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The poet, novelist, and political activist Gabriele d'Annunzio speaking in favor of Italy's entry into the war on the side of the Entente Allies, and against 'Giolittismo' at the Costanzi Theater in Rome, May, 1915. Giovanni Giolitti was five-time Prime Minister of Italy, and opposed intervention in the Great War. Illustration by Achille Beltrame.
1898 postcard of German Southwest Africa including scenes of the capital of Greater Windhoek, a square in the city, and Major Leutwein, Governor from 1894 to 1904.
Memorial to the French Moroccan Division at Vimy Ridge. The face commemorates the Division's victory at the Second Battle of Artois, in which the Moroccan Division broke the German front for the first time and took Hill 140, their objective.Listed on the sides of the memorial are the sectors and battles where the Division fought:1914The ArdennesAugust 28 — La Fosse a l'EeauAugust 30 — BertoncourtSeptember 1 — AlincourtThe MarneSeptember 6 to 9 — Coizard, MondementDecember 30 — Ferme d'Alger1915BelgiumJanuary 28 — Nieuport, la Grande DuneArtoisMay 9 — la Cote 140June 16 — Ravin de SouchezChampagneSeptember 25 — Butte de Souain, Bois Sabot1916the SommeJuly 4 — Assevillers, Bellov en Santerre, Barleux1917ChampagneApril 17 — Moronvilliers, Mont sans Nom, AuberiveVerdunAugust 20 — Cumieres, Bois des Corbeaux, Forges Regnieville1918LorraineJanuary 8 — Flireythe SommeApril 26 — Villers-Bretonneux, Bois de Hangardthe AisneMay 30 — Vauxbuin, ChazelleJune 12 — AmblenyJuly 18 to 20 — Dommiers ChaudumSeptember 2 to 8 — Terny-Sorny, Moulin de Laffaux, AllemantNovember 11 — VictoryNovember 17 — Entered Chateau-Salins © 2013, John M. Shea
The rulers of the Central Powers — Kaisers Wilhelm and Franz Joseph, Tsar Ferdinand, and Mohammed V — surrounded by the Allies: Belgium, Britain, France, Italy to the west, the Balkan states of Montenegro, Serbia, and Greece, where Britain and France ensure Greek participation in the war, and Russia its strength bolstered by Japan's munitions supplies. Out to sea, the British, French, and Italian navies stand guard, with that of Russia in the distance. Portugal likely stands at the lower left. By 1916, Serbia was already occupied by the Central Powers.
Turkish Cavalry, from a German postcard.
"Gabriele D'Annunzio, poet and demagogue, returned from his 'exile' in France, arriving in Rome on 12 May [1915] to be welcomed by a massive crowd of nearly 100,000. In his first address, from his hotel balcony, he told them: 'For three days a stink of treason has been suffocating us. . . . Romans, sweep away all the filth, chuck all the garbage back into the sewer. . . . Friends, it is no longer time for talk but for action.' The next day he declared: 'If it is a crime to incite citizens to violence, I shall boast of this crime. . . . Form platoons, form citizens patrols.' A thousand students, led by some professors, tried to storm the parliament building and then searched the streets 'for friends of Giolitti to assault.' Troops were called out to protect persons and property. The demagogues quickly termed these le radiose giornate — 'the Radiant Days' — pointing to these events as evidence of 'massive' support for intervention." ((1), more)
"Instead of making a stand to defend the colonial capital, the Schutztruppe retreated north to Omaruru, taking most of their prisoners with them. Windhoek, the territorial objective of the campaign, was occupied without a fight. The negotiations for the surrender of the town were carried on by telephone from Karibib — it was that kind of war.On 13 May 1915 Botha's valet wrote a note to Annie Botha: 'Dear Madame and all, me and the General took Windhoek yesterday. The General keeps well.'" ((2), more)
"The French offensive is languishing. Will it finish as the preceding ones have done, with insignificant gains? This is to be feared. The proportion of forces engaged allows no chance of successful offensives against troops as tough as the Germans, who are past masters in organisation, in the occupation of localities, farms, and, indeed, anything that can serve as a stongpoint." ((3), more)
"Colonel FitzGerald and Captain Guest reported that on May 12 and 14 [1915] they had carried out my instructions and laid the facts before Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Balfour, and Mr. Bonar Law. On May 15, Colonel Repington's article appeared in the 'Times.' The world knows what then happened. The Coalition Government was formed, with Mr. Lloyd George as Minister of Munitions; and, though delays afterwards occurred, the problem was at last faced with the intelligence and energy that its gravity demanded . . ." ((4), more)
