Blackadder How Did WW1 Start?

[TechnoTV6]

to be fair the US don't deserve alot of credit for the victories in WW1 and WW2 mainly because they entered late in WW1 and the only reason they got involved in WW2 at all is because of Japan bombing pearl harbor. Granted they helped us with troops when they joined and gave us equipment but should not be given all the credit for WW1 and WW2 as they do not deserve it..the British, French and Russians deserve the credit for the main bulk of both wars.

[tigerlili97]

@TechnoTV6 I agree the Triple Entente deserve the most credit for both wars, but it is also true that if America hadn't entered World War II, and maybe even World War I that the Central Powers probably would have won. No, they didn't get involved until there was an actual attack on them, but Britain wouldn't have declared war on Germany so early if they didn't agree to protect Belgium. The US had no such treaty, so had no reason to fight.

[TheSmithersy]

@tigerlili97: Not nessecarily. In WW1, Germany was already running out of supplys and money when the yanks entered which the British had from the Empire. No doubt, the war would have been longer but the result would have been the same. In WW2, Hitler couldn't knock out the RAF which stopped him being able to take Britain which is also supported by the fact that op sea lion would have failed if ever implimented.

[TheAnonymousAdvocate]

Love that line from Baldrick. "I heard the war started cause of a bloke called Archie Duke who shot an Austrige cause he was Hungry." xD

[phrenchguy02]

the official reason why Britain got involved was because the Germans invaded Belgium to get to France. Obviously the Brits were gonna get into the whole fray, given their relationships with the Entente powers, but they needed an official reason to actually get into the whole scrum. Invading Belgium gave the Brits that reason.

[TheKevinWalker]

I'm not an all an expert, but I have researched, studies, written papers, everything, and I STILL do not understand WHY World War I started. The assasination of Ferdinand as the main cause really doesn't hold up under truly intense scrutiny. Someday, people just started shooting . . .

[rmstew]

@TheKevinWalker

Think of it like the end of the film, Reservoir Dogs.

The Austrian Arch Duke was shot by a Serbian terrorist.

Austria declares war on Serbia.

Russia promises to back up the Serbs.

Germany declares war on France (because they are allies of the Russians)

Britain declares war on Germany because it is worried about Germany being more powerful than them if the Germans win the war.

Hope this helps.

[Sukarno86]

@rmstew

Terrorist? You are stupid or what? You are talking like it was Bin Laden.Arch Duke was killed because of annexatin of Bosnia.That was aggression and reason to kill Franz Ferdinand.

[rmstew]

@Sukarno86

Dear oh dear. Why are people so often so rude on here?

Terrorist is not necessarily a pejorative term. Gavrilo Princip, the guy who shot the Arch Duke, was part of an underground resistance movement. The Serbian government at the time of the assassination was not officially at war with Austria, which makes him a terrorist albeit his cause was legitimate.

[IAmCaptainMarvel]

@rmstew

Come on, now. We weren't scared of the Germans becoming more powerful than us, we did it because we were allies with France and Russia, (who were already at war with the Germans) and with Belgium in particular being so close to England, of course we were going to help.

Not only that, but King George V was the first cousin of Nicholas II of Russia. (Before the poor git had his whole family slaughtered by revolutionaries).

[rmstew]

@IAmCaptainMarvel

Czar Nicholas II was also the cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm.

Yes, Britain was allied with France and Russia, but was also worried about the Germans becoming too powerful. I still think that sitting back and letting the French, the Germans, the Russians and the Austrians slug it out would have been better for Britain's interests. Whatever Britain 'gained' from WW1 surely wasn't worth just under one million war dead.

[061369317]

@rmstew Brits can now sit back and watch the US lead the way.

You must be happy then.

[icejaff]

@061369317 just remember the us would be under spanish and french control if it wasnt for the brittish, fancy learning a new language ^?

[rmstew]

@061369317

I don't understand the point you're making.

I'm saying Britain *might* have been better off if it hadn't entered WW1 (obviously we cannot know for certain). I also don't see what Britain gained from being involved in WW1 that was worth the lives of almost one million people.

What does this have to do with the US currently being a powerful nation?

[Magni56]

@TheKevinWalker

It was basically a mix of everyone fucking up in the run-up to the war. Germany with their Weltpolitik and the naval arms race, England with their typical divide&conquer attitude towards the continental powers, France being just chomping at the bit for revenge for the Franco-Prussian War and Russia, Austria and the Ottomans quarreling over the Balcans. Gavrilo Princip merely threw the match that lit the political powder keg.

[Benergi]

@TheKevinWalker Austria Hungary declare war on Serbia but thanks to the alliance system, Russia promised to back Serbia up, then Germany started on Russia then france backed Russia up and Britian waited untill Ger walked into Belgium(a neutral country that had a deal with GB that says that if any country walks into their land, not wanted, GB must defend them)

[copyalater]

"bollocks" is one of those gloriously British words which successfully straddles the line between acceptability and profanity. This is an all time Top 5 Blackadder moment. So many years and I still laugh, every time.

[4evawoohoo]

ha henry the eight and his six knives

[ABEYOH]

where's baby comes from????? hehehehehe,,,,,

[alexamerling20]

No, there was definately an ostrich involved. :P

[superhamzah85]

I remember in school a-level history, i wrote a 2500 word essay on the causes of war.

I SOO WISH I'd have added at the end of it:

"So the poor old ostrich died for nothing..."

Markers would be like..."whut......"

[alexamerling20]

@superhamzah85 You probably would of gotten an A if your teacher watched Blackadder :p

[MajBlood]

@superhamzah85 history is not equal to politics. Besides 3 years ago is still history. And much of the origin of World War 1 can be traced throughout the entirety of the early twentieth century.

[MajBlood]

@superhamzah85 No way, people don't say that but it is still history. But Iraq is different as it is only ending now. When George said that he was talking about the naval race between Germany and Britain and the nationalist tensions in the Balkans, issues that while underlining causes of World War 1 were well in effect in from 1900-1910.

[MajBlood]

@superhamzah85 Believe what you want but anything that is done and over with is history. Ferdinand and the Arms Race were done and over with, thus history, recent history but history nonetheless.

[tweeble16]

This is hilarious

[rameen007]

fuck i really wana know how this shit started its my home work

[Magni56]

It was bollocks.

Best description of WWI ever.

[MateusVIII]

@Magni56 didhn't he said bullets?

[Magni56]

@MateusVIII

No, I'm pretty sure he's saying "bolloks" at ~2:00.

[MateusVIII]

@Magni56 and waht does bolloks means? bullets would make more sense

[Magni56]

@MateusVIII

It's an old british word. "It was bollocks" is a figure of speech that's basically the same as saying "It was bullshit". go to wikipedia for the full explanation.

[MateusVIII]

@Magni56 thanks

[Benergi]

@MateusVIII bollocks basicly means balls meaning those dangly ones you got down there, so he basicly cursing saying it was a load of rubbish

[TheAnonymousAdvocate]

@Magni56 Damn right man. Both sides were used as cannon fodder like lil' green plastic toys...

[M0rningfoolsgold]

It was bollocks, best line ever

[shesmyman93]

A classic tv moment!