Centenary of the outbreak of World War I
| Part of the First World War centenary | |
 Balloon release at the Reims War Memorial in the Place de la République. | |
| Date | 28 July 2014 - 4 August 2014 |
|---|---|
The centenary of the outbreak of
Franz Ferdinand, had culminated in Austria-Hungary declaring war on the Kingdom of Serbia, which Austria-Hungary blamed for the assassination, on 28 July 1914. Over the following days and weeks, this action and the invasion of Luxembourg and Belgium by the German Empire
led to a succession of other declarations of war that drew the major European powers into a worldwide conflict. A century later, governments in Europe held a series of official commemorative events to mark the occasion.
Hartmannswillerkopf
On 3 August 2014, the centenary of Germany's declaration of war on France was marked by
German President Joachim Gauck, who together laid the first stone of a new joint memorial at Hartmannswillerkopf for French and German soldiers killed in the war. Over 30,000 soldiers from both sides died in the fighting here at the Battle of Hartmannswillerkopf. The site, in the Vosges mountains of Alsace in France, is the location of a cemetery and a crypt containing the ashes of 12,000 unknown soldiers. The presidents observed a minute's silence in the crypt.[1]
Allied memorial at Liège
On the morning of 4 August 2014, leaders and representatives of 83 countries gathered at the
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. The commemoration culminated in the laying of a wreath of white roses at the memorial by King Philippe.[2]
Saint Symphorien cemetery
On the evening of 4 August 2014, a commemorative event was held at
The Last Post
.
Westminster Abbey
The final event of commemoration on 4 August 2014 was held in
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband. The culmination of the service was a vigil at the Tomb of The Unknown Warrior.[4] Part of the same 'Lights Out' event was the Spectra installation, with 49 beams of light rising above London from Victoria Tower Gardens to mark the centenary of the entry of Britain into the war.[5]
Tower of London
Between 5 August (the centenary of the first full day of the war) and 11 November (Remembrance Day) 2014 at the Tower of London, a ceramic poppy was planted for each British and Commonwealth soldier who died, making up the artwork titled Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red.[6]
See also
References
- ^ Huggler, Justin (8 August 2014). "French and German presidents hold joint First World War ceremony in Alsace". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ^ a b Robinson, Frances (4 August 2014). "World War I Centenary Marked in Liège". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ^ a b Henley, Jon (4 August 2014). "Europe's leaders hail ties of peace as they mark first world war centenary". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ^ a b "'Lights Out' ends day of WW1 centenary commemorations". BBC News. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ^ "WW1 centenary: Column of light illuminates London commemoration". BBC News. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ^ "Tower of London remembers". Historic Royal Palaces. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
External links
- Germany's Great War commemorations are filled with shame (The Independent)
- Scotland commemorates World War One centenary (BBC News)