WW1 Television Documentary

No problem, Brian. Still, Gustaf & I, to preclude any future differences,
thought prehaps either a duel using machine pistols @ 40 paces, or a mounted charge brandishing sabres would be apprepot - Remember that great scene in the movie "The Duellists" with Harvey Keitel & Keith Carradine !!!! On second thought, I'm just recovering from a fall sustained while riding my oldest horse, Sidney Rosenburg (The name is derived from his former Owner's divorce lawyer, who obtained the settlement money needed for her to buy him) so let's just nix the trial by
combat idea!!!!

Epsomgreen, have you seen those shorts, using dogs dressed in WW1 military garb, complete with miniature Brodie helmets & lederhelms. My Dad said that they were among his favorites, second only to what he thought was the Greatest Show on Earth: the movie Wings. I didn't think that sufficient technology existed in the '30's to produce such things,
until a couple of episodes popped-up on the TNT network one night !!! Naturally, the bad dogs are cast as "Huns"; the good ones as "Tommies" or "Doughboys". In which category do you think Bonzo would fall ???
What time & TV station was he on anyway ???

It's perplexing, how the Germans have been portrayed as the harbingers of evil, while the Allies were defending democracy. This First World War
series is one of a few which sheds the light on the real reasons for
America's entry into WW1. People forget that the US entered the war two
years after the sinking of the Lusitania !!! Years ago, I read an address given to Congress in 1917 by a certain Senator Norris from somewhere in the mid-west. He advocated non-involvement, based in part on popular
sentiment, which was largely pro-German, as well as Norris' knowledge that re-couping pre-war loans made to the British by J.P. Morgan represented the real impetus behind America's war fever. As to whether
the world would have been better had the Second Reich won, who can say - In my opinion, it's a question of when in the course of those four years victory would have been achieved. Had von Kluck "brushed the
Channel with his sleeve" in 1914, German power would have accelerated to such a degree that conflict with the United States would probably have been inevitable. On the other hand, had the 1918 offensive succeeded and the war concluded in 1918, it would have been, I believe, a Pyrrhic victory,akin to Sparta's triumph over Athens in the Pelleponesian War. The Kaiser,if not the Hohenzollerns, would have become symbolic & then....
WHO GOT ME STARTED !!!!!!!!!!!!

Ottodog, thanks so much for the elusive title of the march. I just ordered a CD from the same people who furnish that live pre-WW1 drill CD.

Who is Bonzo Dog anyway, & did he know Happy the Clown????
 
WHO GOT ME STARTED !!!!!!!!!!!!
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Don't look at me
Who is Bonzo Dog anyway, & did he know Happy the Clown????
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I think we are getting off topic now, where is the moderator, why does he not do his job?
Machine pistols against sabers, yeah, that is good with me, I get the pistols, don't I?
As to whether
the world would have been better had the Second Reich won, who can say
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There is a large contingent in Europe that believes that Germany would have still lost the war with out the help of the US, but that the Germans would have been able to sue for peace, and by doing so, not been subjected to the harsh conditions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, thus making it improbable that the National Socialists would have come to power. One can spend a lot of time playing the "if" game, if the US had not invaded Russia in 1918, the cold war may not have happened either.
Best wishes
Gus
Apearently, not the only one who is not taking his medication.
 
The first Reich was the Holy Roman Empire. The Third Reich was Nazi Germany, and therefore Imperial Germany between 1871 and 1918 is considered the Second Reich even though this term was not coined until 1923 and you are hard-pressed to find a German language source that uses the term “the Second Reich”.
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Is it Miller time yet? #-o
 
ridingroanhorses said:
have you seen those shorts, using dogs dressed in WW1 military garb, complete with miniature Brodie helmets & lederhelms.
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Hi RRH:

You are referring to the "Dogville Comedies," and, specifically, "So Quiet on the Canine Front (1931). I have not seen it, but I own a copy of "Dogway Melody" (1930). These films were produced by MGM and directed by Jules White (better known for having directed the Three Stooges).

