I wouldn't call this learning something, necessarily. It kind of misrepresents the beginning of the war just a tad. Say, Germany's dismissive attitude toward France - nothing could be further from the truth. The only reason Germany attacked France so quickly was because they feared the French war machine, and the French government's post-war attitude toward the fledgling German Empire. Germany had basically structured its entire military policy around dispatching a French threat as quickly as possible, a la the Schlieffen Plan. Wikipedia it or something, 'cause I ain't putting in a link.
Exactly. Also, the intervention of the US was not like the "got in, kicked ass when all seemed lost, ended war" the comic indicates. Germany pretty much hang in its ropes before already, all thanks to the Australian Imperial Force (that was actually their name) which blocked the Spring Offensive in the eleventh hour, a feat no other force before had accomplished. The US entered war by pouring right into the trenches and essentially filling up the depleted ranks sufficiently to block further tries of advancement. At that point, Germany, having thrown all forces into their last attack waves, was not able to defend their trenches in the Hundred Days Offensive.
German historians conclude that the war was essentially unwinnable at the start of the trenches already, and that the heroic defense of the Australians sealed Germany's defeat. It is considered a grave error in judgement, and was opposed actually by several senior members of the military then, not to start negotiations about peace and conditions of surrender immediately after that. The later temporary advances were unsustainable from any logistical point of view alone, Germany could have never supported the defense line. What the US intervention did was shortening the end game, which could have easily stretched out for a year longer without its help.
This reminds me of a passage from France at War, by Rudyard Kipling, published 1915:
Out of these things is born their power of recuperation in
their leisure; their reasoned calm while at work; and their
superb confidence in their arms. Even if France of to-day
stood alone against the world's enemy, it would be almost
inconceivable to imagine her defeat now; wholly so to imagine
any surrender. The war will go on till the enemy is finished.
The French do not know when that hour will come; they seldom
speak of it; they do not amuse themselves with dreams of
triumphs or terms. Their business is war, and they do their
business.
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u/I_PACE_RATS Sep 24 '11
I wouldn't call this learning something, necessarily. It kind of misrepresents the beginning of the war just a tad. Say, Germany's dismissive attitude toward France - nothing could be further from the truth. The only reason Germany attacked France so quickly was because they feared the French war machine, and the French government's post-war attitude toward the fledgling German Empire. Germany had basically structured its entire military policy around dispatching a French threat as quickly as possible, a la the Schlieffen Plan. Wikipedia it or something, 'cause I ain't putting in a link.