Otto von Bismarck, German chancellor 1871-1890 was once asked what was the most important political fact of the time. His response is very relevant here; "the inherited and permanent fact that North America speaks English."
@King of Kings & Ruler of Rulers except its true Hitler did not expect america to make war so quickly he under estimated them just like what he did with the ussr
@@MK-ok6yp He knew the US was going to get involved eventually and did everything in his power to delay it, Japan fucked him over. He knew Germany was incapable of destroying US cities because they were on the other side of the world, and Germany did not have control of the oceans. Said cities were the ones arming and funding Allied war efforts. So he didn't underestimate the US really, but he did underestimate the USSR, which can be heard in his recording with Mannerheim where he expressed surprise at just how many tanks they had produced and how many men were mobilized, not to mention they had a godsend winter that year.
@@DrewPicklesTheDark But Hitler fucked Japan over by treaty with USSR to invade Poland while Japan was having a war with USSR . If Japan declared war on USSR instead of bombing Pearl Harbor at the time , things would end up quite differently.
How fitting that this is the video that I caught up on this series on Armistice/Remembrance/Veterans Day. Always a pleasure to watch. Keep up the great work.
I thought that this episode was especially well done and informative one. I would enjoy hearing more about Wilson, particularly his role in international affairs following the armistice. You are doing an outstanding job with such a monumental undertaking.
I think people forget just how much support there was for Germany in the US or how many European Immigrants came to America during this period. Not just the Irish of course, but the number of German immigrants was huge. There were numerous towns across the mid-west whose primary language was not English, but German! Something like 40% of white Americans today are of German descent... I firmly believe that if it werent for the media/propaganda being filtered through the British and communication cut from Germany, the US probably would have been much more divided and therefore continued to remain neutral. Because of the debts with Britain, I dont think the US would have entered the conflict on the German side. But the US's role would have been much different I think.
+sergeantbigmac Do you watch Star Trek? Pretty much the Ferengi. Make money by selling whatever they can to both sides. Though unlike the Ferengi I think there would be more divided idealism involved, rather than pure greed.
101jir No sorry, Star Trek is a bit before my time, but I love pop culture references so thanks for that haha ;) Divided idealism is the perfect phrase to describe it. And given the opportunity I think many countrys would have done the same thing.
So from what I understand the US was pretty much the only country in the world to actually benefit from WWI, becoming a creditor nation as opposed to a debtor nation, becoming a global superpower and gaining much more influence in Europe and around the world while only losing around 120,000 people to the war as opposed to the millions for the other warring nations (although millions would die from the resulting influenza pandemic), allowing the US to focus on strengthening itself while all the European powers had to focus on rebuilding after the war.
+Alex Golembeski Venezuela also got beneffited from WWI, the difference is that we were ruled by a dictator (Juan Vicente Gómez), he pretty much decided to keep Venezuela outside of the war and sell oil during the war (to who?, IDK, I only know that Venezuela became very rich in that moment and Gómez kept almost all of it to himself). Should we have been ruled by somebody like Guzmán Blanco (a President/Dictator that not only cared for his country but also wanted to make Venezuela World relevant), we could have become a world power as well (IMO).
+Alex Golembeski Brazil and Japan two other belligerents and Argentina a neutral also benefited. Most of the neutral nations would actually benefit from the war.
Just want to thank you for having this channel on youtube. I've always loved history and the History channel doesnt deliver documentaries like it used to when I was a kid. RUclips is really such a great thing...
Before watching this video I have to say something to you @The Great War. I have stumbled upon a gold mine of information to satisfy my appetite for knowledge when I first was introduced to your content by the AlternateHistoryHub. Thank you both.
+The Great War I got my History teacher to play this in lesson, which basically took up a lot about what we're going to learn that very lesson. They were impressed.
I am from Germany and we've got as usual the first World War in school again. Although the topic is one of the most vicious topics in German history it's really interesting because we tend to be frank with our history. I really like you video you've done a great job. It is going to help me a lot, especially because we have to describe the intentions of the United States as well. Liebe Grüße
Dear Indy,could you please do a video on the sepoy mutiny in singapore?I know you have done one video on it but from what I recall you just mentioned that it took place,I would like to see a video covering a subject that isn't really remembered in my home country,singapore.Infact,I only found out about the mutiny after watching your videos. Thanks for reading Indy and I hope that you would respond to me soon!
The German side of my family had just arrived in America a few decades before the war started. One of my ancestors was drafted but never saw combat. I can't imagine how awful it would have been to be a German-American in 1917 or 1918.
I love your videos, and I love history, especially WWI era history! It's just so intriguing! There are always new things being found out about the war even today, 100 years later. You always give such rich information that's so hard to find anywhere else, and I hope you keep it up. You're definitely one of my favorite channels! :)
Indy, you completely forgot to mention the involvement of JP Morgan Jr in the decision. JP Morgan Sr., the richest man in America and the undisputed Captain of Wall Street, had made his money serving as the representative of British wealth in America. He was a Republican. He died in 1913. His vast fortune was inherited by his son JP Morgan Jr., who was also a Republican, and who used J.P. Morgan & Co. to finance and loan billions to Britain and France during the war. By the Battle of the Somme in 1916, were France and Britain lost over 600,000 soldiers, it looked like the Allies were reaching their point of exhaustion. Obviously, if Germany won, it would mean that all the loans owed by the Allies to the American banks would not be repaid. That, in turn, would surely cause an economic recession in the U.S. worst than then Panic of 1907. In addition, Wilson looked like he was going to lose the 1916 Presidential Election. He had won in 1912 only because the Republican Party splintered in two factions. But by 1916 the Republican Party had reunited, and Wilson was poised to lose the election. It was under these circumstances that JP Morgan, Jr. met Wilson in 1916 and decided to support Wilson in his re-election bid. The obvious quid pro quo was that Wilson would take the U.S. into the war in 1917, in order to insure that the Allies won, so that Britain and France could repay the billions in loans owed to Morgan. With Morgan Jr.'s support (i.e. campaign money, favorable newspaper publications, etc.), Wilson won re-election in 1916. Smedley Butler would blame Morgan Jr.'s assistance in re-electing Wilson in 1916 as the real reason behind the U.S. involvement in WWI.
+Markus Weißner was my thought when I heard that quote. I've been reading a lot of Eisenhower quotes lately (bothered we are wasting $30 mil/ a piece testing trident missiles).
+Brandon Ottinger (JaqenH'ghar80) You need to read more than quotes to understand history. The US is what it has been from the beginning--an empire. Colonists are the seeds of empire.We were born as the result of an expropriation. You cannot understand latter day events without considering the origin of the country itself. The simple truth is that the US was an expansionist state longer before the Spanish-American War and the 20th century. What do you think Manifest Destiny was??? As for Eisenhower. The US won WWII in large part because of the Military-Industrial complex. We overwhelmed the Japanese and Germans with tanks, plans, ships,etc. Eisenhower himself okayed the overthrowing of democratically elected governments in Iran and Guatemala. His ‘warning” really isn’t a warning so much as a statement of facts. The USSR also had a massive military. It was the Cold War and both sides loathed each other. That’s what ideology does. The fact that we have a MID is a symptom of our imperial status and not the genesis of our imperialism. We were imperialist long before the mid-2oth century.
wolverineeagle I do read more quotes you know being a student of history. I just happen to know that he was a wise man (that and we share a common grandmother). I love how ya'll always like to apply quotes or actions from someone earlier in their life as if it reflects exactly what they believed or felt late in life. People do change their minds you know and realize the error of their ways. Eisenhower despised war and the MIC towards the end of his life and had firsthand experience with how bad it was getting. He predicted everything that has come to pass with the rising of military contractors who have amassed great wealth off the backs of the Government and the American people. All on extremely wasteful programs. "“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement. We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. This is, I repeat, the best way of life to be found on the road the world has been taking. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.... Is there no other way the world may live?” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower What military blowhards fail to understand that there is a world where the U.S. has a powerful, smart, and LEAN military that meets the security needs of a nation but also doesn't rob our people of all the things we actually need. The last two "wars" that we had no right being in put $4.5 billion on the tab even though our Country faced no direct threat. We could have accomplished our goals without invasion use smart tactics (like what actually got Bin Laden).
