Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/News/July 2014/Op-ed
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The Shot Heard Around the World |
- By TomStar81
In all likelihood, the morning of 28 June 1914 started as it would any other morning for the men and women in the various nations of continental Europe. Wives would have woken children and cooked breakfast for their families. Husbands likely drank coffee or tea and read the paper, grumbling over minor issues like any citizen in their own time. Yet before the day ended a seemingly simple international incident common to 19th Century Europe would rapidly evolve into a firestorm that would consume men, machines, and nations in a way never before seen anywhere on the earth. The incident: The
On this, the eve of the centennial anniversary of World War I, it seems altogether fitting to pause and look back on the elder of the two World Wars. The First World War, known by other names until the outbreak of what we know as World War II, was a time of massive geo-political and military change. The dawn of the 20th century was arguably the height of European imperialism, with several European countries in control of satellite nations in much the same way that planets control their moons. White supremacy and other race and ethnic ideologues were hard at work as driving forces in a time when the color of one's skin still determined where the person ranked in his or her society. The opening of Asia Pacific nations such as China and Japan had resulted in civil wars as long-established traditions and ideologies were tested by superior military equipment and foreign doctrines that advocated for unequal treaties with conquered nations.
In the four years between 1914 and 1918, much of that changed. By the end of the First World War entire European nations had ceased to exist.
Militarily, the war altered the fundamental understanding of armed conflict. At the outbreak of the hostilities
By war's end, the Allied Powers of the time emerged victorious, however the conflict's monumental impact on all aspects of life both inside and outside Europe helped usher in a new age. Internationally, the war led directly to the creation of the
As we move into the official centennial of the four years during which World War I was fought we have the opportunity to present the community with quality material covering the major milestones of the conflict. Our World War I task force, and the editors working with the Great War Centennial special project, could use your help to make sure that when World War I's major milestone dates reach their official 100th anniversary they will be eligible for main page appearances. For a war that so fundamentally altered the world at the time, it seems altogether right and proper that we endevour to cover it as best we can.
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