World War I: Confusion Among Central Powers 2/4

This programme details the events between June 28th 1914 and the declarations of war.

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[helmuthoorn]

The Schlieffen plan was brilliant, but lacked a few unforseen facts:

The rapid and efficient deployment of the BEF.

The tough resistance offered by the Belgian armed forces.

The also rapid deployment of the regular Russian army, with their miriads of Cossacks sweeping and spreading terror through Eastern Prussia, who had to be kept at bay.

And, last but not least; the determination and stubbornness of the French, who were NOT in for a repeat of the events in 1871. ''Jamais, foutre alors!''

[elrjames777]

@niallogs an apt turn of phrase; Irish observance of their cousin has often seemed most perceptive: e.g "an Englishman has only to open his mouth for another to despise him". Home rule would probably have been best for the British Isles all around with Irish matters attended to by an Irish Parliament, Irish members still in Westminster, and with Dublin most likely being understanding toward Ulster sensibilities. WW1 stymied this plan, and partition only led to decades of suffering and violence

[niallogs]

I concur...

[timewarlord]

@niallogs Irish culture is indomitable, I don't think this much suffering has been worth it, thank God the UK and the republic are just now moving to a closer relationship through the Queens state visit.

[niallogs]

@timewarlord Leaving the UK made certain that the Irish didnt lose their identity & simply become ''more english than the english themselves''... and it was worth the toil & bloodshed

[timewarlord]

What did leaving the Kingdom get the Rebulic of Ireland, except worsened poverty, economic destruction and violent civil terrorism, even to this very day the Rebublic is far worse off the Ulster, I say this as a Catholic of Irish descent.