+wolverineeagle You seem fairly desperate to pin the title of "imperialist nation" on the US. Why? What do you gain from this? Surely you're not simply seeking to state the truth. Half of what you said is nonsense. I mean, you didn't even cite the right stuff. You should have pointed to US intervention in Latin America after WWI, and the US taking over Spanish colonies. That's as close you're going to get. Citing manifest destiny is just nonsense. Manifest destiny was designed to secure the continent as quickly as possible to prevent European powers from turning North America into an imperialist battle ground, likely sweeping away the US. Manifest destiny was defense against imperial powers.
It's sad to look at what America was and now is becoming, instead of having billions to loan we are now trillions in debt... Congress in office for only 3 months, probably actually doing something productive instead of taking away our freedoms as they do today... Before the days of unlimited entitlement funding where people actually expected to have to work for what they have... A small military that wasn't expected to involve itself in every conflict... That would be a country worth dying for
So I keep hearing about all of this German attrocities, did the Entente ever did anything like the Central Powers? because is hard to believe that Britain, France or Russia were saints during this war.
+Lucciano Bartolini Nobody is saint, even less in war. Both sides did great act of vileness but we remember more of one side because the other was the victor.
+Lucciano Bartolini Well considering most of the western war happened in French and Belgian cities, its much more likely for German soldiers to have committed atrocities against the civilian population than French or Belgian bullying German citizens. Although in terms of prisoners all sides committed crimes, as human life value was not as high back then as it is today. Britain did bomb German cities, although Germany did as well. And since the Entente won, they wrote history, so of course they hide what they did while criminalizing what they were against. Kind of what the British Empire did to hide their genocides, which are not too known thanks to British manipulating information.
Hey there, I just wanted to say thanks for all the good work you're doing here, thumbs up. I've got a question tho, are you planning on doing a series about WW2 aswell? Seperate channel? I know there is allready alot of information about it, still tho I've learned more from this channel about WW1 than any other! Nonetheless thanks Indy for all the information you allready gave people that are interested in learning more about the history of WW1
My maternal great grandparents had come over from southern Germany in the 19th century, but according to family lore my ggfather declared his support for England and even claimed, in a heavy accent, to be English. Whether this was just the family being eccentric or fear of anti-German backlash, nobody knows.
+The Great War Hence the SPOILER ALERT tag. ;-) One of the things that I love about this channel is how it expands on what US students are taught about WWI. US students are taught that the sinking of the Lusatainia is the reason the US entered the war. While that might be partly true there were many other factors, a lot of which you have touched upon in this special episode. It is an interesting thought though, what if Zimmermann Telegram was successful or was not intercepted? What could have happened if Mexico did join in the war on the Central Power's side? But that might be a subject for the Alternate History Hub (the reason I found The Great War channel) to tackle.
+Lee DeForest Not really an expert on Mexico, but the unrestricted submarine warfare would have brought the US into the war in any case. The telegram was just the Casus Belli.
What a nice episode. And nicely informative. The decision for Wilson to go to war must not have been an easy one. So I have some sympathy for the man. He probably wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing by going to war. But at the end of the day he meant well by everything he did before, during, and after the Great War ended. Great job.
The thing is, if America had someone joined the Central Powers, there is no doubt in my mind the Central Powers would've been victorious while the US army and navy weren't as strong as the British or French, It would put a massive strain on French and British war industry as they would have to redeploy troops and ships to patrol the Canadian and pacific waters from any possible American attacks. Also without the US industrial strength and financial support, England and France would most likely run out of money and lose their ability to fun the war and would be forced to sue for peace with Germany.
In all honesty that wouldn't of mattered a whole lot. If Britain lost the US industrial and financial support, it would have much fewer resources to fight both the Germans and the Americans. Also while a US Central powers probably wouldn't land on Europe, they could easily land in Africa or attack England and France's colonies in Southeast Asia. Stefan T
+Stefan T They didn't need to, taking away the financial and industrial suport it gave to france and UK and giving it to the central powers is a big deal. They could have suported the german fleet in Asia, and attack Australia, Canada and some others since the UK was busy with the war in Europe and Mesopotamia.
+agus mingot I do believe without US support the Allies would have lost. (not a historian obviously so take this with a grain of salt). Keep in mind Germany vs Russia, France, and the UK was practically a stalemate, and came down to endurance. With practically the entire eastern front out of the picture due to the Russian revolution, and without the US providing food and weapons, as well as some troops, the Central powers could have rolled over the Trenches and taken Paris.
+DeathEaterLink With the success of the 1918 spring initiatives, the Germans were very, very close to Paris. Their supply lines petered out and the troops got busy looting and eating and they lost momentum. Then the American troops really came into the fray from the Battle of Chateau Thierry, where the advance was stopped, and things began to unravel from there. And of course there was a lot of trouble on the home front too. While it is entirely possible that the Allies could have "lost" you can not help but wonder to what; in the sense that Germany was in very bad shape and would have been hard pressed to occupy and govern the territory they had taken. In the end, everyone was exhausted and it was touch and go about who would cave first.
Thank you, an excellent Video!! It also gave a deeper understanding as to why my Grandfather started to say that my family was Flemish, instead of (Jersey) German. Had to rise a family, and with all the hate towards Germany he came up with a good solution.
I absolutely love your videos, as I love learning about history. Keep up the awesome work and continue to inspire people to take an interest into history and politics.
Hi, great video as always I dont know if this would be your type of video but could you do a series on the military's if the nations after WW1 like the naval arms race etc... thank you for your time and you are a great asset to educating people of WW1.
+JagerLange Yes that is definitely Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and at the time he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy. A curiosity, its interesting to see how the Navy affairs shaped the initial of the 20 century, and the key players of the Western Allies in WW2 participation.
Cool deal im from America. I was wondering if you were gonna do a episode on us. My grandfather fought in WW1 his job was to collect the weapons and any personal effects from his dead buddies who had died in no mans land in the days fight. Very cool indeed. I even got his 1911 with the pistol case and all. Love this episode.
At 3:32 the quote was by Iowa Congressman Henry Vollmer, Robert Zieger mentions it in one of his many fantastic books. Y'all always have amazing quotes!
Scares me to learn how effective one-sided media an have on public opinion. the Iran-Iraq war would of been far short and less destructive if the world didn't so desperately want Iraq to win
+Christian Weibrecht Yellow journalism was a big deal in mainstream media, and still is. Just look at everyday news and you'll see. They had already done it, during the American-Spanish war, for example.
+JahnTrawn That happens in my country too, only two companys control 2/3 of the media. We used to have a really good public TV with many awards for being objective and innovative, but the new government turn it into propaganda...
+JahnTrawn Yeah, except there is this thing called the internet where ideas are easily passed along. Most people get their news from the internet now days. Corporations make your phones, cars, medicine, food, etc. You actually have far more choice when it comes to news than you do with anything else. Corporate media is the easiest to subvert because anyone can start a news site. Plus, independent media is no less prone to bias and propaganda than corporations. As someone who has a degree in journalism I can say that any idiot can be a Goebbels if they know how to write and to make videos. Propaganda is easy to produce than ever before with the readily available video production programs and blog templates.
Juss Jus the post war social reformation the gov't executed from the late 40s to the 80s paints america as a unified democratic state since the dawn of time. The concept that democracy is purely American in nature and that there never was anything else in American hearts and minds as well. The reallity as touched on in the video is that America was very isolationist, imperial, and divided quite extensively between what today we would call, republic, socalist, and communist mind sets. (of course communism was not a word at the time though.)
That's not remotely true. Communism being described as being un-American didn't become a thing until the 50s, but we've always been a very patriotic country dating back to the war of 1812.
+Minngarm Halnhammer you said America was not unified before WW2, carter claims the US was unified since the general nationalism surge in 1812. Not taking any side here, but how can you say he's supporting you?
The Irish American view was probably a bit more complex than simply disliking Britain and wanting independence..People who supported Home Rule (a somewhat form of independence - postponed due to the outbreak of war in 1914) joined the British cause in their tens of thousands and so too did the Unionists - both hoping the British would take note of their loyalty and that they'd subsequently gain favour..I'm sure Indy will have some episodes on it in easter 2016 to correspond with the anniversary of the rising
Hey great war I love your show wish I would have found it when you started. I have a question have you ever done an episode on home front things. Like rationing and bond drives. I'm a huge history nerd and these things are talked about a lot in WWII victory gardens and all that but it's hard to find that kind of thing during WWII. Thanks and keep up the awesome work.
