What are your thoughts on World War 1 and how has it affected you?

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking on WW1 recently. I’m just finishing up Dan Carlin’s Harcore History Blueprint for Armageddon, and I saw Peter Jackson’s briliiant new documentary of restored footage (you too can see it December 27).

As an American WW1 is not ingrained on our psyche such as any of the other 20th or 21st century wars are. We got in too late and although the Americans suffered casualties, it’s a pale shadow of the devestation wrought on the European powers on both sides.

This question is more geared towards the Europeans on this site. Last year I had the privilege of going to France and England, and I visited several military museums and learned a lot about the War (albeit from the Entente point of view). I met one Welshman who was visibly upset at Napolean’s tomb when the memorial there barely mentioned the British.

So talk to me. Tell me what you learned and how you feel? Does it mean anything to you? When you read the word “passchendale” does that evoke any sort of emotion?

This is a complex question that I don’t expect a lot of answers to. I’m keeping this in “General” because I’m truely interested in good answers, not just quips.