William P. Gonzalez

  The outbreak of war in 1914 was a result of a tragic chain of events, no single statesman can be held responsible. – A.J.P. Taylor Responsibility for England entering the war was shared by the cabinet of H.H Asquith, where he was able to influence Grey in the decision-making process. Grey followed the correct process a Foreign Secretary should such as collecting information, building alliances to prevent war, and careful communication and diplomacy. Furthermore, Germany was not interested in diplomatic solutions to prevent war. Grey’s proposal of a Conference of Powers may have worked by bringing countries together to work for a diplomatic solution.    

  “In the American army of 1917–1918, there was a spiritual unity, a will to serve, and a readiness to sacrifice that must be kept alive.” — Memorial Day address, 1938, Franklin D. Roosevelt When the public passes the WW1 memorial, they may not know what the intricate details mean. However, when the memorial is observed closer, emotions of sadness and honor are felt. The WW1 memorial stands as a testimony to the sacrifices Americans made during the Great War. The frieze on the WW1 monument reflects that war brings about loss that only humility, mercy, and justice can heal. The memorial may not be noticed by many, but its symbolic power, when observed closely, helps the public have an intimate encounter with the War to end all wars.

  "We are fighting blindly... without knowledge, without preparation, and with no clear plan. We are throwing men into the fire simply to satisfy political demands." — General Mikhail Alekseyev, 1915 Russia in 1914 was in turmoil because of the Tsar's lack of military and critical thinking skills. This resulted in a lack of discipline for a military that was divided by adversaries. Lack of control of the military caused poor communication and leadership, which resulted in a series of defeats on the battlefield. Therefore, talented but untrained soldiers were used as collateral damage, which caused low morale that resulted in desertions, mutinies, and revolution. Therefore, Tsar Nicolas was not capable of running a modern government or leading a military to reach Russia's objective. If you mean the impact that war posters had as a psychological weapon to sway public opinion for government objectives, yes,   Phagan, Patricia, and Peter van Alfen, editors. The Art of De...

 "A house divided against itself cannot stand"- Abraham Lincoln Frank H. Simonds' objective in writing "The Lusitania Anniversary" was to sway public opinion. Simonds uses symbolism to portray a picture in Americans' minds about the consequences that will be faced if Germany wins the war. However, the German government gave warning that any ship entering the war zone will be subjected to an attack. Consequently, the passengers were used as human shields for the transportation of munitions for Britain. Britain's objective in allowing a ship to cross the Atlantic may have been to get America involved in the war. Therefore, responsibility should lie partially with Great Britain because they should have known the vulnerabilities those passengers faced in going into a war zone. When a country is at war, there is no morality; it is just what the winners say it is. The U-boat commander who sank the ship had no remorse.

 “The men had to be able to see their general.”- Lieutenant General Ralph Huebner Lieutenant General Ralph Huebner is an example of how World War I shaped military careers. Ralph Huebener worked his way up in rank from a private to a general by fighting in some of the fiercest battles in American history. At the same time, the Army changed as America became a world power. The army now awarded commissions to soldiers who showed courage, leadership, and tactical skills on the battlefield. A soldier who had experience saved lives on the battlefield. The army needed leaders such as General Hubner, whose experience helped bring America to victory in two different wars.  “The men had to be able to see their general.”- Lieutenant General Ralph Huebner World War 1 changed how military institutions gave commissions to their servicemen. The United States Army started giving promotions based on courage, tactical skills, and leadership. General Huebner is an example of an improved merit s...

  "During World War I, the impact of the poster as a means of communication was greater than at any other time during history." — Library of Congress The government's use of war posters should not be underestimated. The goal of war posters was to help stir public opinion, where the general public could help either by enlisting or buying war bonds. War posters were used as a psychological weapon targeting the public's emotions, such as shame, guilt, and patriotism. A person's morality was also targeted, drawing a line between good and evil. Therefore, conflict-era messages were a powerful tool that governments used to reach the minds and hearts of the public so they could help in the war effort one way or another.