Quite amusing, how the USA barely had an army (or rather, no "real" army to speak of). And by WWII, about forty years later, it had one of the strongest armies of the western world (in numbers and firepower at least).
+The Great War I remember learning it, and made Theodore Roosevelt a war hero in the Battle of Kettle Hill ( Battle of San Juan Hill )also you forgot to mention that theater Roosevelt offered Wilson to lead a battalion in Europe when they enter the war but Wilson refused.
I live in Pennsylvania(vary german). Some of my ansestors came from wittenberg in germany about 60 years before the war. My family is all german based protestant.
I wonder if a later video will address the decisiveness of the US involvement in the war. We didn't field significant numbers until mid-1918, and our troops and commanders were far down on the learning curve compared to the other powers. I suppose eventually US involvement WOULD have been decisive, given our enormous industrial and manpower resources. But given the short time US forces were in the field (and their rather low number of casualties incurred), it doesn't seem decisive.
les deux batailles décisives qui ont été menées pendant la première guerre mondiale sont la bataile de la Somme et la bataille de Verdun, qui ont été les batailles les plus sanglantes et mortelles de la première guerre mondial.
It already was very decisicive in that we provided much needed supplies and holding a front in Southern France. The U.S also launched offensives the allies to capture the Meuse Argonne as well as have are troops fill in spaces in other allied lines. But U.S industry and manpower would be more decisive if war lasted longer if the beaten and crushed German Army decided to try to cling and plan 1919 went into effect. The would also be week trained as they were being trained by France and Britain and have experience fighting Germany. So as the war gets longer the more important the U.S is.
Carlos Clinche When was there ever a front in Southern France? Are you referring to the Italian Front, which saw extremely limited involvement of US soldiers?
I'd like to see more of these videos about countries before the war. I know you guys made several prelude to war episodes and a few episodes about specific countries during the war (such as Italy and Bulgaria), but I'd really like to see videos about countries before the war in terms of their cultural, political, economic, and military history. Austria-Hungary is a country in particular that I'd really like to see a video on!
Oh look, it's the Libtard who has never read any real history in his life. Now he will call me a racist for pointing out the truth. Hint: It's not Isaac Chay.
It was Remembrance Sunday in Britain yesterday. The Poppy Appeal is doing great work too. Please try to mention them too if you are going to talk of an American charity, you know to help them raise money to preserve war graves and provide injured veterans with rehabilitation.
+Jstoney127 Part of it has to do with the draft. Back then, war was a commitment, and regardless of whether anyone personally supported the war, everyone was expected to provide support. While it would be great if we thought things through more before entering war, let's not forget that there was a cost. Propaganda was *everywhere*, and the media didn't *dare* speak out against the war. With the draft in place, it isn't your choice whether you die for your country. People are expected to give up on luxuries, or be greatly frowned upon, possibly humiliated. The reason why there was more hesitancy was because the laws around war were extremely pressuring, some may argue oppressive. While it would be great if we were more careful about entering into war, let's not forget the horrors in the law that forced the government to be so careful, it wasn't simply a more moral culture.
I keep thinking of those civilization-like games. US focused mostly on raising production level and advanced far more than the other countries, but with poor military. Then, in the war, US started building military units to deploy and spend more on maintenance. Now it has a giant military force, spending a lot of maintenance on it, but with production level far less developed than it could have been. And China is building lots of production structures and advancing with its large population.
My grandfather was born in 1899. He fibbed about his age to join the army in 1917. He became an aeroplane engine mechanic and was sent to France. At one time, I had all the photographs he had of his time in the Army. One in particular sticks in my mind. It was a photo of him standing with "his" Nieuport 28 fighter. I guess that means he was the crew chief of it. I do still have a photo of him in his Army uniform. JA
I would argue that the sinking of the lusitania was not what started Americas entrance into the war since they didnt enter until 2 years later. If that was the reason they would have declared war sooner like with Pearl Harbor.
I hope you make a Video on the US sent troops into Mexico, well not part of WW1, it was where the US Army fought before WW1, General John J Pershing and Patton (Although he plays a bigger role in the next war) It would make a good special. US troops also fought in Peaking in 1900 (Alongside Germany, UK, Russia, Japan France among others) and during the Philippines insurrection. Still, the nation was not ready for this war, hence why most fighting took place in "18" rather then "17" when the AEF got there.
+william lydon The Marines in the Boxer Rebellion in China. The sons of a couple of Marines who fought then (I'm thinking Littleton Waller but there is another example) went on to greatness in WWI.
6:12 That's not Teddy, whom was just quoted, that's Franklin, i.e FDR. 8:43 Contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as a "No Win" situation; and that's where Wilson found himself. He bears a measure of the responsibility and may well have been weak but by no means was he alone to blame for America getting into the war.
The preparedness debate in the US merits study. It was not really a debate of "build up a military" versus "no build-up," but more of what type of preparedness we needed. Conservatives wanted to build a standing army on the German model, with officers to be politically picked and trained, and every able-bodied male to be subject to automatic military service; progressives wanted to use the National Guard as the core of a new army. (Yes, I know I'm simplifying. But among other things, this debate disqualified Leonard Wood from commanding the AEF; the job went to Pershing, who had stayed out of it.)William McAdoo's handling of the financial crisis of 1914 is another major point. When French and British investors started to sell off their American holdings, and convert dollars to gold for shipment home, their actions threatened to spark a major depression. Without any legal authority, Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo persuaded the directors of the New York Stock Exchange to shut down for four months. This kept gold from draining out of the US, keeping the American economy healthy, which in turn let us support the Entente powers and keep them fighting.Herbert Hoover should also be looked at. Early in the war he oversaw relief supplies to Belgium; once America went to war, he oversaw the handling of American food supplies. His work made him famous and helped him win the Republican presidential nomination in 1920.
Indy, I wrote a war poem, and it's not really about WW1, but it is compatible with all war, and I think you could use it when you get to The Battle of the Somme. The Hill A war poem by Keylin Humphrey The cool wind blew o’er those lucky few, And the brutal rules of thumb, they still held true; Under the deadly light of the violent blood moon, The dead festered and rotted in a grave festoon. The shells and bullets ripped the grass, Never going back to the past. The trenches were holes made from shells, Each one a living Hell. Death and war were close friends, Neither one making amends. The soldiers were all torn and muddy, Each one somewhat bloody. Many dead, buried in mud, And on the hill, the Reaper stood. Some on this side, some on that, Every one attracting gnats. None of them held a personal grudge, But their leaders gave them quite a nudge. “Go and win! Go and fight!” Or maybe die off in the night. “Come on now! Make a difference!” The 53rd, they were christened. And what of those boys, those poor 13? No difference made, nothing to mean. Just a shell, tearing apart, Many a Girlfriend and Mother's heart. Not a word, not a sound Just a death, not so profound. So many more, you'll understand, The world much more undermanned. A single gone, among the millions. Not much longer before ‘tis billions. The cause, why, it's much too trivial. A conversation in a game of Billiards. A lone bullet, in a king, An inch of land, what irrelevant things. Not much to do, but do and die, Now we have done, and now we lie. Plato wrote, to settle the score, That only the dead have seen the end to war. End.
I laugh to myself a bit when I imagine my Irish, German, English, and French immigrant ancestors fist fighting each other over if we should go to war and for who. I think of it kinda like Gangs of New York.
America: We don't want war with Germany, they stand up to the other imperial powers who led to our emigrations Britain: *Mmm looks like you need some fine P R O P A G A N D A*
+Sunnah They captured a few trading areas from the Germans, but I believe that with the exception of the loss of 1 ship or so they didn't really take many casualties. Pretty much just sailed in and laid claim to German holdings in Asia.