"A second assault was delivered on May 16th [1915] at Festubert. Here the German trenches were protected by special wire cables, nearly two inches in diameter with parapets in front of these entanglements. The British, lacking high explosives, could not sweep these obstructions aside with their artillery fire.After showering the German trenches with shrapnel, the infantry charged against the barrier. Unable to cut the thick wire, the Britishers laid their overcoats upon the entanglements and crawled over the top in the face of a murderous machine-gun fire. Though thousands perished at this barrier, the British troops did not waver." ((5), more)
(1) On April 26, 1915, the Italian Ambassador to the United Kingdom signed the Pact of London committing Italy to enter the war on the side of the Entente Allies one month later. Prime Minister Antonio Salandra and Foreign Minister Sidney Sonnino were strong supporters of war against Austria-Hungary, Within Italy there was significant irredentist support for seizing ethnically Italian territory from Austria-Hungary, particularly Trentino and the port city of Trieste. There was also significant sentiment to remain neutral. Former (and future) Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti, who had held office during the Italo-Turkish War of 1911 and 1912, recognized that Italy was unprepared for war.
The Origins of World War I by Richard F. Hamilton and Holger H. Herwig, page 384, copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003, publisher: Cambridge University Press, publication date: 2003
(2) A hero and ultimately general in the Boer Wars against Great Britain, Louis Botha was a representative in the peace negotiations that led to an independent Transvaal, of which he became Prime Minister in 1907. When Trasvaal became part of the new British dominion of the Union of South Africa in 1910, Botha became its first Prime Minister. Four years later, despite the opposition of many Boers who supported Germany in the World War, Botha supported Great Britain, and acted on its request for South Africa to seize Germany's colony of Southwest Africa.
The Great War in Africa 1914-1918 by Byron Farwell, page 96, copyright © 1986 by Byron Farwell, publisher: W.W. Norton & Company, publication date: 1989
(3) Entry for May 14, 1915 from the diary of Belgian King Albert. The French launched their spring offensive — the Second Battle of Artois — on May 9, reaching its greatest success on that day. On May 12, King Albert met with French Commander Joffre who was 'fairly satisfied' with his offensive, but was stymied by 'the terrible stongpoints' the Germans manned. Nonetheless, Joffre continued the offensive until June 25.
The War Diaries of Albert I King of the Belgians by Albert I, pp. 39, 40, copyright © 1954, publisher: William Kimber
(4) Commanding British forces on the continent, General Sir John French had recognized the overwhelming superiority of German artillery in the sheer number of shells it could use against the allies as early as September 1914. Guns were allocated one half, one quarter, of the shells they were firing, and the high command imposed restrictions on the number of shells allowed per gun per day. The War Office did not respond with anything approaching the requirements, and British soldiers paid heavily for this shortfall in the Battles of Ypres and Neuve Chapelle. According to his memoir, it was the events of May 9, 1915, and the beginning of the Battle of Festubert, that convinced French to approach politicians and the press about the shell shortage. The scandal led to a coalition government, and brought the future Prime Minister David Lloyd George in as Minister of Munitions.
1914 by John French, page 368, copyright © 1919, by Houghton Mifflin Company, publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company, publication date: 1919
(5) The Allies major spring offensive of 1915 was launched on May 9. The French Second Battle of Artois had limited success on the first day. The British launched a simultaneous attack in the Battle of Festubert and Aubers Ridge. The French continued their offensive into June, the British through late May.
King's Complete History of the World War by W.C. King, page 157, copyright © 1922, by W.C. King, publisher: The History Associates, publication date: 1922
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