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    Chris Liontas

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    Posts posted by Chris Liontas

      US High School/College Class rings..do you still wear yours?

      in Non Military Collectibles & Antiques

      Posted

      I never got a high school ring. I had enough money to buy a ring or a letter jacket, so I opted for the jacket. I got a ring from the Air Force Academy after some convincing from my wife. I never really wore it, except for special occasions. One day I noticed my three year old was wearing it, it looked really cute and I thought "what can she do to it?". Well that is the last time I have seen it :) It is somewhere in the living room, kitchen, family room, or laundry. :)

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      Even Blackadder can cause a political rift

      in The Great War 1914 to 1918

      Posted

      Hi Brian!!

      I worded that last sentence poorly. Was trying to do three things at once. :) From what I have read, 1915 was slipping into 1812 all over again between the United States and Britain, The British definition of "contraband" to Germany from American manufactures including almost everything by 1916 (including cotton--America's large export). The British Government was telling the United States what it could, and could not export to Germany; and what would be seized if it was shipped. American companies were forced to sign trade partnerships where they would sell nothing to Germany if they exported anything to Britain. Even Wilson was positively irritated by this in 1916, only the Commerce Secretary was able to convince Wilson not to do anything since the allies (the general feeling) were going to win anyway. The US by 1916 was exporting millions of pounds Sterling wroth of good to the Allies while ignoring Germany (I have read up to 40% of all war material for France and Britain plus millions in loans from J.P. Morgan. However I have never seen actual documents, so I am skeptical of the numbers). The efforts of the British Wellington House secured America's financial backing very quickly, while effectively isolating a near inept (comparatively) German foreign department.

      If America has stayed neutral, and threatened to stop supplying all belligerents, I think it would have effected the tone of the war effort. You cant fight without credit, and if the US had stopped supplying it, the war would have been over. It would have been economically dumb, but it would have had the effect Wilson originally wanted in promoting peace. The United States talked peace, while attempting to buy off and secure the winner. Germany knew this, and knew there was no way to win while we supplied the allies with everything we could sell.

      ****ok quick change of pace. Would it not have been better for Ludendorff to seize Ukraine in 1918 rather than attacking the Western Front? The Ukraine could have supplied all the grain Germany needed to continue the war and feed its people. The Russians/Whites/Reds could not have offered serious resistance the way the British and French armies could on the Western Front.. ****

      My comment on the attack was just to say, it seemed, all things considered, that America would militarily see the Royal Navy and the enforced restrictions on our trade as more of a threat in 1916 than Germany. (how's that for a run on sentence :) However after a glass of brandy (or two) last night, it didn't quite come out as well as I thought :)

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      Even Blackadder can cause a political rift

      in The Great War 1914 to 1918

      Posted · Edited by Chris Liontas

      What were the root causes of the war? Personally, I believe that France and Germany were on a continual collision course that began with Napoleon's destruction of Prussia. 1808, 1870, 1914, 1940 were all continuations of the same struggle. France was worn out by 1940, and Germany finally was worn out in 1945. Until those times, both countries seemed to have continuous scores to settle with each other. I think Alistair Horne eludes to this so well in his book, To Lose a Battle, France 1940.

      I wrote out a very long reason why I think the war started, but it boils down to this: no one knew what was coming. Much like the American Civil War, no country could visualize the trenches of 1918 in 1914. In the American Civil War, people marched off expecting a few shots, a parade, and the war to be over by sundown. Shelby Foote notes that Europe was sickened by news of the Battle of Shiloh in the West caused 24,000 casualties....and didn't have any real strategic value. Battle like this were horrible and didn't really decide the war, or even the war in one theater. Europe in 1914 was just like Virginia before first Manassas in 1861. After the Marne, no one had any idea what to really do. Attack, counter attack, gas, machine guns, bombs, indirect fire, counter battery fire, were all blind punches thrown in a blind fight to try to find some strategy.

      Taking the conversation to another realm. I believe the war was the United States' first major political blunder. If the US had stayed neutral, and threated embargo on the belligerents, the war would have ended after Verdun, The great failure of the US was not to take advantage of the above situation, and pressure each country to come to the negation table. Due to British propaganda, we took sides well before 1917. If the United States had used its influence, I think millions of lives would have been saved.

      (honestly I still don't understand why the US didn't attack the Royal Navy in 1915/16)

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      Coming up for Auction

      in Germany: Imperial Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Personal Equipment

      Posted

      Actually I got some info that Julia is screwing this one up big time. Several of the ultra rare helmets they are selling is groups of three. The lots looks like around USD 50,000 or so. I am betting the "little stuff" is going to go for less than you would expect. The real big dogs are going to kill each other trying to bid on the groups, since most have a single helmet that is ultra rare!!!

      I'm going to order the catalogue, so if anyone wants info, I will post when it arrives

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