+straightouttafascism Japan had a firm military alliance with Britain until the Washington treaty of 1922. Under the alliance Britain was able to transfer its entire eastern fleet to the Atlantic and Mediterranean, including ships of the Australian, New Zealand and Indian naval force, while the Japanese Navy assumed the protection of Britain's empire in the east. In the Indian and Pacific oceans Japanese ships protected military convoys from Australia and New Zealand and supplied armaments. A small Japanese army unit did operate alongside the British in Europe. The US and Japan always considered each other their main rival in the Pacific and the US insisted part of the Washington treaty must be the the cancellation of the British/Japanese alliance. The British agreed but the Japanese saw this as an betrayal and insult. This led to the Japanese alliance with the axis forces in WW2.
+john eye "Like exploits in Mexico", oh gee thank you very much, we always appreciate it when you guys think of your illegal invasions and abuses as "exploits"
+pizzapicante27 What I meant by the pervious statements of exploits was the accomplishment of being an Olympic athlete as well as conducting the first motorized attack in history. Also history proves that pancho villa was the first to attack across the border to columbus New Mexico which sparked the invasion. That's to be expected of any nation that has been attacked which isn't a huge atrocity if you look at what else is going on in the world at this time. If your also referring to US actions in more recent times then your making an assumption that I agree with those which I do not.
john eye Well actually I was talking about the illegal invasion and occupation of Veracruz, in which in violation of international law AND YOUR OWN TREATIES you occupied and killed the citizens of the port city of Veracruz. I could, as you mention go into detail to more recent affronts, but I agree we must focus on the period. BUT since you want to go with Pancho Villa, I would first ask some questions: - You say "That's to be expected of any nation that has been attacked", so you're saying that if a US citizen one day killed a Chinese citizen, China would be within their right to bring a whole army company within the US to look for him? I mean I'm asking because at no point did Villa occupy an elected position in the government nor did he officially represent Mexico in any capability. - I would also like to remind you the attack was started by YOUR forces, remeber Villa was there to pick up weapons he had PAID FOR and was denied of them by the local garrison, I dont know you but if I was in the middle of a battle for my nation and some army lackey tried to trick out of my money AND vital supplies I would do the same. - LASTLY I would like to ask who gave permission for the US army to enter the territory, Im asking because legally, nobody could give that permission, not today, not then, it would need a constitutional change to most of our laws, and Im preeetty sure we were in the middle of a civil war and in no condition to declare a new constitution. One more funny fact for the channel, THAT invasion was the first recorded use of Aerial Bombardment in the American continent, Villa rented a bi-plane, carried a bucket of grenades and proceded to drop them over the US contingent... just a funny fact. Also an interesting fact, US cinematographers became enamored with the image of Villa (and Villa, who was no shy of camera), so much that several films where made of him, Villa on his part would take the time to coreograph fights and horse charges to his US audience.
Well done, but perhaps could have been more accurately TITLED ...I was looking for description, portrayal, analysis of what the country was like from the perspective of a tourist, or journalist, or author. This video touched on these things in several places, but much of it was looking at things from an international stand point, and delved into the changes inside the political engine of the Wilson administration as they pertain to the underpinnings of WW I. It wasn't what I was looking for, but WELL DONE enough that I watched it anyway, and intend to subscribe. Thanks for your hard work and willingness to share. This a scholarly and academically sound piece of work, well-written, and very WELL PRESENTED. I love the period set/backdrop, and the accurate costume and hairstyle. They make the video more watchable and more effective. Thanks again!
This channel deserves the HIGHEST accolades...period.
+Christopher Stewart Thanks.
Quite true.
Otto von Bismarck, German chancellor 1871-1890 was once asked what was the most important political fact of the time. His response is very relevant here; "the inherited and permanent fact that North America speaks English."
+justfor matn He wanted to stay allied with Britan against France though... wise man... founder of Germany you could call him
And Hitler didn't get the memo lol
@King of Kings & Ruler of Rulers except its true Hitler did not expect america to make war so quickly he under estimated them just like what he did with the ussr
@@MK-ok6yp He knew the US was going to get involved eventually and did everything in his power to delay it, Japan fucked him over. He knew Germany was incapable of destroying US cities because they were on the other side of the world, and Germany did not have control of the oceans. Said cities were the ones arming and funding Allied war efforts. So he didn't underestimate the US really, but he did underestimate the USSR, which can be heard in his recording with Mannerheim where he expressed surprise at just how many tanks they had produced and how many men were mobilized, not to mention they had a godsend winter that year.
@@DrewPicklesTheDark But Hitler fucked Japan over by treaty with USSR to invade Poland while Japan was having a war with USSR . If Japan declared war on USSR instead of bombing Pearl Harbor at the time , things would end up quite differently.
I wish I had found this channel earlier.
To all the people who make this channel possible; thank you immensely for the hard work.
Such a phenomenal RUclips page, can't believe I just now stumbled across it. Prost, keep up the good work
Welcome to the show.
How fitting that this is the video that I caught up on this series on Armistice/Remembrance/Veterans Day. Always a pleasure to watch. Keep up the great work.
+Garret LeBuis Will do, thanks a lot.
7:30 Great words Woodrow Wilson. May they be remembered loudly as the global community progresses.
Don’t even like him that much but he is speaking the truth
He was a evil tyrant
I thought that this episode was especially well done and informative one. I would enjoy hearing more about Wilson, particularly his role in international affairs following the armistice. You are doing an outstanding job with such a monumental undertaking.
I think people forget just how much support there was for Germany in the US or how many European Immigrants came to America during this period. Not just the Irish of course, but the number of German immigrants was huge. There were numerous towns across the mid-west whose primary language was not English, but German! Something like 40% of white Americans today are of German descent...
I firmly believe that if it werent for the media/propaganda being filtered through the British and communication cut from Germany, the US probably would have been much more divided and therefore continued to remain neutral.
Because of the debts with Britain, I dont think the US would have entered the conflict on the German side. But the US's role would have been much different I think.
+sergeantbigmac Do you watch Star Trek? Pretty much the Ferengi. Make money by selling whatever they can to both sides. Though unlike the Ferengi I think there would be more divided idealism involved, rather than pure greed.
101jir No sorry, Star Trek is a bit before my time, but I love pop culture references so thanks for that haha ;)
Divided idealism is the perfect phrase to describe it. And given the opportunity I think many countrys would have done the same thing.
40% is probably a bit much
IIRC the largest single ancestry among white Americans was and still is British
So from what I understand the US was pretty much the only country in the world to actually benefit from WWI, becoming a creditor nation as opposed to a debtor nation, becoming a global superpower and gaining much more influence in Europe and around the world while only losing around 120,000 people to the war as opposed to the millions for the other warring nations (although millions would die from the resulting influenza pandemic), allowing the US to focus on strengthening itself while all the European powers had to focus on rebuilding after the war.
+Alex Golembeski Venezuela also got beneffited from WWI, the difference is that we were ruled by a dictator (Juan Vicente Gómez), he pretty much decided to keep Venezuela outside of the war and sell oil during the war (to who?, IDK, I only know that Venezuela became very rich in that moment and Gómez kept almost all of it to himself).
Should we have been ruled by somebody like Guzmán Blanco (a President/Dictator that not only cared for his country but also wanted to make Venezuela World relevant), we could have become a world power as well (IMO).
Not quite Sweden benefited from selling vital iron ore to both sides. Mainly the Germans
+Truth_hurts / Swedish iron ore export declined during ww1. Peak year was 1913. (www.scb.se)
+Alex Golembeski Brazil and Japan two other belligerents and Argentina a neutral also benefited. Most of the neutral nations would actually benefit from the war.
Then the US returned to isolation it became a true superpower during ww2
Just want to thank you for having this channel on youtube. I've always loved history and the History channel doesnt deliver documentaries like it used to when I was a kid. RUclips is really such a great thing...
+Tom Brown Thanks a lot!
I truly look forward to watching your episodes. Thank you.
Welcome to the show.
Before watching this video I have to say something to you @The Great War.
I have stumbled upon a gold mine of information to satisfy my appetite for knowledge when I first was introduced to your content by the AlternateHistoryHub. Thank you both.
+Piston JOR Thanks!
Thank you! I'm studying America 1914-53 in A-Level History now, and this'll come in handy.
+Batman Jr. Glad we could help.
+The Great War I got my History teacher to play this in lesson, which basically took up a lot about what we're going to learn that very lesson.
They were impressed.
