August 1914
I hope the world does not follow the route our forefathers traveled over one hundred years ago. Did the population back then follow the events leading to world war and realize what was happening? Are we repeating their steps? Unfortunately, this excerpt from Banners: For God, Tsar and Russia seems to indicate "Yes."
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Austria made demands of Serbia to atone for the death of Archduke Ferdinand. Serbia refused to consider the demands and Russia stood by Serbia against Austria. Germany had an agreement with Austria to aid her against Russia. France and Great Britain were allies of Russia, and Italy was honor-bound with Germany, Austria, and Turkey. Treaties signed by old men in high top hats, colorful sashes and coats with tails now meant something. The handshaking and posing for photographers and newsreel cameramen were to have guaranteed peace, but instead the treaties wove a web that snared the signers and held them in an inescapable trap. The nations of Europe, strung together by forgotten treaties and misbegotten agreements, were going to war.
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