World War I 95th anniversary. The Great War on the ground - 56 fotos

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Lost song by Ólafur Arnalds

Second and last post dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the start of this war that has not ended all wars, the first post was about The Great War by air and sea.

The flames of war were fanned with the assassination of Arch Duke Ferdinand in Sarajevo - June 28th of 1914. According to Wikipedia english version, this is when it  started. According to Wikipedia spanish version, the war started a month later when Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia and Russia. Others point out the 1st of August as the starting date when Germany declares war on Russia.

This post contains, among victims of this war all kind of vehicles, animals, trenches, tanks and cannons . Wars offer not only curious photos but many people killed too.

  • Dark green = Allies
  • Light green = Allied colonies, dominions, territories or occupied territory
  • Dark orange = Central powers
  • Light orange = Central powers’ colonies or occupied territory
  • Grey = Neutral
World War I time lapse map.

1 World War I time lapse map. Credit: Wikimedia Commons #
The Great War. First World War, mobilization, declaration of war: pupils of Eton college exercising in suit and high hat, rifle over the shoulder. England, 1915.

2 The Great War. First World War, mobilization, declaration of war: pupils of Eton college exercising in suit and high hat, rifle over the shoulder. England, 1915. Credit: Nationaal Archief #
World war one recruits before leaving on train.

3 World war one recruits before leaving on train. Credit: freeparking #
The Great War. First World War, Dutch army. Dutch soldiers doing gymnastics in the open air, as the gyms are used as quarters. Class of recruits after one and a halve month practice, lifting the trunk. The Netherlands, 1915.

4 The Great War. First World War, Dutch army. Dutch soldiers doing gymnastics in the open air, as the gyms are used as quarters. Class of recruits after one and a halve month practice, lifting the trunk. The Netherlands, 1915. Credit: Nationaal Archief #
Recrues du 152 RI .Septembre1914.

5 Recrues du 152 RI .Septembre1914. Credit: abac077 #
Mitau/Jelgava German military WWI.

6 Mitau/Jelgava German military WWI. Credit: Jens-Olaf #
Great-grandpa Joe in world war one.

7 Great-grandpa Joe in world war one. Credit: freeparking #
Halt! Militärisch gesperrt! Wer weiter geht, auf den wird geschossen.

8 Halt! Militärisch gesperrt! Wer weiter geht, auf den wird geschossen. Credit: drakegoodman #
French troops pose with their St Etienne machineguns and rangefinder (centre).

9 French troops pose with their St Etienne machineguns and rangefinder (centre). Credit: drakegoodman #
French soldiers pose with their Hotchkiss & St Etienne machineguns.

10 French soldiers pose with their Hotchkiss & St Etienne machineguns. Credit: drakegoodman #
1917. Officers and NCOs compare the MG08/15 and the British Lewis Gun.

11 1917. Officers and NCOs compare the MG08/15 and the British Lewis Gun. Credit: drakegoodman #
Landsturm infantrymen pose beside a Hotchkiss revolving-cannon in Liège.

12 Landsturm infantrymen pose beside a Hotchkiss revolving-cannon in Liège. Credit: drakegoodman #
Livonia

13 Livonia "Germans attacking Reds" WWI. Credit: Jens-Olaf #
The Great War. First World War: soldier with folding bike on his back in the mountains. Italy, 1915.

14 The Great War. First World War: soldier with folding bike on his back in the mountains. Italy, 1915. Credit: Nationaal Archief #
Romanina troops in Transylvania. Merl LaVoy, photographer.

15 Romanina troops in Transylvania. Merl LaVoy, photographer. Credit: otisarchives2 #
British troops going through a wood

16 British troops going through a wood Credit: fortinbras #
First World War / The Great War, land war. English cavalry in action at the western front in France. 1916.

17 First World War / The Great War, land war. English cavalry in action at the western front in France. 1916. Credit: Nationaal Archief #
The Great War. First World War, war at sea. Coast guard cavalry (soldiers on horseback) patrolling alongside the beach of Hartlepool, England. 1914.

18 The Great War. First World War, war at sea. Coast guard cavalry (soldiers on horseback) patrolling alongside the beach of Hartlepool, England. 1914. Credit: Nationaal Archief #
The Great War. First World War. Belgian front, charge of the Algerian dragoons (infantry on horseback) at the front of Nieuwpoort. Belgium, 1915.

19 The Great War. First World War. Belgian front, charge of the Algerian dragoons (infantry on horseback) at the front of Nieuwpoort. Belgium, 1915. Credit: Nationaal Archief #
Serbian calvary. Merl LaVoy, photographer.

20 Serbian calvary. Merl LaVoy, photographer. Credit: otisarchives1 #
Sick horses taken to rear for treatment. Near Rearcourt [Harcourt?], France. 09/26/1918. World War 1.

