The War to End all Wars

This video is an attempt to show the stark contrast between the harsh and brutal reality that was the first world war, and the propaganda of the day from the UK and the US that boasted of "patriotic duty."

When I originally started making this video, I had intended on including an audio of myself reading sections of Eugene V. Debs' Canton Ohio anti-war speech. However due to my heavy New York accent and poor speaking ability, it comes across as less than authentic. Instead here is a link to the full text of that speech on Marxist Internet Archive.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/debs/works/1918/canton.htm

For the Music, I have used a mixture of classical with period music. The first song is the beginning of Tchaikovsky's "Marche Slave". The second song is part of "It's a Long Way to Tipperary." Performed by John McCormack. Which was popular in the UK at the beginning of the war, and sung by troops as the marched off to the front, full of patriotic optimism. The Third is part of "Light Calvary Overture." The fourth is "Over There" Performed by Billy Murray Which was popular in the states as the United States entered the war. The fifth is the beginning of "Night on Bald Mountain" by Mussorgsky. The sixth is the 1915 anti war song "I didn't raise my boy to be a Soldier" written by lyricist Alfred Bryan and composer Al Piantadosi. In addition, I've made use of a number of sound effects.

For the images used, I have used photography from the war, separated by two sections of propaganda art from the UK than the US. While the posters foster a patriotic "call of duty" and perhaps a "yearning for adventure" the images of war show a very different reality of war.

You will notice, that to the end, I dedicated the video in the memory of four family members who served in the First World War. On my Father's side, his mother's father Robert Greenwood, and his mother's Uncle Peter McGregor Wilkes (who was killed in France on November 20, 1915. On my mother's side, George Hixon her mother's brother, and Joe Kane her mother's Uncle. (The last to have no uniformed photographs available.) Robert Greenwood and Peter McGregor Wilkes were both in highland regiments. George Hixon was in the US Army, and Joe Kane was in the US Navy.

The reason for the dedication is because, although the message of this video should clearly be seen as an anti-war message, I have nothing but great respect for those who served and fell in battle.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• WW1
• First
• World
• War
• anti-war
• peace
• Eugene
• Debs
• propaganda
• battle
• WWI
• Europe
• Western
• Front

[bostonblakie]

An excellent presentation. War should always be the last resort for resolving problems. However, a review of history indicates that it is the common denominator of the ages. Today, I fear for the future while regarding the threats of heartless nihilists garbed in religious cloth.

[Rheingoldi]

While there is a lower class, I am in it.

While there is a criminal element, I am of it.

While there is a soul in prison, I am not free.

--Eugene V. Debs, Socialist Candidate for President (since Debs is brought up in the info, I thought I'd bring up my favorite quote. A soldier in an unjust war could certainly be seen as a soul in prison.)

[kleptyklump]

Very good with beautiful pictures, esspecially the last song! Been searching youtube for ages for it! Thank you

[NumbersGuy987]

Cool story bro.

[smoochym]

You pontificate about the immorality of war yet ignore the millions of people killed because of socialist programs; the Holdomor, the Kulaks, the Great Leap Forward to name a few.

Between 2.6 million and 10 million Ukranians died in one year alone because of collectivisation, so save your moral indignation.

[litho66]

Beautifully done.....VERY impressed with your remix

[Sanernando]

RedCeltic

Thanks for the post. Only the second version of "I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be A Soldier" I've found. Any others out there?

[Sanernando]

So your saying it's not worth working for?

You don't destroy guns. You create a world where people don't need to use them so much.

[v8guggi]

Give your brain a bloody chance, mate. First of all this is not about who did how much for whom, it is about all of them dying for nothing. Secondly, This is about World War ONE. Hitler was a corporal in the trenches, Stalin was called Iosseb Dschughaschwili and banned to siberia at the time and the USSR did not even exist yet. France lost 1.3million soldiers in WW I and 250'000 in WW II, not exactly a joke, is it?

[ScotteDio]

haha@ france was a joke. Nazis used france's wall against Good Guys. france did nothing but "spread those legs".

USSR had that Russian Winter, which saved Moscow. USSR had so many died because lack of food and Stalin killed so many soviets and blamed some of deaths on the Nazis.

Britain, did something, but nothing compare to USA. Monty gets the Glory, but Gen. Patton was the man in destroying Nazi's supplies.

[ScotteDio]

I have been part of Honour Guard, done so many Military Funerals and I was Flag Presentor, it makes feel so much honor, proud , but same time, a bit sadness watching a vet's family crying.