Quote:
Originally Posted by Dread Knot
To start things off I found an interesting article on the BBC a few months back that tried to debunk some of the most common myths about the Great War. I'm sure some of them can be cannon fodder for...debate. 
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25776836
1. It was the bloodiest war in history to that point. The 1850-1864 Taiping Rebellion in China killed more.
2. Most soldiers died. For British soldiers it was 11.5%, less than during the Crimean War.
3. Men lived in the trenches for years on end. More like 10 days a month and three in a row at the front line tops.
4. The upper class got off lightly. The death rate was 12% of soldiers, 17% of officers. Eton lost more than 1,000 former pupils - 20% of those who served.
5. 'Lions led by donkeys'. Over 200 generals killed, injured or captured and a unique type of war was won organizing a multinational force.
6. Gallipoli was fought by Australians and New Zealanders. British losses were higher than both Australian and NZ and the French lost more than the Australians.
7. Tactics on the Western Front remained unchanged despite repeated failure. There were significant equipment and tactical changes during the war, from planes to helmets.
8. No-one won. Germany surrendered before the country was crushed as it would be in WWII. It was still a loss to Germany.
9. The Versailles Treaty was extremely harsh. Germany was still the biggest and richest country in Europe and much of the reparations went unenforced. It was not as harsh as after WWII.
10. Everyone hated it. Those not on the front line often had better food, more money and more freedom than at home. |
To Dread Knot and others.
You are correct about us, Aussie's and Kiwis losses at Gallipoli was not as great as the Brits, French and even the Turks.
We where not exactly, under Generals, from our only country, and wrong beach, among other things.
Just, as the Brits, had a similar problems.
Like guess where the generals were, far out to sea on ships.
If, I may ask you and others to read my Thread/ Posts under the heading ANZAC DAY. and tell me, if you like your thoughts.
Maybe, for us it hurt just as much, esp when you consider the families, of the fallen and wounded, could not travel, to such a place, so easily, as per distance. (same for Europe.)
Their is a book called "Distant Grief" that talks of the work of the newly formed CWGC, and it's work as time went on. You all might like to have a read.
This book, not only looked at what, the CWGC was doing or did, but it also, looked from the point of view of Australian and possibly, Kiwi families, Govts, via letters or newspaper articles, to and from the newly appointed, CWGC.
We here in OZ, even back in WW1, via letters from families, wanted the lads, to be brought home, for proper burial. (I gather the same, for most of the Allies and even the Germans, too. etc.)
However, as I kinda knew and the book, talks of the reasons, for it not to be possible. We may be able to do that now days, but back in WW1 and WW2, there were a lot of things that could have gone wrong, mid travel by sea, etc.
As an example, the "Battle of Krithia" in Gallipoli, after a 60 minutes show about, why all Govts, won't even look, at where the fallen, might be buried.
Let alone, place a formal memorial, to honour them all. (Turks, too.)
Some feel, they should be brought back home. even after nye 100 years on.
Like the Fromelles, lads, they where reburied, now with proper headstone, etc. not brought home.
(just like we have some lads, who actually have headstones, in a grave at a cemetery well looked after, who fell in the Vietnam war, some in Malaysia, one in Singapore CWG.)
However, for both these groups, one war historian, (I think an Australian.) feels, and some agree. That for both groups, the WW1 lads and these Vietnam lads, should remain where they are resting, at least they are with their mates, and other allied friends. (even their foe.)
And I hate, to say this, but I think the same way. No disrespect to descendants, etc. The Viet lads, are at least resting in a proper grave etc.
Those of the WW1 group, maybe one day, they too, might have like they did for the Fromelles lads.
So, if you get the chance to get hole of this book, I might be a grown man of 49+, but I can tell you, it left a tear in my eye.