On this day, 100 years ago the world changed...

[Moose242]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/06/28/the-assassination-of-archduke-franz-ferdinand-and-the-drumbeats-of-war/

Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot and killed by Gavrilo Princip which set off the sequence of events leading to the Great War, or World War I as we know it today. Nearly 38 million people were killed during the conflict and it changed the course of history forever. While the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand was not the only factor determining the start of the war, it was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

[LANTIRN]

The gun that was used is probably responsible for more deaths in history than any other individual firearm.

[svauto-erotic855]

The gun that was used is probably responsible for more deaths in history than any other individual firearm.

And the book "Silent Spring" is responsible for even more proving that ideas are the most dangerous thing of all.

[talisman]

And the book "Silent Spring" is responsible for even more proving that ideas are the most dangerous thing of all.

Especially if your name is Justin La ckey.

[Chuck_Finley]

Thanks for posting this since it seems that yet again many places all over the net tend to gloss over this war. I enjoy the discussion of it occasionally and a couple of the best documentaries on the war (made in England) I bought a number of years ago to make sure I always have something to reference back to because they're so comprehensive.

I suppose the one thing a lot of folks really don't appreciate is that even up until the first couple months of 1918, Germany still had an upper hand strategically in potentially defeating the French. A lot of history books here in America like to stick to the same old mantra that once we got involved then it was all over. That's actually one of the furthest things from the truth. The real cause of German collapse was the same thing men on all sides were suffering from which was severe loss of morale due to the constant artillery barrages and living in trenches for the ridiculous amounts of time they did. German troops essentially caved first and we know the rest.

On the other hand, if German morale could have been sustained, they could have easily held their lines against combined French, English and American assaults due to the heavy reinforcements brought in from the east.

[jw33]

[CJ]

The gun that was used is probably responsible for more deaths in history than any other individual firearm.

And it was made by an American, John Moses Browning.