Just in case anyone else is interested in Archduke Ferdinand's assassination:

First World War.com - Who's Who - Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If thats the case, I was lied to by the history channel.

The book I'm reading is slow going due to life, but I just got to the part where the U.S. sent a letter of intent from President Cleveland to aggressively pursue the Monroe Doctrine in Britain's slow occupation of Venezuela. Then Germany takes all the attention away.

When I get to the assassination, I'll see what Tuchman has to say.

You mean the same History Channel that runs UFO documentaries as if they're fact? Say it ain't so!

But seriously, there was a bomb earlier in the day that failed to kill Ferdinand (and it wasn't a suicide bomber, just a guy tossing a bomb). A little later, as Ferdinand's car was hurrying out of the area they took a wrong turn and happened to encounter one of the assassins who, recognizing them, pulled out a pistol and started firing into the car. That's how Ferdinand and his wife died.

You know who isn't my friend? David...apparently.

:(

Or the History Channel.

Yeah, hearing that my understanding is so off, I'm wondering if I've just confused him with someone else. Like Rasputin or someone.

Rasputin died in the coolest way imaginable. It wasn't him.

I will envoke martial ****ing law in here, I swear to god.

How? You'd probably get that wrong too.

No, no I'll get this one correct.

First I send out the invites. Set up the reservation. Then I show up that night and make sure I'm wearing coat-tails, and that everyone is having enough to eat and drink....

That'll ****ing show 'em.

I volunteer at a seniors home...war veterans in particular. All were in the canadian or british military. Pretty neat stories. As no wwi vets are left in canada, the majority are from wwii and korea.
Really cool building too, lots of pictures and memorabilia. Lots of big wigs in the military in now and then.

I have a hard time finding such an idiotic war interesting. I guess the only aspects I find interesting about it was the developing technology at the time, such as: tanks, airplanes, zeppelins, etc.

How was it idiotic?

Well said ^
Although all wars are obviously idiotic by default, but I think he means there wasn't enough movie style action. I guess it's hard to glamorise trench warfare and mindless mass slaughter.

I'm being sarcastic btw! Apart from the well said bit.

Wait, weren't zeppelins weren't used for bombing runs by the Germans? I remember a story where a group of zeppelins attempted to bomb Paris, and Britain for that matter.

Yes and it was considered a war crime. Ungentlemanly behaviour at best.
The use of submarines was also frowned on and it was the sinking of the Lusitania which had a strong influence on U.S. policy, joining the war against Germany a couple of years later.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_U-20

That's really interesting! Thanks for sharing.

Regarding zeppelins, you don't need a war to develop them. In fact, you don't even need the Germans:

Astra-Torres airship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

;)

You are of course correct to say that you don't need a war to develop the airship.
However, your example of Leonardo Torres Quevedo's airship and the claim that you don't need the Germans is misleading and incorrect...by about 8 years.

Zeppelin LZ1 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

^ And that was by no means the first.

^ Of course I know the LZ1 was the first one. I meant develop in the sense of "to improve the quality". And the Astra-Torres airship had a better design. For instance, the tri-lobed cross-section improved the security.

Well, besides the fact that war in itself is idiotic, I felt that this war is probably one of the dumbest. It caused a ridiculous amount of fatalities, and it helped lead up to WWII and the Holocaust. The whole thing started based on alliances formed with other countries. Most of them weren't even involved in the dilemma that helped spark the entire thing: the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. Not to mention the unbearable conditions that many of the soldiers had to go through during combat.

You make a really good point here.

Well, Frank Buckles the last American WWI veteran died yesterday. That leaves 2 British veterans. Hard to believe that generation is nearly gone.

Rest in peace Mr Buckles and thank you for your contributions to our country.

It's funny, most of the events that allowed the rise of fascism in Germany and WWII happened after WWI ended. The Treaty of Versailles was so haphazardly enforced that it was violated numerous times by Germany without consequence, not to mention the absolute idiocy of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, the Munich Agreement, and numerous concessions by the Allies. Suffice it to say that Neville Chamberlain was one of the worst Prime Minsters the UK has ever had.

I find post WW1 more interesting than WW1 itself. The Treaty of Versailles had some ridiculous consequences for Germany, and ultimately was a big reason for WW2.

At least everybody in Germany became super rich though!
http://moneytipcentral.com/wp-conten...with-money.jpg

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/4624/keynes.jpg

They didn't notice him... they didn't notice him... they didn't notice him... http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1...ademoticon.gif

The Economic Consequences of the Peace - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia :mad: