perseus
Active member
Today is the 90th anniversary of the end of WW1.
I have just been watching a programme about the number of people killed during the last days of the war. Many of these were killed and maimed after the armistice had been agreed but before the deadline of 11am. One might think both sides would just keep positions and keep their head down but no, there were actual mass attacks on that day, some even got killed in the last hours before the deadline when their commanders were definitely informed of the decision.
A few American commanders had not seen much action up to that point and were hungry for glory, trading lives for their future careers. In the worst case a general ordered his troop to attack a town so they could access bathing facilities, yet they could have walked in the next day. General Pershing was against the armistice and wanted to drive the Germans into the ground. Why, and we may have some sympathy here, he thought that Germany would claim they were undefeated and this would sow the seeds of another war. However, he was not going to acheive this in a few days.
Other countries also suffered needless casualties. Some French graves were backdated to the 10th, either to avoid controversy or possibly to avoid pension claims from dependants.
I have just been watching a programme about the number of people killed during the last days of the war. Many of these were killed and maimed after the armistice had been agreed but before the deadline of 11am. One might think both sides would just keep positions and keep their head down but no, there were actual mass attacks on that day, some even got killed in the last hours before the deadline when their commanders were definitely informed of the decision.
A few American commanders had not seen much action up to that point and were hungry for glory, trading lives for their future careers. In the worst case a general ordered his troop to attack a town so they could access bathing facilities, yet they could have walked in the next day. General Pershing was against the armistice and wanted to drive the Germans into the ground. Why, and we may have some sympathy here, he thought that Germany would claim they were undefeated and this would sow the seeds of another war. However, he was not going to acheive this in a few days.
Other countries also suffered needless casualties. Some French graves were backdated to the 10th, either to avoid controversy or possibly to avoid pension claims from dependants.