I am from Germany and we've got as usual the first World War in school again. Although the topic is one of the most vicious topics in German history it's really interesting because we tend to be frank with our history. I really like you video you've done a great job. It is going to help me a lot, especially because we have to describe the intentions of the United States as well. Liebe Grüße
The U.S. also built a flying city, where a time-traveling girl once lived.
+masterimbecile And she lived in transdimensional lighthouse.
@@TheGreatWar wot
Where does that story come from?
@@brokenbridge6316 It comes from BioShock Infinite. A great game.
@@cameronmcnoname1995---Oh I see. Heard of that game before. But I'll just have take your word for it on how a great game it is.
Great episode, you brought up a lot of important factors that most people never knew about. Madeline did a great job on the research!
+Mark Haushahn That she did
Much love to the United States, and the people of America. From the United Kingdom :)
PS Love you too Canada
Thanks mate!
Likewise friend.
Thank you so much. We love you too Britain!
-from California, USA.
I'm from Birmingham england! We could relate
Love to USA for the support to keep britainia STRONG!
thanks Indy for helping me write my history essay on this exact topic, many thanks!
Dear Indy,could you please do a video on the sepoy mutiny in singapore?I know you have done one video on it but from what I recall you just mentioned that it took place,I would like to see a video covering a subject that isn't really remembered in my home country,singapore.Infact,I only found out about the mutiny after watching your videos.
Thanks for reading Indy and I hope that you would respond to me soon!
+Maximilian Tay What else would you like to know about it?
The Great War Well like what inspired the mutiny and how was it resolved etc etc
Maximilian Tay But isn't that exactly what we talked about in the February episode?
The Great War wait it really was that short????
Please start on World War 2 soon! These are excellent for teaching students in history classes! Thank you!
I think that they used the wrong Roosevelt photo...
That we did.
Ha, that's funny!
studying for my u.s history test while recovering from my wisdom teeth surgery. super helpful! thanks, indy and the great war team :)
The German side of my family had just arrived in America a few decades before the war started. One of my ancestors was drafted but never saw combat. I can't imagine how awful it would have been to be a German-American in 1917 or 1918.
I love your videos, and I love history, especially WWI era history! It's just so intriguing! There are always new things being found out about the war even today, 100 years later. You always give such rich information that's so hard to find anywhere else, and I hope you keep it up. You're definitely one of my favorite channels! :)
Indy, you completely forgot to mention the involvement of JP Morgan Jr in the decision. JP Morgan Sr., the richest man in America and the undisputed Captain of Wall Street, had made his money serving as the representative of British wealth in America. He was a Republican. He died in 1913. His vast fortune was inherited by his son JP Morgan Jr., who was also a Republican, and who used J.P. Morgan & Co. to finance and loan billions to Britain and France during the war. By the Battle of the Somme in 1916, were France and Britain lost over 600,000 soldiers, it looked like the Allies were reaching their point of exhaustion. Obviously, if Germany won, it would mean that all the loans owed by the Allies to the American banks would not be repaid. That, in turn, would surely cause an economic recession in the U.S. worst than then Panic of 1907. In addition, Wilson looked like he was going to lose the 1916 Presidential Election. He had won in 1912 only because the Republican Party splintered in two factions. But by 1916 the Republican Party had reunited, and Wilson was poised to lose the election. It was under these circumstances that JP Morgan, Jr. met Wilson in 1916 and decided to support Wilson in his re-election bid. The obvious quid pro quo was that Wilson would take the U.S. into the war in 1917, in order to insure that the Allies won, so that Britain and France could repay the billions in loans owed to Morgan. With Morgan Jr.'s support (i.e. campaign money, favorable newspaper publications, etc.), Wilson won re-election in 1916. Smedley Butler would blame Morgan Jr.'s assistance in re-electing Wilson in 1916 as the real reason behind the U.S. involvement in WWI.
Thank you!
LMAO,
Wilson's words were prophetic. War is always regrettable but sometimes necessary.
Excellent!! Compact, well researched and clear. Thanks for sharing this!!
+Cristinact Thanks, glad you liked it.
What a epic channel. So many facts! So well presented. Subscribed!
In a way Wilsons Fears came true. If you look at the U.S.A. today......
+Markus Weißner was my thought when I heard that quote. I've been reading a lot of Eisenhower quotes lately (bothered we are wasting $30 mil/ a piece testing trident missiles).
+Brandon Ottinger (JaqenH'ghar80) You need to read more than quotes to understand history.
The US is what it has been from the beginning--an empire. Colonists are the seeds of empire.We were born as the result of an expropriation. You cannot understand latter day events without considering the origin of the country itself.
The simple truth is that the US was an expansionist state longer before the Spanish-American War and the 20th century. What do you think Manifest Destiny was???
As for Eisenhower. The US won WWII in large part because of the Military-Industrial complex. We overwhelmed the Japanese and Germans with tanks, plans, ships,etc. Eisenhower himself okayed the overthrowing of democratically elected governments in Iran and Guatemala. His ‘warning” really isn’t a warning so much as a statement of facts. The USSR also had a massive military. It was the Cold War and both sides loathed each other. That’s what ideology does.
The fact that we have a MID is a symptom of our imperial status and not the genesis of our imperialism. We were imperialist long before the mid-2oth century.
wolverineeagle I do read more quotes you know being a student of history. I just happen to know that he was a wise man (that and we share a common grandmother).
I love how ya'll always like to apply quotes or actions from someone earlier in their life as if it reflects exactly what they believed or felt late in life. People do change their minds you know and realize the error of their ways. Eisenhower despised war and the MIC towards the end of his life and had firsthand experience with how bad it was getting. He predicted everything that has come to pass with the rising of military contractors who have amassed great wealth off the backs of the Government and the American people. All on extremely wasteful programs.
"“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.”
― Dwight D. Eisenhower
“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement. We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. This is, I repeat, the best way of life to be found on the road the world has been taking. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.... Is there no other way the world may live?”
― Dwight D. Eisenhower
What military blowhards fail to understand that there is a world where the U.S. has a powerful, smart, and LEAN military that meets the security needs of a nation but also doesn't rob our people of all the things we actually need. The last two "wars" that we had no right being in put $4.5 billion on the tab even though our Country faced no direct threat. We could have accomplished our goals without invasion use smart tactics (like what actually got Bin Laden).
+wolverineeagle You seem fairly desperate to pin the title of "imperialist nation" on the US. Why? What do you gain from this? Surely you're not simply seeking to state the truth. Half of what you said is nonsense.
I mean, you didn't even cite the right stuff. You should have pointed to US intervention in Latin America after WWI, and the US taking over Spanish colonies. That's as close you're going to get. Citing manifest destiny is just nonsense. Manifest destiny was designed to secure the continent as quickly as possible to prevent European powers from turning North America into an imperialist battle ground, likely sweeping away the US. Manifest destiny was defense against imperial powers.
It's sad to look at what America was and now is becoming, instead of having billions to loan we are now trillions in debt... Congress in office for only 3 months, probably actually doing something productive instead of taking away our freedoms as they do today... Before the days of unlimited entitlement funding where people actually expected to have to work for what they have... A small military that wasn't expected to involve itself in every conflict... That would be a country worth dying for
So I keep hearing about all of this German attrocities, did the Entente ever did anything like the Central Powers? because is hard to believe that Britain, France or Russia were saints during this war.
+Lucciano Bartolini Nobody is saint, even less in war. Both sides did great act of vileness but we remember more of one side because the other was the victor.
Just wait until you hear what they did in Iran.
+Lucciano Bartolini Well considering most of the western war happened in French and Belgian cities, its much more likely for German soldiers to have committed atrocities against the civilian population than French or Belgian bullying German citizens. Although in terms of prisoners all sides committed crimes, as human life value was not as high back then as it is today.
Britain did bomb German cities, although Germany did as well.
And since the Entente won, they wrote history, so of course they hide what they did while criminalizing what they were against. Kind of what the British Empire did to hide their genocides, which are not too known thanks to British manipulating information.
+Lucciano Bartolini "laws are silent in times of war" - Marcus Tullius Cicero
ye
Awesome channel, I have learned a great deal with this channel. I know a bit about WW2 but WW1 I did not know much about.
