Today marks the 100th anniversary of the declaration of war in Europe (World War I).
Germany had moved troops through Belgium with the intent to invade France. Brittan gave the German government until midnight Berlin time to begin with drawl from Belgium, when Germany did not respond to the deadline war was declared. This would have been at 9am this morning local East Coast time.
The conflict over the next 4 years was a game changer that still influences warfare today. It saw the introduction of tanks, aircraft (airplane and zeppelin), submarine warfare and weapons of mass destruction (chemical warfare devolved into unrestricted use). Civilian populations were deliberated targeted in bombing raids. Submarines initially targeted enemy ships but this later became unrestricted when they deliberately attacked American supply ships. Gas warfare was initially outlawed but the German military exploited a loophole. Soon both sides were in an unrestricted arms race to deploy chemical weapons.
It seems that this event has passed largely unnoticed by the Australian media today.
One interesting piece of history is that the first allied shot fired in the conflict was in Port Phillip Bay. A German steam cargo ship the Pfalz was in Melbourne shortly before the declaration. When it became obvious war would be declared they attempted to get out of the bay. They almost made it, but they were stopped when a 'warning shot' was fired across their bow at approximately 11:45.
If anyone is interested in this little piece of history, you can find more information here:
http://projectlongshot.wordpress.com/
Germany had moved troops through Belgium with the intent to invade France. Brittan gave the German government until midnight Berlin time to begin with drawl from Belgium, when Germany did not respond to the deadline war was declared. This would have been at 9am this morning local East Coast time.
The conflict over the next 4 years was a game changer that still influences warfare today. It saw the introduction of tanks, aircraft (airplane and zeppelin), submarine warfare and weapons of mass destruction (chemical warfare devolved into unrestricted use). Civilian populations were deliberated targeted in bombing raids. Submarines initially targeted enemy ships but this later became unrestricted when they deliberately attacked American supply ships. Gas warfare was initially outlawed but the German military exploited a loophole. Soon both sides were in an unrestricted arms race to deploy chemical weapons.
It seems that this event has passed largely unnoticed by the Australian media today.
One interesting piece of history is that the first allied shot fired in the conflict was in Port Phillip Bay. A German steam cargo ship the Pfalz was in Melbourne shortly before the declaration. When it became obvious war would be declared they attempted to get out of the bay. They almost made it, but they were stopped when a 'warning shot' was fired across their bow at approximately 11:45.
If anyone is interested in this little piece of history, you can find more information here:
http://projectlongshot.wordpress.com/