“The wounded soldier must be made to feel that he is not a cripple, but a man who can still be of use to himself and to society.”-Dr.Albee It is a travesty that, through world-changing events, physicians, scientists, and psychiatrists create innovations that help people live better lives. Physical therapy gave hope to tens of thousands of veterans who may not have lived a normal life. Soldiers needed functionality after getting wounded, which led the way to rehabilitation medicine and physical therapy. However, WW1 was the gateway for numerous medical inventions such as plastic surgery, blood transfusions, triage systems, and PTSD. Therefore, through WW1, doctors started realizing that treating the person was equally important as treating the wound. When wounded veterans feel valued emotionally and spiritually, they make an effort in their recovery to be part of society again. “The wounded soldier must be made to feel that he is not a cripple, but a man who can still be of use to himse...

  “No fortress can be so strong that it will not yield to time and patience.” — Jean-Jacques Rousseau In today's world, the German officers who gave orders that sent hundreds of men to their deaths by hunkering down in the tunnels would face court martial, or there would be a war crimes investigation. The soldiers found a false sense of security in the well-lit, fortified tunnel system. Officers should have been informed about the limitations of the tunnel's protection and how soldiers can survive in them if a bombardment happens. Wolf's letters describe the tunnel system, where he was probably surprised that it became a death trap. Therefore, the lessons learned from this tragedy are ethical, military, and psychological. This signifies how technology cannot replace human intuition.   “No fortress can be so strong that it will not yield to time and patience.” —  Jean-Jacques Rousseau Hundreds of German soldiers were killed because of the military orders from their office...

  Javier Arango was essential to aviation because of his extensive knowledge of contributions to preserving, studying, and promoting historical aircraft and aviation history. Due to him, there will be an everlasting impact where early aviation will be honored and remembered. I wonder what happened to his extensive collection of WW1 airplanes.

  William P. Gonzalez September 26, 2023 at 11:02 PM Each side had periods of perceived air superiority throughout the war, with various aircraft models excelling in different areas, such as speed, maneuverability, climb rate, firepower, and durability. Anthony Fokker and his development of the Fokker D.VII and other aircraft contributed to aviation technology, which was a boon to future development in aeronautical engineering. Reply Henry Ford's trimotor or tin goose had different priorities; therefore, there were different facets in the design and construction, such as wing design, landing gear, and construction materials. Innovations constantly improved a plane's performance based on functions that could help their side win the war. Javier Arango was essential to aviation because of his extensive knowledge of contributions to preserving, studying, and promoting historical aircraft and aviation history. Due to him, there will be an everlasting impact where early aviation will...

  William P. Gonzalez August 22, 2024 at 9:16 AM Photographs help one to understand factual information about the reality of war soldiers faced, such as trench warfare, where they were exposed to the elements. Drawings and paintings, on the other hand, expressed the artist's emotion, experience, and opinion. Symbolism, composition, and color can delve deeper into emotional responses, such as "Gassed" by John Singer Sargent, where one can relate to the artist depiction of horror and suffering. Reply

"This surely is one of the strangest, saddest tragedies that have been enacted out by those dreadful Dardanelles, and the professional golfers may well claim it for the honour of their kind." — American Golfer magazine, 1915 "This surely is one of the strangest, saddest tragedies that have been enacted out by those dreadful Dardanelles, and the professional golfers may well claim it for the honour of their kind." — American Golfer magazine, 1915 The story of the Cottrell brothers is one of sacrifice, bravery, and family honor. Their attitude and professionalism towards the game of golf are displayed on the battlefield. The metaphor "die game," which means in golf, to maintain a competitive spirit and integrity to the end. The same ethics were used on the battlefield by the Cottrell brothers when they were faced with decisions about life and death. They knew they could die in battle, but continued to the bitter end. Therefore, the brothers used the ethics t...