Hey there, I just wanted to say thanks for all the good work you're doing here, thumbs up. I've got a question tho, are you planning on doing a series about WW2 aswell? Seperate channel? I know there is allready alot of information about it, still tho I've learned more from this channel about WW1 than any other! Nonetheless thanks Indy for all the information you allready gave people that are interested in learning more about the history of WW1
www.reddit.com/r/TheGreatWarChannel/comments/4ksvy2/will_you_guys_ever_do_a_ww2_channel_our_official/
Great video. Those are very prescient words from Wilson, showing great foresight. Sad but true.
My maternal great grandparents had come over from southern Germany in the 19th century, but according to family lore my ggfather declared his support for England and even claimed, in a heavy accent, to be English. Whether this was just the family being eccentric or fear of anti-German backlash, nobody knows.
+Cosmoline Interesting, south German dialects could pass as anything if you want to.
Salute Vets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No mention of The Zimmermann Telegram and its hand in drawing the US into WWI? I hope this little known message is covered in this awesome series.
+Lee DeForest He has mentioned it a few times previously in other episodes to be fair
+James “needs” Jesus Really? I must have missed those. I'll have to go back and review.
+Lee DeForest Well, we probably will shine a line on that when we reach that point in time and also when we might talk about Mexico.
+The Great War Hence the SPOILER ALERT tag. ;-) One of the things that I love about this channel is how it expands on what US students are taught about WWI. US students are taught that the sinking of the Lusatainia is the reason the US entered the war. While that might be partly true there were many other factors, a lot of which you have touched upon in this special episode.
It is an interesting thought though, what if Zimmermann Telegram was successful or was not intercepted? What could have happened if Mexico did join in the war on the Central Power's side? But that might be a subject for the Alternate History Hub (the reason I found The Great War channel) to tackle.
+Lee DeForest Not really an expert on Mexico, but the unrestricted submarine warfare would have brought the US into the war in any case. The telegram was just the Casus Belli.
Best youtube channel! I could watch all day. Keep up the great work!
+tucker smoak Thanks a lot!
This has been one of my favorite episodes so far. The Roosevelt error is forgiven, but don't let it happen again! ;-)
+kenander45 Yeah sorry about that.
In 50 years, the same thing will happen with Presidents Bush! Hopefully there will only be one Clinton.
What a nice episode. And nicely informative. The decision for Wilson to go to war must not have been an easy one. So I have some sympathy for the man. He probably wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing by going to war. But at the end of the day he meant well by everything he did before, during, and after the Great War ended. Great job.
The thing is, if America had someone joined the Central Powers, there is no doubt in my mind the Central Powers would've been victorious while the US army and navy weren't as strong as the British or French, It would put a massive strain on French and British war industry as they would have to redeploy troops and ships to patrol the Canadian and pacific waters from any possible American attacks. Also without the US industrial strength and financial support, England and France would most likely run out of money and lose their ability to fun the war and would be forced to sue for peace with Germany.
+556deltawolf / How would their troops have gotten to Europe ?
In all honesty that wouldn't of mattered a whole lot. If Britain lost the US industrial and financial support, it would have much fewer resources to fight both the Germans and the Americans. Also while a US Central powers probably wouldn't land on Europe, they could easily land in Africa or attack England and France's colonies in Southeast Asia. Stefan T
+Stefan T They didn't need to, taking away the financial and industrial suport it gave to france and UK and giving it to the central powers is a big deal.
They could have suported the german fleet in Asia, and attack Australia, Canada and some others since the UK was busy with the war in Europe and Mesopotamia.
+agus mingot I do believe without US support the Allies would have lost. (not a historian obviously so take this with a grain of salt). Keep in mind Germany vs Russia, France, and the UK was practically a stalemate, and came down to endurance. With practically the entire eastern front out of the picture due to the Russian revolution, and without the US providing food and weapons, as well as some troops, the Central powers could have rolled over the Trenches and taken Paris.
+DeathEaterLink With the success of the 1918 spring initiatives, the Germans were very, very close to Paris. Their supply lines petered out and the troops got busy looting and eating and they lost momentum. Then the American troops really came into the fray from the Battle of Chateau Thierry, where the advance was stopped, and things began to unravel from there. And of course there was a lot of trouble on the home front too. While it is entirely possible that the Allies could have "lost" you can not help but wonder to what; in the sense that Germany was in very bad shape and would have been hard pressed to occupy and govern the territory they had taken. In the end, everyone was exhausted and it was touch and go about who would cave first.
Thank you, an excellent Video!! It also gave a deeper understanding as to why my Grandfather started to say that my family was Flemish, instead of (Jersey) German. Had to rise a family, and with all the hate towards Germany he came up with a good solution.
Happy Armistice Day!
I absolutely love your videos, as I love learning about history. Keep up the awesome work and continue to inspire people to take an interest into history and politics.
no mention of the Zimmermann telegraph?
+steelhammer103 Well, we need some reasons why you are going to watch our show in 2017 too, right?
+The Great War I'm watching your show in 2017
+The Great War haha all to true.Keep up the good work!
+steelhammer103 because it happened during ww2 not 1
+Equilibrium / or was it during the civil war or Vietnam ??
Hi, great video as always I dont know if this would be your type of video but could you do a series on the military's if the nations after WW1 like the naval arms race etc... thank you for your time and you are a great asset to educating people of WW1.
The U.S. Is cool and all but I think I'm thinking what everyone else is thinking
WHAT ABOUT LUXEMBOURG!??!??!??
+Pokemon Fanboy Wait for Saturday.
Very interessting episode. Especially seeing the importance of the US today, and that's the start of it.
6:10 is that a photo mistake or did FDR weigh in on the issue too (I know he was in Dept. of the Navy around the time)?
+JagerLange Could you be a bit more specific with the question?
+The Great War Referring to Teddy Roosevelt but the photo at 6.10 is of Franklin Roosevelt.
+JagerLange Yes that is definitely Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and at the time he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy. A curiosity, its interesting to see how the Navy affairs shaped the initial of the 20 century, and the key players of the Western Allies in WW2 participation.
+JagerLange It was the right Roosevelt
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt#Assistant_Secretary_of_the_Navy.
+daciojss He was also Winston Churchill's 3rd cousin.
Cool deal im from America. I was wondering if you were gonna do a episode on us. My grandfather fought in WW1 his job was to collect the weapons and any personal effects from his dead buddies who had died in no mans land in the days fight. Very cool indeed. I even got his 1911 with the pistol case and all. Love this episode.
when shall we see a video on the German weapons?
MP 18 plz
Go to their facebook page and you can see where they posted a couple specials. (including the one in question.) :-) hope that helps.
+TurtleDude05 what about those of us without FB pages? I got rid of mine years ago and can't be bothered with it?
+Meech Films 1 The German weapons are in production at the moment but we won't have the MP18 - maybe later on.
OK thank you
At 3:32 the quote was by Iowa Congressman Henry Vollmer, Robert Zieger mentions it in one of his many fantastic books. Y'all always have amazing quotes!
+Jackson Wymer Thanks.
Scares me to learn how effective one-sided media an have on public opinion.
the Iran-Iraq war would of been far short and less destructive if the world didn't so desperately want Iraq to win
+Christian Weibrecht Yellow journalism was a big deal in mainstream media, and still is. Just look at everyday news and you'll see.
They had already done it, during the American-Spanish war, for example.
+JahnTrawn That happens in my country too, only two companys control 2/3 of the media.
We used to have a really good public TV with many awards for being objective and innovative, but the new government turn it into propaganda...
+JahnTrawn Yeah, except there is this thing called the internet where ideas are easily passed along. Most people get their news from the internet now days.
Corporations make your phones, cars, medicine, food, etc. You actually have far more choice when it comes to news than you do with anything else. Corporate media is the easiest to subvert because anyone can start a news site.
Plus, independent media is no less prone to bias and propaganda than corporations. As someone who has a degree in journalism I can say that any idiot can be a Goebbels if they know how to write and to make videos. Propaganda is easy to produce than ever before with the readily available video production programs and blog templates.
+JahnTrawn There's hope as long as we have internet
+JahnTrawn
You forget the internet.
Excellent episode.
People forget how "unamerican" america was before the 1950s
What do you mean by that?
