Interesting story about the French and WW1 Christmas Truce

[duke63]

Well worth a read.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30433729" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Kwacky]

I read about Germany not remembering it. I didn't know the French did the same.

[Blade]

Politicians wage war, most men want peace.

Always strikes me as strange we cannot be united as mankind.

Been really looking into ww1 recently and the atrocities are shocking, no other species on this plant can be held as accountable as mankind for the level of destruction. Our greed and hatred as a species disgusts me.

[duke63]

Which makes what some people do all the more special and heart-warming.

In the face of all that, they can still show kindness and respect to their fellow man.

[Kwacky]

The true story about why WW1 started makes it even more sickening.

[D41]

Splendid article....as a remarkably amateur historian, I did have a few points....but they are neither here or there.....very good thread.

[duke63]

The true story about why WW1 started makes it even more sickening.

There is a very good book about the start of WW1 which i keep meaning to buy.

[Norfolknchance]

Not this one perchance.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thirteen-Days-D ... 0712668268" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I've read it and found it a good read.

[Blade]

The true story about why WW1 started makes it even more sickening.

There is a very good book about the start of WW1 which i keep meaning to buy.

Which one duke ?

[Blade]

Not this one perchance.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thirteen-Days-D ... 0712668268" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I've read it and found it a good read.

Have you read it ? Would you recommend ?

[duke63]

This is the one i was looking at. Not bought it yet as I have a few books to read already but no doubt soon will.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/July-Crisis-Wor ... 9ZFDNY456R" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Blade]

Cheers guys both of those books look really good. I'm in town tomorrow so might check if either is in waterstones.

[Norfolknchance]

I would recommend it but he does try push the idea that the Germans were not as much to blame for the start as conventional thinking would have you believe. It tends to push that concept a bit far.
It is very readable though.

[Kwacky]

A few theories reduce the German blame. Don't forget there were other conflicts going on before. We started fighting Germany.

The Germans were coverting their fleet to oil which would have threatened the Royal Navy's domination. The oil line went through Turkey, hence our involvement over there.

[Joliv1202]

Well worth reading 1915 by Lynne macdonald. Uses a lot of extracts from diaries, letters home and also what was happening at home. Gives a good account of many of the early battles.

[Blade]

Bought this in waterstones today as they didn't have the ones recommended on here but looks good all the same..I'll let you know what I think.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/July-1914-Count ... 1848316577" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[D41]

Politicians wage war, most men want peace.

Always strikes me as strange we cannot be united as mankind.

Been really looking into ww1 recently and the atrocities are shocking, no other species on this plant can be held as accountable as mankind for the level of destruction. Our greed and hatred as a species disgusts me.

Dunno...the atrocities get over played a bit....fact is, they can "attribute" that many casualties to this or that, but they don't know.....but people wanna know sommit, so it becomes a stat. .....They still don't know how many troops died on D-Day....but all sorts of figures are thrown out.