  "Never, in the memory of man, has a race been more difficult and more gruesome; never has it worked more murderous on the mind and body of a rider..." — Karel Van Wijnendaele, pioneer of Flemish sports journalism The Circuit des Champs de Batille was a symbol of hope in a desperate situation. The bicycle race was supposed to heal the wounds of war. Since the race was poorly planned, spectators saw the demolished towns, roads, and the sense of death was still in the air. Society still needed more time to heal and rebuild. The race may have had a better outcome if the event organizer had chosen different routes where demolished towns were being rebuilt, allowing spectators and bicyclists to see a sense of hope. There should have been stops to honor the fallen for both bicyclists and spectators. There could have been ceremonies to honor the families and veterans, allowing communities to heal together. A symbol of hope was needed for France after the devastating effects of war...

  The article deconstructs the July 14 crisis, which was one of the catalysts that propelled Europe into war. The article shows how fragile peace can be within international relations. The question remains: what if the assassination of Archduke Fernand did not take place? Would there be peace? There are many factors that could have driven Europe into war, such as rising tensions between Germany and Russia, the alliance between European countries, militarization, competition, and economic pressure between countries. Similarly The United States was motivated to go to war, such as the Gulf of Tonkin incident in Vietnam. The invasion of Iraq because of the weapons of mass destruction. The Spanish-American war because of the sinking of the USS Maine.

  The article reveals the challenges Germany had with heavy weapons such as the MG08, which played a pivotal role in World War 1. However, the MG08 was difficult to repair and transport. These flaws gave an advantage to the British with their production of the British Vickers gun. In modern warfare, such as the conflict in Ukraine, there has been an improvement in heavy weaponry and accuracy. Ukraine uses the AK74 and the light machine gun, such as the PKM, which is air-cooled and light. Russia uses the PKP Pecheneg machine gun, which is still heavy but more reliable than the MG08 because of the forced air-cooled barrel, which eliminates Reply

  Waiting for Sunrise has a blend of genres such as historical contexts, the human psyche, and reflections on the morality of war. Boyd raises questions on loyalty, truth, and sacrifice during conflict. Therefore, as one delves more profoundly into the novel, one can explore themes such as identity, morality, and historical impact. Reply

  Photographs help one to understand factual information about the reality of war soldiers faced, such as trench warfare, where they were exposed to the elements. Drawings and paintings, on the other hand, expressed the artist's emotion, experience, and opinion. Symbolism, composition, and color can delve deeper into emotional responses, such as "Gassed" by John Singer Sargent, where one can relate to the artist depiction of horror and suffering. Reply

  There are a couple of essential literary devices in the poem The Stretcher Bearer by Robert Service, such as imagery and metaphor. Relating to imagery, Service tries to bring the reader into the sound, sights, and odors of war. Imagery helps evoke emotion from the reader about the horrors Service witnessed. The second literary device that Service uses is a metaphor, which helps to relate emotions and ideas to the reader. Service uses symbolic meanings, such as “My stretcher is one scarlet stain.” These symbolic meanings help reflect the true nature of war, such as burden, chaos, and sacrifice. Consequently, these literary devices, imagery, and metaphors help the reader understand the psychological and physical experiences that the stretcher bearer has to endure. Reply

  Military engagements in the modern army have shifted with rapid deployment, technology, and specialized units that outweigh large standing armies. Modernization is at the cost of the traditions of the regiment, which have historical significance. Money is another factor where the UK government is trying to create a cost effective military structure. Regiments with historical significance can maintain ceremonial roles where they can keep the legacy alive through public events, state ceremonies, and parades. If the UK can be flexible, regiments could be part of the reserve units where the history and legacy continue. Public advocacy concerning the history of these regiments is essential to preserving them for the future.

  The poem "The Hero" brings about reflections concerning the truth about war and how propaganda illusions families whose sons die on the battlefield. Where the stark reality is hidden. There's nothing romantic about dying on the battlefield. Sassoon's poem reflects this emotional and psychological burden of war. Where the thought of sacrifice and heroism is challenged.