Juss Jus the post war social reformation the gov't executed from the late 40s to the 80s paints america as a unified democratic state since the dawn of time. The concept that democracy is purely American in nature and that there never was anything else in American hearts and minds as well. The reallity as touched on in the video is that America was very isolationist, imperial, and divided quite extensively between what today we would call, republic, socalist, and communist mind sets. (of course communism was not a word at the time though.)
That's not remotely true. Communism being described as being un-American didn't become a thing until the 50s, but we've always been a very patriotic country dating back to the war of 1812.
Robbie carter First sentence says what I say is not remotely true. Entire follow up post rephrases and supports my previous post. So which is it?
+Minngarm Halnhammer
you said America was not unified before WW2, carter claims the US was unified since the general nationalism surge in 1812. Not taking any side here, but how can you say he's supporting you?
Good analysis.
The Irish American view was probably a bit more complex than simply disliking Britain and wanting independence..People who supported Home Rule (a somewhat form of independence - postponed due to the outbreak of war in 1914) joined the British cause in their tens of thousands and so too did the Unionists - both hoping the British would take note of their loyalty and that they'd subsequently gain favour..I'm sure Indy will have some episodes on it in easter 2016 to correspond with the anniversary of the rising
+Leo Collins Yes, we will.
Hey great war I love your show wish I would have found it when you started. I have a question have you ever done an episode on home front things. Like rationing and bond drives. I'm a huge history nerd and these things are talked about a lot in WWII victory gardens and all that but it's hard to find that kind of thing during WWII. Thanks and keep up the awesome work.
Quite amusing, how the USA barely had an army (or rather, no "real" army to speak of). And by WWII, about forty years later, it had one of the strongest armies of the western world (in numbers and firepower at least).
+Master of the Sea that's what we call a sleeping giant.
+scarfacemperor Quite heh. (Though, so was Russia... Despite being torn apart by itself.)
+Master of the Sea Also funny how no one remembers the war against the Spanish.
+The Great War I remember learning it, and made Theodore Roosevelt a war hero in the Battle of Kettle Hill ( Battle of San Juan Hill )also you forgot to mention that theater Roosevelt offered Wilson to lead a battalion in Europe when they enter the war but Wilson refused.
+Jane “Soldier” Doe * Theodore
I live in Pennsylvania(vary german). Some of my ansestors came from wittenberg in germany about 60 years before the war. My family is all german based protestant.
Once American enters the war, could we get a video on American war hero Alvin York?
Looking forward to watching this great series until the end! I Wonder what RUclips will even be like in 4 years.
+Sam Wood Welcome to the family. And it will probably involve flying cars, replicants, pyramid like buildings and cool trench coats.
Eh, its been 5 years since your comment and not too much tbh. This video still gettin views though lmao
I wonder if a later video will address the decisiveness of the US involvement in the war. We didn't field significant numbers until mid-1918, and our troops and commanders were far down on the learning curve compared to the other powers. I suppose eventually US involvement WOULD have been decisive, given our enormous industrial and manpower resources. But given the short time US forces were in the field (and their rather low number of casualties incurred), it doesn't seem decisive.
les deux batailles décisives qui ont été menées pendant la première guerre mondiale sont la bataile de la Somme et la bataille de Verdun, qui ont été les batailles les plus sanglantes et mortelles de la première guerre mondial.
It already was very decisicive in that we provided much needed supplies and holding a front in Southern France. The U.S also launched offensives the allies to capture the Meuse Argonne as well as have are troops fill in spaces in other allied lines. But U.S industry and manpower would be more decisive if war lasted longer if the beaten and crushed German Army decided to try to cling and plan 1919 went into effect. The would also be week trained as they were being trained by France and Britain and have experience fighting Germany. So as the war gets longer the more important the U.S is.
Carlos Clinche When was there ever a front in Southern France? Are you referring to the Italian Front, which saw extremely limited involvement of US soldiers?
@@carlosclinche492 The Meuse Argonne Offensive took place in Northern France, wasn’t that far from Verdun.
I'd like to see more of these videos about countries before the war. I know you guys made several prelude to war episodes and a few episodes about specific countries during the war (such as Italy and Bulgaria), but I'd really like to see videos about countries before the war in terms of their cultural, political, economic, and military history. Austria-Hungary is a country in particular that I'd really like to see a video on!
Is it just me or does William Randolph Hearst 4:22 look a lot like Indy....
I was just about post a similar comment😅
What's odd about that photo of Hearst is that, unlike everyonr in Europe at that time, he had no mustache.
My country, uploaded on my birthday, awesome!
+joey8062 Happy birthday!
I thought 1:33 was the KKK for a second :0 Moon man
Kool Kidz Klub
+Isaac Chay ; Democrats by a different name.
+Isaac Chay Moonman is my spirit animal.
Oh look, it's the Libtard who has never read any real history in his life. Now he will call me a racist for pointing out the truth.
Hint: It's not Isaac Chay.
those democrats weren't liberal though, they were conservative, the KKK has never been liberal or left.
It was Remembrance Sunday in Britain yesterday. The Poppy Appeal is doing great work too. Please try to mention them too if you are going to talk of an American charity, you know to help them raise money to preserve war graves and provide injured veterans with rehabilitation.
+TimHooray747 We will do that eventually.
Too bad we can't be as deliberate, thoughtful, and restrained before entering into wars these days.
+Jstoney127 Part of it has to do with the draft. Back then, war was a commitment, and regardless of whether anyone personally supported the war, everyone was expected to provide support. While it would be great if we thought things through more before entering war, let's not forget that there was a cost. Propaganda was *everywhere*, and the media didn't *dare* speak out against the war. With the draft in place, it isn't your choice whether you die for your country. People are expected to give up on luxuries, or be greatly frowned upon, possibly humiliated. The reason why there was more hesitancy was because the laws around war were extremely pressuring, some may argue oppressive.
While it would be great if we were more careful about entering into war, let's not forget the horrors in the law that forced the government to be so careful, it wasn't simply a more moral culture.
Excellent channel, thank you for these straight facts.
Can we get back to learning about Europe, Asia, Africa and South America?
congrats on 500,000 subs
I keep thinking of those civilization-like games. US focused mostly on raising production level and advanced far more than the other countries, but with poor military. Then, in the war, US started building military units to deploy and spend more on maintenance. Now it has a giant military force, spending a lot of maintenance on it, but with production level far less developed than it could have been. And China is building lots of production structures and advancing with its large population.
I just have to say that I find it sad that you can find more actual and good historical content on youtube than on the entirety of television.
+RokaSoka We still take that as a compliment.
The Great War
It is, you guys do a great job. It was more of a jab towards TV channels actually.
My grandfather was born in 1899. He fibbed about his age to join the army in 1917. He became an aeroplane engine mechanic and was sent to France. At one time, I had all the photographs he had of his time in the Army. One in particular sticks in my mind. It was a photo of him standing with "his" Nieuport 28 fighter. I guess that means he was the crew chief of it. I do still have a photo of him in his Army uniform. JA
love this channel. where can I get the map behind you? do you sell them? if not, shrink it down to poster size and sell the crap out of them. thanks.
shop.spreadshirt.net/thegreatwar/
welcome to the show.
Thanks for your great videos! you really helped me with studying for my history test
How did Joseph Pulitzer report on the war if he died in 1911
SCARSSURVIVED that's what I was thinking
There's an award named after this guy? C'mon.
this channel has helped me so much with my ap history class
Glad to be of service.
I would argue that the sinking of the lusitania was not what started Americas entrance into the war since they didnt enter until 2 years later. If that was the reason they would have declared war sooner like with Pearl Harbor.
I agree, I think the Lusitania is only a key event bc the US entered 2 years later.
cool stuff with sub titles Indy ty
I hope you make a Video on the US sent troops into Mexico, well not part of WW1, it was where the US Army fought before WW1, General John J Pershing and Patton (Although he plays a bigger role in the next war) It would make a good special.
US troops also fought in Peaking in 1900 (Alongside Germany, UK, Russia, Japan France among others) and during the Philippines insurrection. Still, the nation was not ready for this war, hence why most fighting took place in "18" rather then "17" when the AEF got there.
+william lydon Maybe we will have time for a Mexico episode.
+william lydon The Marines in the Boxer Rebellion in China. The sons of a couple of Marines who fought then (I'm thinking Littleton Waller but there is another example) went on to greatness in WWI.
