History in Real Time (plus a century)

November 12, 2018 10:57 AM

Four and a half years ago, doctornemo posted The shots heard round the world., a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the assassination that would plunge Europe into World War I. Yesterday, doctornemo posted “It is 11 o’clock and the war is—”, a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the ceasefire that ended World War I.

In between those two, doctornemo made more than 20 other posts on the 100-year anniversaries of other WWI milestones, from Gallipoli to the American entry into the war to Operation Michael, "The beginning of the end".

Hats off to doctornemo for taking on and fulfilling this ambitious historical project.

posted by Etrigan to MetaFilter-Related at 10:57 AM (13 comments total)

Indeed. Thank you for the posts and the information.
posted by Fizz at 11:14 AM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]

I was so confused when a MeTa was posted in thread, but I thoroughly endorse this!
posted by corb at 11:28 AM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]

This is inspiring. The MeFi community should be proud that it is a place worth doing something like this for, too.
posted by dbx at 12:42 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]

I learned a lot from these, and became horrified. So thank you, doctornemo.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:16 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]

Amazing. I have been interested in WWI every since I read Rilla of Ingleside at a tender age. I think it is often overlooked in the US for a lot of reasons. It really was a monstrous, horrific war that changed the world in so many ways - scientifically, militarily, culturally, and artistically. Thank you doctornemo for your commitment to this project!
posted by muddgirl at 1:36 PM on November 12, 2018 [6 favorites]

Hear hear!
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 1:58 PM on November 12, 2018

Oh yes, this is a wonderful historical achievement. hip hip hooray.
posted by MovableBookLady at 3:22 PM on November 12, 2018

Thank you, doctornemo, and Etrigan for posting this.
muddgirl, my personal novels-and-memoirs WWI education went something like Rilla of Ingleside (WWI was painful, tragic, and life-changing, but a noble endeavor) --> The Wood Beyond (Reginald Hill) (WWI was a hideous farce and a waste of life) --> Testament of Youth (Vera Brittain) (both outlooks have a grain of truth).
I still reread all three books when I have the chance.
posted by huimangm at 4:38 PM on November 12, 2018

The first time I heard the soldier's phrase "embrace the suck" it resonated with me, and I often think of it with a little wry amusement as I do unpleasant tasks.

But when I picture the pants-shitting fear of trench warfare and constant bombardment and sharing your flooded trench dugout with the corpses of friends....THAT is the suck, and I can't imagine how bad it was, hour after hour much less week after week.

Just remembering those soldiers and nurses and doctors and civilians is the least we can do for them.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:16 AM on November 13, 2018 [5 favorites]

I know I've recommended it before, but I must do so again: if you have an interest in WW1 and have not yet listened to the six part Hardcore History podcast series Blueprint for Armageddon, I highly recommend it. I know Carlin isn't everyone's cup of tea, and he has some tendencies that I also find annoying, but overall the series is really something special.

Free on iTunes or wheverever you get your podcasts, try MeUndies, blueapron, squarespace, etc. =)
posted by lazaruslong at 7:06 AM on November 13, 2018 [4 favorites]

Wow, that is amazing! thank you doctornemo!
posted by Fig at 11:46 AM on November 13, 2018

Thank you very much for the enormously kind post, Etrigan. That's a superbly generous thing to do. And thanks to everyone on this thread for the kind words.

I think it was All Quiet on the Western Front that introduced me to WWI, back when I was 14 or so. I couldn't quite shake it afterwards, that sense of horror and a world torn wide open.

Years later I taught a war literature class, and the text that really moved my students was Vera Brittain's Testament of Youth. I recommend it to any reader anywhere.
posted by doctornemo at 10:08 AM on November 14, 2018 [9 favorites]

Marvelous work, doctornemo! Thank you for these posts, which have directed my reading and learning so helpfully. (Must add Testament of Youth to my reading list now.)
posted by GrammarMoses at 5:29 PM on November 17, 2018 [1 favorite]