The Guns Grow Silent Special to The Great War Project (11 November) They call it an armistice, but in reality it is a German surrender. So writes historian Adam Hochschild. “It was a most unprecedented one, however, for the surrendering army despite being severely bloodied, remained well-armed, several million strong, and almost entirely on the…
Blog
A SHOCKED KAISER ABDICATES
by Mike Shuster
Monarch Flees to Holland; Deserters Flood Berlin, Establish Socialist Government. Peace Talks About to be Launched. Special to The Great War Project. (9 November) By this time a century ago in the Great War, Germany, Austria, and all their allies have begun to sue for peace. So reports historian Adam Hochschild. That includes — beside…
ARMISTICE IN ITALY, AUSTRIANS AND GERMANS FLEE
by Mike Shuster
Dead Bodies Everywhere. Among the Allies: Colored Rockets, Singing and Cheering. Bolsheviks See Revolution Spreading. (7 November) On the Western Front a century ago, the armistice is now underway, and at the same time the fighting goes on. So observes historian Martin Gilbert. “The armistice talks with Germany would go on. So would the fighting,…
GERMANY WITHDRAWING ON ALL FRONTS
by Mike Shuster
From Belgian Coast to Greek Islands, The End for Germany? Pershing Demands Surrender Over Armistice. Fears Return to War When Germany Is Rested. Special to The Great War Project. (5 November) In late October a century ago, Germany and Austria are making deep withdrawals now from territories they occupied for years. Reports historian Martin Gilbert:…
TAKE THE WAR TO GERMAN TERRITORY!
by Mike Shuster
A New Allied Offensive The Thing Left Unsaid? Surrender. Special to The Great War Project. (27 October) Events are moving quickly now as Germany continues to pull back its forces on the Western Front. Reports historian Martin Gilbert: “On October 12th the German government accepted President Woodrow Wilson’s conditions for negotiations, the complete withdrawal of…
FOOD SHORTAGES, CLOGGED ROADS, HINDER ALLIED ADVANCE
by Mike Shuster
Both Sides Plan to Fight in 1919. Germans Fall Back, Their Defenses Broken. Allies Need Millions More Soldiers from U.S. Special to The Great War Project. (22 October) France and the United States are making plans for shipping enough American soldiers and munitions across the Atlantic for a campaign to defeat Germany but not until…
CRITICAL SITUATION FOR GERMANY
by Mike Shuster
German Leaders Beg Kaiser to Seek Peace. Fear of Communist Revolution in Berlin; Support for Wilson’s Peace Growing Special to The Great War Project. (22 October) In the first week of October one hundred years ago, the domestic political situation inside Germany and the military situation for Germany all along the Western Front were both…
HORRIBLE MASSACRE IN SYRIA
by Mike Shuster
Scenes of Unspeakable Violence, Women and Children Unspared. Massacre Begets Massacre. Special to The Great War Project (8 October) Horrible developments these days a century ago in the Middle East. In the last days of September a century ago, scenes of horrific violence. The British General Edmund Allenby is leading his cavalry forces out of…
GENERALS TO THE KAISER: THE WAR CANNOT GO ON
by Mike Shuster
Talk of an Armistice, Bulgaria in Turmoil, But Fighting Still Ferocious. Special to The Great War Project. (8 October) A century ago, one by one and day by day, Germany and its allies are crumbling. On September 27th “more than 23,000 German prisoners had been taken,” reports historian Martin Gilbert. Elsewhere on the front line…
THE MEUSE-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE GRINDS TO A HALT
by Mike Shuster
Americans Struggling, Allies Desperate; A Future President on the Front Line. Special to The Great War Project (30 September) This is the decisive moment, the Allied attack at the Meuse-Argonne forest, a century ago on the Western Front. “On Thursday 26th September, the Meuse-Argonne opened,” reports historian Gary Mead. It was enormous. “The initial artillery…