WWI

The Great War, has many names for it but this one I feel must be added, The Forgotten War. Everyone looks at the end of the war and what impact it had on WWII. The deadliest conflict in the world up to that time is infinity overshadowed by the war that happened about 20 years later.

While WWII is great to study between the wonderful German General Officer Corps, the All powerful Japanese Navy, the Industrial Powerhouse of America. I believe in ways WWI is vastly more fascinating then WWII. From the just plain strange creations like the Czar Tank, to Big Bertha. Such famous names like the Red Baron came from this. The future greats of WWII all started in this overshadowed war.

My question is in what ways do you find WWI more interesting or more important then WWII.

For me I am just starting to focus on World war 1 once again (I picked up this great book about it once) and all I can say is, LONG LIVE THE KAISER.

AND SULTAN!!!!
Edit: I honestly think the Central Powers would have won if Austria-Hungary would have not surrendered. The Germans had alreday won in Russia and were starting to focus on France and the West. This was the 6th bloodiest conflict in European history. Without this war, the world would probably be under France, Germany, England, Ottoman Control and we would see imperialism for a longer period.

And Hapsburg German.

Well.. WW1 did lead to the tank, and made possible the communist takeover of Russia and overthrew the remaining monarchs in Europe, absolute monarchs that is. And like Viking Socrates, Lang lebe der Kaiser!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then Boom Russian civil war.

I find World War I interesting because it's the first time you have a real modern war on a large scale. It's the first time the tanks and aircraft are used. I also find it interesting because you really can't say one side was "good" and the other "bad" which people like to do with World War II. In this war leaders were just trying to increase there power by spreading nationalism, which horribly lead millions to there deaths. Also that World War I would set up the 2oth century for every thing to come.

Also not to mention the almost comical thinking of Officers before, during and after the war on the role of cav. Because 1000 horses charging at a machine gun works every time. Besides the tank and airplane, the machine gun did more then anything to finally make the Europeans realized that Napoleonic tactics may not be the best thing ever. WWI was pretty much a giant testing ground for new tech, plus I do agree neither side in the war was good/bad. It really was every ones fault that the war happened. But it kinda need to, I mean if the entire war could be started because one somewhat important person got assassinated. Europe needed the wake up call.

I find it interesting because it was a war fought between family members.

Deadliest family dispute in History.

Although world war 1 did change the fundamental outlook of war, at world war 1 and before most people would cheer in the streets for the war, but once world war 2 came around no one did.

I like the Monarchies, I think WWI saw the end of Monarchial power.

Bring back the Monarchy hey.

At the same time, the Americans were bringing tons of fresh troops over...

Though the America would run out into bullets like idiots.

In americas defense they didnt have proper training to deal with trench warfare.

True, although would be kind of odd and funny to see that happening.

Damn, so many Brits died in that war, best not thinking about from my point of view.

Hey, my Great-Grandfather was one of those idiots, but really like Rom pointed out the US Army wasn't train very well at trench warfare. General Pershing had the idea of "open" warfare, which if you look at battles late in World War I did happen. In the end the US did its part in helping win the war along with the other allied powers.