28th June 2014 - 100 years since the gunshot which led to the death of hundreds of millions of people

[Syndrome]

A single event occurred 100 years ago today which would have catastrophic consequences.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassi...ranz_Ferdinand

[XR6WGN]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

A single event occurred 100 years ago today which would have catastrophic consequences.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassi...ranz_Ferdinand

Second part of 37 Days was on SBS last night - It's a semi-documentary on the events between the assassination and the declaration of war. It's something I thought I wouldn't like but it's quite a good show - next week is the last 4 or so hours.

[CJR09]

Thanks - added to watch-list - looks good

[XR6WGN]

Originally Posted by CJR09

Thanks - added to watch-list - looks good

You can play "catch-up" on http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/ if you wish.

[Syndrome]

http://www.news.com.au/world/its-the...-1226969632091

[Syndrome]

Surprised how little discussion there is about such a significant event. This assassination led to Australian sending many men to their death in Europe.

[BHDOGS]

What a bunch of selfish *********

[superyob]

Although the official casualty numbers are nowhere near that of WW2, WW1 is possibly the closest glimpse of Hell on Earth that the world has ever seen... A holocaust of unimaginable proportion started by one man with a gun...

[BHDOGS]

Originally Posted by Ruination

I am 23, I have been working since I was 15.
When I finished my apprenticeship as a Carpenter in 2012 I started working for a new construction company, in which I also chose to start a new superfund with a different company.
I went to roll over all my previous super into my new one. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Basically, all my super went into paying all these stupid fees just to have an account.
I was gutted because I actually thought the idea of super was great.
Even as a tradesman on higher wages now, I still fail to see the great idea of it, and am against super in all forms.

I get that I am young and understand that I shouldn't have much super right now, but how are young people supposed to accept that super is good for them, when in their first 5-10 years on average wages, they have nothing to show for it?

In my eyes, superfunds are thieving snakes.

that is nice but whats it got to do with ww1

[Ruination]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

that is nice but whats it got to do with ww1

ahhh damn, i was meant to chuck this on the superannuation post
/idiot

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Ruination

ahhh damn, i was meant to chuck this on the superannuation post
/idiot

Fixed

[Syndrome]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-0...ible-aftermath

[Burnout]

For those interested enough, read Paul Ham's book "1914, the year the wold ended". An insightful read.

[superyob]

Many people in today's society will say that young people have to face a range of extreme difficulties that this post modern age presents and indeed every age has its demons. But, the troubles of today's youth surely pales into irrelevance compared to a society for whom the world really did end. The youth of 100 years ago had to grow up in a world where their dads, brothers, uncles or they themselves died fighting for an indeterminable cause. Society's values an beliefs were destroyed en masse and replaced with the cold harsh realities of a post apocalyptic world.

It seems WW1 was slaughter for its own sake...

[onfire]

Originally Posted by Burnout

For those interested enough, read Paul Ham's book "1914, the year the wold ended". An insightful read.

Started reading this, it's a massive, massive book.

I would also recommend it, it gives a lot of insight into the political landscape and diplomatic turmoil Europe was swimming in leading up to the first World War.

We're talking uneasy political and military alliances upon uneasy political and military alliances. Military arms races, industrial & economical arms races, territory grabs and advances, etc. Not to mention a lot of hurt feelings from previous conflicts in the decades prior, and multiple smaller existing feuds & conflicts.

I don't know whether it's some what ignorant to say: war was some what inevitable, or in hindsight you can understand why it escalated into a global conflict, yet it was a pretty tense place prior to 1914 & the assassination of Ferdinand.

[Burnout]

Ham has written some very interesting stuff over the years. His work on the New Guinea Campaign is excellent.
The above book reasons how little the assassination of the Arch Duke and his wife had to do with the start of WWI. It was just an excuse used to an end. The Wilhelm and his government were complicate at every turn.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Burnout

Ham has written some very interesting stuff over the years. His work on the New Guinea Campaign is excellent.
The above book reasons how little the assassination of the Arch Duke and his wife had to do with the start of WWI. It was just an excuse used to an end. The Wilhelm and his government were complicate at every turn.

"37 days" says the same.

The German Emperor and his Generals were pretty keen for a war with Russia and France.

