World War I
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Most people associate the German bombing of Britain with the 1940-41 Blitz campaign during World War II. However, during the First World War, Germany also sought to bomb the UK into submission, using Zeppelin airships to carry out air raids. The first of these raids occurred on January 19, 1915. The January 19, 1915 Air…
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Ninety-eight years ago today, the classic science fiction movie Metropolis was released. Watching it again recently, I was struck by how fresh and visually striking the film still feels, even after nearly a century. However, Metropolis is more than just a sci-fi masterpiece; it also serves as a fascinating snapshot of the political and social…
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Amid the chaos and carnage of World War I, a remarkable event unfolded on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 1914 that remains a powerful symbol of hope and humanity. The Christmas Truce, an unofficial ceasefire on the Western Front, showed that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can shine brightly. Setting…
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Friedrich “Fritz” Pfeffer was born on April 30, 1889, in Gießen, Germany, into a Jewish family that owned a bustling clothing store in the city’s center. Bright and ambitious, Fritz pursued dentistry in Berlin, eventually establishing a successful practice. After completing his education, Fritz trained as a dentist and jaw surgeon, obtained a license to…
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The Flensburg Government refers to a short-lived, provisional government of Nazi Germany that existed in the final days of World War II, from May 2 to May 23, 1945. Named after the town of Flensburg in northern Germany, near the Danish border, where it was headquartered, this government represented the last vestiges of the Third…
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The German assault on Liège, which commenced on August 5, 1914, and lasted until August 16, 1914, stands as the inaugural battle of World War I. This significant early confrontation set the stage for the brutal and protracted conflict that would engulf Europe for the next four years. The Battle of Liège exemplifies the strategic,…
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On May 3, 1915, shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, Belgium, a Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote his now-famous poem after seeing poppies growing in battle-scarred fields. Alexis Helmer, a close friend, was killed during the battle on May 2. McCrae performed the burial service himself, where he noticed how poppies quickly…
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As the Nazis did in Europe, the Japanese Imperial Army had concentration camps in the Pacific. The Asian camps were nearly as horrific as the European ones, and the conditions were inhumane, nonetheless. This is just a side note, but I did notice, while researching, none of the Pacific camps were referred to as camps…
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Levie Peper was a son of Abraham Peper and Margaretha Rood. He was born in Amsterdam on 24 June 1874, and he earned his money as a hawker. On 30 March 1905, he married Johanna (Naatje) Vos in Amsterdam, who was born there on 22 April 1871 to her parents Joseph Vos and Marianna Aron…
History of Sorts 