As for Bonzo, he predated television. Here are some links to his story:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_E._Studdy

http://www.chessy2.freeserve.co.uk/

Chas.
 
Chas, I think you are getting way off topic, let's get back to reasonable discussion, by the way, has anyone seen "Thumb Wars"
Gus
 
And if Black Helmet Man had defeated the Rebel Thumbs, what would things be like now ??

I enjoy historical conjecture. True, it's all academic, but man doesn't seem to learn alot from history anyway. And forgive me please, I believe that the state of affairs would have been better in many respects had the Germans won, not just for my relatives who died in the Holocaust, but
for America as well. For a later time, maybe.
 
On the topic of "What If" Harry Turtledove's The Great War series, and follow-up American Empire and Settling Accounts gives a vague look at what would have happened had Germany won WWI. These three series are actually about a world where the CSA won the American Civil War, and then fought the USA in WWI.

The USA sides with Germany and Austria, the CSA with France and England. And not to give too much away but Germany wins and the politics are discussed a bit. France becomes a Fascist state (don't call it Fascism) but it is a military dictatorship and eventually old scores need to be settled once again.

As a student of history, my feeling is that Germany was "shackled to a corpse" with Austria. Even in victory Austria would disentergrate, the Ottomans would face a civil war. It is possible Germany would fill the role of peace-keepers of Europe.

The French would have their colonial problems likely earlier if Germany won WWI. And the British...I don't know much would change, but like some careers would be forever ruined. And it is doubtful England would rush to defend another European power.

And Russia...well, that would be a huge mess and likely Imperial Germany may have faced a war with Soviet Russia.
 
Hi Guys,
First & foremost, thanks for your help with the pics. I finally broke-down & bought a digital camera, and while it's a learning experience, the results
are amazing !!!
I'm making a series recording of the First World War, but my favorite episode hasn't appeared. It deals with the Eastern Front, is almost entirely comprised of color footage, & has a great scene of Currasiers trotting into Warsaw following its capture. The last installment of the series rerun aired on Tuesday @ 10 EST, & this episode never
appeared !!! Was this episode part of the series, or am I again neglecting to take my medicine ????? RRH
 
Speaking of books, has anyone else here read a book called "A German Deserter's War Experience" by Anonymous? It was published by Heubsch in 1917, and is one of the most spectacular war books I've read. It is a first person account by a Pioneer, giving his account of the Ausmarsch in 1914, through the fall of 1915 when he deserted. The author was a Socialist and sometimes gets on a soapbox, but it's by far the most vivid and detailed first person account from the German side I've ever seen.
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Steve I read it and glad I did. However, I didn't think too highly of it. I guess I identify too much with authors.Very lucid 1st person account but this guy lacked the "unit". His desertion from leave after the first year and he did not yearn to return to his comrades?? Something is missing and indeed you summed it up in your description. I still vote for the vignettes in Jack's book. Same horror but it includes the larger feeling.Short book less than 200 very small pages. Good rec.
 
For those of you who have DVD the film is now available on that medium.The disc has typical extra's.
the 1928 (1930? ) version is much superior for many reason's .The shear number of extra's used ,no CGI when the building blow up they blow up. The kit .
The director also ,Ithink ,was more motivated by the book ,and was not affecte by influence of any other soldiers war stories WW2 Korea Vietnam etc.
Mark Giroux 8)
 
The original film was made in Hollywood .Most of that kit went into thr costume houses .If you get a chance to see the colour films from the making of the great dictator you will see lots o haubs.
I still think the origanal was 1928 .
for you techy type you may want to look for the DVD it has better sound studio inteerviews etc etc. maybe show your clas that . the best seen for kid to see is the start of the late war offensive and they at least a Battalion of men ,also relly blow buildings up .
Mark G. :D
 
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