21 Sick horses taken to rear for treatment. Near Rearcourt [Harcourt?], France. 09/26/1918. World War 1. Credit: otisarchives3 #
Donkey in protective 'clothing' with Australian soldiers, Gallipoli late 1915.

22 Donkey in protective 'clothing' with Australian soldiers, Gallipoli late 1915. Credit: thompsoe #
Serbian troops [in boats]. Merl LaVoy, photographer.

23 Serbian troops [in boats]. Merl LaVoy, photographer. Credit: otisarchives2 #
Russian bomber WWI. Found late for first post about the Great War.

24 Russian bomber WWI. Found late for first post about the Great War. Credit: Jens-Olaf #
World War 1. Mustard gas. Gas-proof dugout. Bungalow for two. Note the writing at lower right on roof:

25 World War 1. Mustard gas. Gas-proof dugout. Bungalow for two. Note the writing at lower right on roof: "Wipe your feet." Credit: otisarchives2 #
The Great War. First World War. Officers of the 68th regiment artillery in a hide- out, invisible for planes and airships, viewing the surroundings with binoculars. Belgium, 1914.

26 The Great War. First World War. Officers of the 68th regiment artillery in a hide- out, invisible for planes and airships, viewing the surroundings with binoculars. Belgium, 1914. Credit: Nationaal Archief #
British POW WWI Western Front.German soldiers on the right side.

27 British POW WWI Western Front.German soldiers on the right side. Credit: Jens-Olaf #
British soldiers washing their clothing, Salonica front. World War 1. Photograph by Merl Lavoy.

28 British soldiers washing their clothing, Salonica front. World War 1. Photograph by Merl Lavoy. Credit: otisarchives2 #

29 "Fix Bayonet." Australian Infantry preparing to resist a counter attack. Credit: State Library of New South Wales collection #
Gas attack. Funk holes in the trenches.

30 Gas attack. Funk holes in the trenches. Credit: State Library of New South Wales collection #
Langemark 22.4.15, after the first German gas attack of the war. Langemark is a Belgian village located about four miles north-east of Ypres, and it was near here that the Germans first used poison (chlorine) gas on the 22nd of April 1915 (officially the Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge). Deploring this awful atrocity, the Allies did not take too long to employ this weapon themselves, at Loos just five months later.

31 Langemark 22.4.15, after the first German gas attack of the war. Langemark is a Belgian village located about four miles north-east of Ypres, and it was near here that the Germans first used poison (chlorine) gas on the 22nd of April 1915 (officially the Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge). Deploring this awful atrocity, the Allies did not take too long to employ this weapon themselves, at Loos just five months later. Credit: drakegoodman #
Germans on a real attack in Finland ? WWI.

32 Germans on a real attack in Finland ? WWI. Credit: Jens-Olaf #
21cm Mortar in front of Remy. Take a look where bomb shells were carried.

33 21cm Mortar in front of Remy. Take a look where bomb shells were carried. Credit: drakegoodman #
Perfect clarity photograph of a 7.85cm 'leichter Minenwerfer n/A' (light mine thrower) team happily demonstrating the loading procedure of the weapon.

34 Perfect clarity photograph of a 7.85cm 'leichter Minenwerfer n/A' (light mine thrower) team happily demonstrating the loading procedure of the weapon. Credit: drakegoodman #
English 25cm Mortar (9.2 inch Howitzer)

35 English 25cm Mortar (9.2 inch Howitzer) Credit: drakegoodman #
A posed photo, but noteworthy nonetheless. A camouflaged artillery position with its crew in their assigned positions, gives us some idea how a fast rate of fire was achieved. Possibly an anti-aircraft position.

36 A posed photo, but noteworthy nonetheless. A camouflaged artillery position with its crew in their assigned positions, gives us some idea how a fast rate of fire was achieved. Possibly an anti-aircraft position. Credit: drakegoodman #
A very important experience was that the lack of high-trajectory guns increased as trench warfare developed. Consequently the change from field guns and cannons to field howitzers, mortars and mine-throwers was one of the most obvious developments of WW 1.

37 A very important experience was that the lack of high-trajectory guns increased as trench warfare developed. Consequently the change from field guns and cannons to field howitzers, mortars and mine-throwers was one of the most obvious developments of WW 1. Credit: drakegoodman #
15 cm sFH 13 L/14 howitzer position.

38 15 cm sFH 13 L/14 howitzer position. Credit: drakegoodman #
WW1 Scene in France.

39 WW1 Scene in France. Credit: Sherlock77 (James) #
Camouflaged command post (tank) and trench armour. Some interesting details on flickr page.

40 Camouflaged command post (tank) and trench armour. Some interesting details on flickr page. Credit: drakegoodman #
On the tank is written (translation):

41 On the tank is written (translation): "so far and no further - combat patrol #122" On the reverse side is written with pencil (translation): "French Tank Aisne 1917". Credit: drakegoodman #
Knocked out British Mk II tank.

