entertaining the French at St Petersburg on the last day of the French state visit.

http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-c...-of-France.jpg


If you're in the UK, Radio Four is doing a series called '1914: Day by Day' which is well worth listening to, it's a five minute segment each day which chronicles the events of this day in 1914 as the world falls steadily towards the great cataclysm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b049z7xc