Light Cavalry of the Emperor

The light cavarly were a key part of every army o the Napoleonic Wars of the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. Their main role as scouts, flank protectors, raiders and to run down broken enemies were fullfilled by a huge amount of colorful regiments. These are the French 11th Hussars and 6th Chevau-Legers-Lanciers. In the background you see artillery support from a Wurttemberg horse artillery battery and a light infantry regiment, the 2nd Wurttemberg Jagers.

The Greatest Recruiting Poster Design

Most Americans instantly recognize the poster of Uncle Sam wanting you for the US Army. Few Americans realize that this poster idea was copied from the British one shown here where Field Marshal Lord Kitchener wants you to join the British Army.
Lord Kitchener was the War Secretary of Great Britain from the start of the Great War until he died when HMS Hampshire was sunk in 1916.

Imperial German High Seas Fleet

On a hazy morning, the Battle Squadrons of the German Imperial High Seas Fleet sets sail to challenge the might of the Royal Navy. Sooner or later both fleets felt the war would be decided in the greatest naval engagement in world history. Till then, German naval officers would toast "Der Tag" for the day German seapower would replace the Royal Navy as the true power of the seas. The sea battle would come in 1916 at Jutland, a tactical German victory but a stratigic British victory. The High Seas fleet would never again meet the Royal Navy in line of battle. Rather it would slowly waste a way in harbour, its finest men siphoned off to the underseas fleet. In the end the surface navy would lead the way to the revolt that forced Kaiser Wilhelm II to abdicate. After beening forced into internment at Scapa Flow in Scotland the High Seas Fleet ploted its own self destruction. In a single afternoon, under the eyes of its British guards, the majority of the fleet was scuttled by its German crews. Through its death the honor of the HighSeas Fleet was restored.

And the Great War Began

German Jagers (Light Infantry) pass through hasty wire entanglements in the early days of the war. While French troops in the famous pantalon rouge desperatly try to hold back the German advance (and yes the officers did go into the first battles with white gloves and bright red hats). French casualties, due to a variety of factors including weapons, training and a faulty War Plan XVII, were immense. They suffered more than one million casualties in just the first three months of the war!

The Lights were Ready to go Out all over Europe

To fully understand both the causes of the Great War and what was lost, I strongly recommend that you read two works by historian Barbara Tuchman. "The Proud Tower" paints a vivid picture of the Victorian-Edwardian World of the early 20th Century. A world of hope and promise, that also held the seeds of its own destruction. "The Guns of August" is a frightening story of how plans upon plans failed and lead the world into the horrors of the Great War. If I could, I would make this book manditory reading for every world leader. Its warning is clear: beware over estimating your own power and brilliance and at your peril underestimate those of your opponents.