To begin with it has to be said that it is incredible when you see these endless graves; it was and still is not a lesson to mankind to stop war. How can politicians bow their heads to honour the dead, attend commemoration ceremonies, lay wreath and then plan war? How can they?
The battle of Somme began 1 July 1916 an offensive led by the Allies against the German troops. It was along the river Somme in northern France in the First World War. The plan was made by France's General Joffre and Britain's Field Marshall Haig as a joint offensive.
Although well planned but the reality was that the French army was almost destroyed defending Verdun. It left Lord Kitchener new volunteer armies to face the full horror of the fighting.
When the British soldiers emerged from the trenches they were in full view of the enemy's machine guns. Over 19 000 died on the first day alone.
The Germans retreated to the concrete pillbox emplacements of the Hindenburg Line from which they sent wave after wave poorly supported infantry.The Germans built this fortified defence system in the First World War after they could not capture Verdun. It stretched from Lens to Rheims and became to be known as the Hindenburg Line. In 1917 it helped the Germans to maintain a defensive front even their army was severely reduced.
In September General Haig launched a major assault with 32 tanks out front. The problem was that the tanks began to get grounded in the knee deep mud. Therefore there were not enough tanks to have a greater impact. It was the first time tanks were used.
When the conflict ended in November 15 the Allies gained 5 miles (8 km) at a cost of 615 000 lives and the Germans lost 420 000. A heart-breaking reminder and one would think it was a lesson for all times. 70 000 bodies were never found and identified and are remembered by a huge memorial.
To understand and see the full horror we have to remember in those days women had big families and were left to their devices to cope. At the beginning of the 20th century people were very hard up, apart from the upper class who were very rich. How these women coped one does dare thinking about.
These young men lost their lives for Queen and country with great loyalty but did the Queen and country care about their families? On the contrary they were look down upon and despised because they were in rags, starved and with lice and flees living in worst housing possible. Even ended up in the poorhouse, which was even a bigger living nightmare, when they could not cope any more.
Looking back at all these impacts of war on the front as well as at home it should be a lesson to be learned when we commemorate all those fallen and maimed soldiers. It is not right to commemorate and honour all those hundred thousands who lost their lives so young and still start another war again.
Britain did not have to get involve in Iraq, Afghanistan and now in Syria. It created more enemies as it has proven. An army is there to protect its country and not to fight in foreign land. Blair and Bush are totally responsible for the existence of IS who grew so strong even the Al-Qaeda distance itself.
All those heads of states when they stand there and bow their heads to honour all those millions died in the First and Second World War have the power to create or avoid further wars. They should not be so insincere.
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