The Great War Not begging, i know this was "Europes War" and the US was a small player, but if you find the time it would be nice.
MJ Milano Dan Daily USMC fought in Peaking all the way to the woods of France eighteen years later.
+william lydon Right! I'd forgotten about Dan Daley.
6:12 That's not Teddy, whom was just quoted, that's Franklin, i.e FDR.
8:43 Contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as a "No Win" situation; and that's where Wilson found himself. He bears a measure of the responsibility and may well have been weak but by no means was he alone to blame for America getting into the war.
The preparedness debate in the US merits study. It was not really a debate of "build up a military" versus "no build-up," but more of what type of preparedness we needed. Conservatives wanted to build a standing army on the German model, with officers to be politically picked and trained, and every able-bodied male to be subject to automatic military service; progressives wanted to use the National Guard as the core of a new army. (Yes, I know I'm simplifying. But among other things, this debate disqualified Leonard Wood from commanding the AEF; the job went to Pershing, who had stayed out of it.)William McAdoo's handling of the financial crisis of 1914 is another major point. When French and British investors started to sell off their American holdings, and convert dollars to gold for shipment home, their actions threatened to spark a major depression. Without any legal authority, Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo persuaded the directors of the New York Stock Exchange to shut down for four months. This kept gold from draining out of the US, keeping the American economy healthy, which in turn let us support the Entente powers and keep them fighting.Herbert Hoover should also be looked at. Early in the war he oversaw relief supplies to Belgium; once America went to war, he oversaw the handling of American food supplies. His work made him famous and helped him win the Republican presidential nomination in 1920.
+BillThompson1955 Very good and very interesting.
Indy, I wrote a war poem, and it's not really about WW1, but it is compatible with all war, and I think you could use it when you get to The Battle of the Somme.
The Hill
A war poem by Keylin Humphrey
The cool wind blew o’er those lucky few,
And the brutal rules of thumb, they still held true;
Under the deadly light of the violent blood moon,
The dead festered and rotted in a grave festoon.
The shells and bullets ripped the grass,
Never going back to the past.
The trenches were holes made from shells,
Each one a living Hell.
Death and war were close friends,
Neither one making amends.
The soldiers were all torn and muddy,
Each one somewhat bloody.
Many dead, buried in mud,
And on the hill, the Reaper stood.
Some on this side, some on that,
Every one attracting gnats.
None of them held a personal grudge,
But their leaders gave them quite a nudge.
“Go and win! Go and fight!”
Or maybe die off in the night.
“Come on now! Make a difference!”
The 53rd, they were christened.
And what of those boys, those poor 13?
No difference made, nothing to mean.
Just a shell, tearing apart,
Many a Girlfriend and Mother's heart.
Not a word, not a sound
Just a death, not so profound.
So many more, you'll understand,
The world much more undermanned.
A single gone, among the millions.
Not much longer before ‘tis billions.
The cause, why, it's much too trivial.
A conversation in a game of Billiards.
A lone bullet, in a king,
An inch of land, what irrelevant things.
Not much to do, but do and die,
Now we have done, and now we lie.
Plato wrote, to settle the score,
That only the dead have seen the end to war.
End.
+The Tin Memesman Really great!
+The Great War Thanks!
I laugh to myself a bit when I imagine my Irish, German, English, and French immigrant ancestors fist fighting each other over if we should go to war and for who. I think of it kinda like Gangs of New York.
Thanks, US veterans!
привет:)
simply, amazing!!
America: We don't want war with Germany, they stand up to the other imperial powers who led to our emigrations
Britain: *Mmm looks like you need some fine P R O P A G A N D A*
Wow it's 100 years already! Sad how time flies by. It feels just like yesterday :(
Role of Imperial Japan during of the war?
+Sunnah The fought on the side of the Allies.
+JohnzeeMr Japan = always best nation remove korea
+Sunnah I assume it's free anime for allied soldiers :P
+Sunnah They captured a few trading areas from the Germans, but I believe that with the exception of the loss of 1 ship or so they didn't really take many casualties. Pretty much just sailed in and laid claim to German holdings in Asia.
+straightouttafascism Japan had a firm military alliance with Britain until the Washington treaty of 1922. Under the alliance Britain was able to transfer its entire eastern fleet to the Atlantic and Mediterranean, including ships of the Australian, New Zealand and Indian naval force, while the Japanese Navy assumed the protection of Britain's empire in the east. In the Indian and Pacific oceans Japanese ships protected military convoys from Australia and New Zealand and supplied armaments. A small Japanese army unit did operate alongside the British in Europe. The US and Japan always considered each other their main rival in the Pacific and the US insisted part of the Washington treaty must be the the cancellation of the British/Japanese alliance. The British agreed but the Japanese saw this as an betrayal and insult. This led to the Japanese alliance with the axis forces in WW2.
In minute 6 there are quotes from Roosevelt. The is a photo of Theodore then one of Franklin. Is the second quote from FDR?
Will guys eventually make a video about Americans figures like Patton at this stage before America's entry. Like exploits in Mexico
+john eye Absolutely.
+john eye "Like exploits in Mexico", oh gee thank you very much, we always appreciate it when you guys think of your illegal invasions and abuses as "exploits"
+The Great War And thank you too, nice to know what you think of us.
+pizzapicante27 What I meant by the pervious statements of exploits was the accomplishment of being an Olympic athlete as well as conducting the first motorized attack in history. Also history proves that pancho villa was the first to attack across the border to columbus New Mexico which sparked the invasion. That's to be expected of any nation that has been attacked which isn't a huge atrocity if you look at what else is going on in the world at this time. If your also referring to US actions in more recent times then your making an assumption that I agree with those which I do not.
john eye
Well actually I was talking about the illegal invasion and occupation of Veracruz, in which in violation of international law AND YOUR OWN TREATIES you occupied and killed the citizens of the port city of Veracruz.
I could, as you mention go into detail to more recent affronts, but I agree we must focus on the period.
BUT since you want to go with Pancho Villa, I would first ask some questions:
- You say "That's to be expected of any nation that has been attacked", so you're saying that if a US citizen one day killed a Chinese citizen, China would be within their right to bring a whole army company within the US to look for him?
I mean I'm asking because at no point did Villa occupy an elected position in the government nor did he officially represent Mexico in any capability.
- I would also like to remind you the attack was started by YOUR forces, remeber Villa was there to pick up weapons he had PAID FOR and was denied of them by the local garrison, I dont know you but if I was in the middle of a battle for my nation and some army lackey tried to trick out of my money AND vital supplies I would do the same.
- LASTLY I would like to ask who gave permission for the US army to enter the territory, Im asking because legally, nobody could give that permission, not today, not then, it would need a constitutional change to most of our laws, and Im preeetty sure we were in the middle of a civil war and in no condition to declare a new constitution.
One more funny fact for the channel, THAT invasion was the first recorded use of Aerial Bombardment in the American continent, Villa rented a bi-plane, carried a bucket of grenades and proceded to drop them over the US contingent... just a funny fact.
Also an interesting fact, US cinematographers became enamored with the image of Villa (and Villa, who was no shy of camera), so much that several films where made of him, Villa on his part would take the time to coreograph fights and horse charges to his US audience.
Cheers Indy was just missing my Thursday fix.
Shit day and you and the guys brought bang back up there.
+Buona Fortuna Glad we could be of service.
that weakling will get what's coming to him, I swear!
I love this channel.
I been looking for credibility videos as such
+Marcus Lawson Thanks.
I read that the German brewers in America initially supported Germany, and that affected the public's opinion on prohition.
Well done, but perhaps could have been more accurately TITLED ...I was looking for description, portrayal, analysis of what the country was like from the perspective of a tourist, or journalist, or author. This video touched on these things in several places, but much of it was looking at things from an international stand point, and delved into the changes inside the political engine of the Wilson administration as they pertain to the underpinnings of WW I. It wasn't what I was looking for, but WELL DONE enough that I watched it anyway, and intend to subscribe. Thanks for your hard work and willingness to share. This a scholarly and academically sound piece of work, well-written, and very WELL PRESENTED. I love the period set/backdrop, and the accurate costume and hairstyle. They make the video more watchable and more effective. Thanks again!
The emerging super power :D
:D