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Benton D Struckcheon

(2,347 posts) Sat Jun 28, 2014, 10:36 AM Jun 2014

June 28, 1914. Probably the saddest anniversary for the human race. [View all]

On this day, 100 years ago, Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist. That started the chain of events that lead to WW1, the Russian Revolution, which gifted the Russians and their subject peoples with Stalin after a few years, the Versailles Peace Treaty (correctly characterized by perceptive folks at the time as a mere truce), the German hyperinflation that collapsed the Weimar Republic, leading to Hitler and WWII.
Thirty odd years of continuous hell. Violent deaths measured in the tens of millions. Cities from Western Europe to Far Eastern Asia incinerated.

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June 28, 1914. Probably the saddest anniversary for the human race. [View all] Benton D Struckcheon Jun 2014 OP

Two Bullets Octafish Jun 2014 #1

Heydrich's assassination was May 29. Benton D Struckcheon Jun 2014 #3

Hairpin Turns Octafish Jun 2014 #7

Slight correction to the above: Benton D Struckcheon Jun 2014 #10

Thank you. The guy was a NAZI prick. Octafish Jun 2014 #12

Thank you for sharing that, Octafish. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #22

I believe that someone erected a statue of the shooter there yesterday. roguevalley Jun 2014 #36

One wonders edhopper Jun 2014 #2

The only problem with this is that yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #4

I was referring to edhopper Jun 2014 #5

On the other hand, we lost a huge number of people who could've advanced and evolved our nation. NBachers Jun 2014 #16

but none of that was "inevitable" hfojvt Jun 2014 #6

True. Benton D Struckcheon Jun 2014 #8

It was definately 'A' trigger, the main one at that point anyway. BKH70041 Jun 2014 #9

Moltke Cartoonist Jun 2014 #11

Just read the Wikipedia article on him, Benton D Struckcheon Jun 2014 #26

Not the sole instigator Cartoonist Jun 2014 #27

Hmm. Yeah, you may be right about that. Benton D Struckcheon Jun 2014 #28

Modern historians Cartoonist Jun 2014 #31

Don't leave out the way Versailles messed up the Middle East starroute Jun 2014 #13

Thank you. So few American citizens know the history that you shared. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #21

Good post. If you liked the first two, you'll love number III. Throd Jun 2014 #25

Spread the blame around Cartoonist Jun 2014 #30

Don't blame the Arabs starroute Jun 2014 #34

But they only "play nice" under the likes of Saddam Hussein. Throd Jun 2014 #42

Which should have been a good argument for leaving Saddam in control starroute Jun 2014 #43

And the Spanish flu epidemic, which killed more people than the war starroute Jun 2014 #14

Apparently they have erected a monument to honor the assassin A Little Weird Jun 2014 #15

Twitter live feed starting today from the British Foreign Office, Benton D Struckcheon Jun 2014 #17

A historical "butterfly effect" if there ever was one and if you were able Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #18

WWI marked the end of Empires PeoViejo Jun 2014 #19

Don't tell the NRA, but it was a handgun that did it. tclambert Jun 2014 #20

Kicked and recommended! Enthusiast Jun 2014 #23

Old school DU right here tkmorris Jun 2014 #24

+1 Boom Sound 416 Jun 2014 #35

K&R. Iggo Jun 2014 #29

K&R. I wonder what Europe and the rest of the world would look like had Archduke Louisiana1976 Jun 2014 #32

Probably not much different since the same Turbineguy Jun 2014 #37

Agreed. Coventina Jun 2014 #33

Not January 20, 1942? Alex P Notkeaton Jun 2014 #38

Not to diminish that, Benton D Struckcheon Jun 2014 #39

"The Guns of August" by Barbara Tuchman proves ridiculous incompetence led to the war. greatlaurel Jun 2014 #40

It Is A Sad Anniversary Liberal_Dog Jun 2014 #41