[superyob]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

"37 days" says the same.

The German Emperor and his Generals were pretty keen for a war with Russia and France.

Not so. Germany did not want a two front war. Hence the Schlieffen Plan.

Everyone, not only the Germans, were full of nationalistic fervour. The British and French were just as eager to fight...

[UberKnee]

Its a shame to think that as a race we're still just as war hungry as we were back then.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by UberKnee

Its a shame to think that as a race we're still just as war hungry as we were back then.

Does not surprise me. It is human nature. We are the worst animals on this planet.

[Dash_XR]

Originally Posted by superyob

Although the official casualty numbers are nowhere near that of WW2, WW1 is possibly the closest glimpse of Hell on Earth that the world has ever seen... A holocaust of unimaginable proportion started by one man with a gun...

More like many different men with pens and paper. An assassination is a better excuse but really anything will do.

100 years on and what's changed? Middle east is on the brink, korea could kick off at any moment, Asia's getting toey, Russia's expanding and Europe's still unstable, Africa will never end etc. etc..


It was tens of millions not hundreds too.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

More like many different men with pens and paper. An assassination is a better excuse but really anything will do.

100 years on and what's changed? Middle east is on the brink, korea could kick off at any moment, Asia's getting toey, Russia's expanding and Europe's still unstable, Africa will never end etc. etc..


It was tens of millions not hundreds too.

Spot on mate, you only have have a gig at all the different countrys on our little rock at the millions of soldiers increasing in number every day, not to mention all the hardware still being developed for war ,
we humans have not learned a bloody thing.

[Dash_XR]

We really do live in the lucky country when you think about it.

No crazy neighbours, religious influence is on the decline, little gang violence, little gun violence and the extreme minorities aren't tolerated by the general majority. Not many other places around the world can boast all that at the moment.

[Bluehoon]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Does not surprise me. It is human nature. We are the worst animals on this planet.

Remember that quote from Arnie in T2..?

"It's in your nature to destroy yourselves"..

[superyob]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

More like many different men with pens and paper. An assassination is a better excuse but really anything will do.

100 years on and what's changed? Middle east is on the brink, korea could kick off at any moment, Asia's getting toey, Russia's expanding and Europe's still unstable, Africa will never end etc. etc..


It was tens of millions not hundreds too.

There were many extreme incidents leading up to WW1, but one, the Franco Prussian war of 1870 was definitely started by pen and paper and Bismarck's clever use of words...

[Dash_XR]

True but still just one of many examples, I suppose at least now in the developed world technology is making it harder and harder for leaders to sway public opinion with lies and propaganda.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

was tens of millions not hundreds too.

Wrong. The Great War lead to the second World War. Add up all the deaths during these two wars and the many who died after as political prisoners, plus ongoing conflicts such as the Balkans and you get into the hundreds of millions.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

We really do live in the lucky country when you think about it.

No crazy neighbours, religious influence is on the decline, little gang violence, little gun violence and the extreme minorities aren't tolerated by the general majority. Not many other places around the world can boast all that at the moment.

Im not so sure about the religious influence on the decline Dash, when one country of another origin sends over 93 billion dollars(yes i said billion) in one hit to set up they're own "special schools", one has to be thinking...... hmmm, perhaps they are not really planning on integrating into our way of life so much?
as for being surrounded by country's with populations full of happiness,
i dunno mate, perhaps im just a paranoid suspicious silly old fart (please dun call me old)?
but there seems to be an awful lot of soldiers in some of these country's not all that far from us,
perhaps i got it wrong, and they really just like being in uniform (plays village people ,soldiers all jiving), of course i could be wrong.

[Dash_XR]

As long as we can maintain our borders and stay friends with everyone in our region without picking sides we should be ok mate. I believe religion is far more dangerous in poorer developing countries where the people don't really have anything else to believe in/get them through the day.

We also have to just face up to the fact that some places will never stop the fighting no matter what the rest of the world does.

[superyob]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Wrong. The Great War lead to the second World War. Add up all the deaths during these two wars and the many who died after as political prisoners, plus ongoing conflicts such as the Balkans and you get into the hundreds of millions.

The Spanish influenza wiped out millions in the aftermath of WW1, as a result of military migrations around the world...