Ten facts about World War 1 (general, Hitler, assassin, Bismarck)

[Bamford]

With the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1 this year, the BBC's San Snow looks at the facts and myths surrounding the conflict.

BBC News - Lions and donkeys: 10 big myths about World War One debunked

[NJGOAT]

Good article that gives a primer that many of the pre-conceived notions that people have of WW1 are incorrect.

[BlackShoe]

Another very popular notion is that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the cause of the war, a theory that most historians say is just not true. Geo politics is so huge and complex, and so many other factors were in play, that the death of one man could hardly have triggered the conflict, that war would would have eventually broken out even had the Archduke lived. His death certainly had an impact, but was hardly the major cause of the war.

[maf763]

Originally Posted by BlackShoe

Another very popular notion is that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the cause of the war, a theory that most historians say is just not true.

No more than Lexington and Concord caused the American Revolution or Fort Sumter caused the Civil War. But I'm not sure how strong a 'myth' that and some of the other ones in the article are. In some cases, they seem more to be the misperceptions some people may have when asked about it rather than strongly held beliefs. I think people who self-identify as knowing something about or who regularly think about WWI wouldn't believe most of them, whereas people who are hearkening back to a history class they dozed through 30 years ago might.

That said, other than maybe overselling the notion of 'big myths' I liked the article. I guess the centennial will increase the number of people who think about the war, so it's timely.

[jobseeker2013]

The French train car used to sign the German armistice in 1918 belonged to Napoleon III. It was used as symbolism to correct France's loss in 1871. Hitler would use it the same way in 1940.

On a side note, Bismarck was opposed to the annexation of Alsace Lorraine in 1871. He rightly believed the French would seek revenge. The military felt it needed them as frontier provinces for future conflicts.

[j_k_k]

I'm currently reading A Short History of World War I, just for my general edification, and so far I must say it's one of the most readable academically-authored war history books I have yet to try. I like that it is by a Canadian author (which means that there is no worry of, say, a U.S. author tending to give less attention to the pre-US entry years), though you can't really tell a perspective difference. Quite a good job on his part so far.