42 Knocked out British Mk II tank. Credit: drakegoodman #
Dated on reverse 26.1.18. An average quality image depicts two NCOs standing in front of a captured British Mk IV tank

43 Dated on reverse 26.1.18. An average quality image depicts two NCOs standing in front of a captured British Mk IV tank "Falcon II". Credit: drakegoodman #
Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917 display. Piled beside it are German M1916 helmets.

44 Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917 display. Piled beside it are German M1916 helmets. Credit: drakegoodman #
Group of automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917 in a wood.

45 Group of automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917 in a wood. Credit: drakegoodman #
Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917 cannon. French FT-17 armed with a 37 mm Puteaux gun.

46 Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917 cannon. French FT-17 armed with a 37 mm Puteaux gun. Credit: drakegoodman #
Six ton M1917 on it's side, with

47 Six ton M1917 on it's side, with "dead"(for dramatics) crewman. Credit: drakegoodman #
American Red Cross Hospital number 1. Paris, France. Brake splint showing extension. World War 1.

48 American Red Cross Hospital number 1. Paris, France. Brake splint showing extension. World War 1. Credit: otisarchives3 #
British army two-horse litter, Salonica front, 1915. Photograph by Merl Lavoy.

49 British army two-horse litter, Salonica front, 1915. Photograph by Merl Lavoy. Credit: otisarchives2 #
Indian motorcycle used as an ambulance. ca. World War 1.

50 Indian motorcycle used as an ambulance. ca. World War 1. Credit: otisarchives3 #
French POW WWI Western Front. There are German and French casualties.

51 French POW WWI Western Front. There are German and French casualties. Credit: Jens-Olaf #
Burial services for men of the 33rd Division. Bois de Chaume, southeast of Sivry-Sur-Meuse, Meuse, France. World War 1.

52 Burial services for men of the 33rd Division. Bois de Chaume, southeast of Sivry-Sur-Meuse, Meuse, France. World War 1. Credit: otisarchives3 #
Graves of soldiers killed during last days of war. Watronville, France. 11/15/1918. United States. Army. Signal Corps.

53 Graves of soldiers killed during last days of war. Watronville, France. 11/15/1918. United States. Army. Signal Corps. Credit: otisarchives1 #
Cérémonie du

54 Cérémonie du "Memorial Day" au Cimetière Américain de Suresnes, le 30 Mai 1920. Credit: The Library of Congress #
Wasted lives. More than 300.000 french and german soldiers lost their lives during the battle of Verdun from February 21st to December 20th 1916. The Cemetary of Douaumont is the final resting place for 15.000 french soldiers in front of the

55 Wasted lives. More than 300.000 french and german soldiers lost their lives during the battle of Verdun from February 21st to December 20th 1916. The Cemetary of Douaumont is the final resting place for 15.000 french soldiers in front of the "Ossuaire de Douaumont" (Background). The Ossuaire covers the bones of 130.000 not identified french and german soldiers. Credit: Dennis Knake #
14 July 1919 - Victory Celebration. Pyramid of guns - Champs-Elysees, Paris. The best use of weapons, but late for many people.

56 14 July 1919 - Victory Celebration. Pyramid of guns - Champs-Elysees, Paris. The best use of weapons, but late for many people. Credit: drakegoodman #
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Comments (16)

  1. Jexweber wrote::

    Interesantes fotos, me encantan este tipo de fotos, te hacen retroceder en el tiempo muchos años y ves como han cambiado las cosas hasta nuestros días, felicidades por la recopilación de fotos.

    Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 5:29 pm #
  2. Anonymous wrote::

    muy buena la recopilaça0

    Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 4:56 pm #
  3. julio acevedo wrote::

    Lo unico que tengo que decir es WOW!, la calidad de la mayoria de las fotos es sorprendente. Gracias!

    Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 8:20 am #
  4. Anonymous wrote::

    fantastic photographs. i found myself enthralled by this.

    Friday, August 28, 2009 at 1:44 am #
  5. Michael wrote::

    World War One was the most interesting war. Great photo collection.

    Monday, September 7, 2009 at 12:16 am #
  6. Anonymous wrote::

    Unfortunately there arent any pictures of the battle or aftermath of passchendaele. Amazing pictures!

    Monday, September 7, 2009 at 10:18 am #
  7. Anonymous wrote::

    The map at the beginning is too big for the screen. I can’t see the legend, the time frame and the map all at once pretty much rendering the feature useless.

    Monday, September 7, 2009 at 9:27 pm #
  8. James wrote::

    wow. nice site.

    Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 1:36 pm #
  9. James wrote::

    wow. nice site.

    http://www.mydigitaldiary.weebly.com

    Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 1:37 pm #
  10. Simply Life wrote::

    Simply a archive of life. Good that these are preserved.

    Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 9:14 pm #
  11. Anonymous wrote::

    estan buenas las fotos

    Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 11:52 pm #
  12. linehanfrank@yahoo.i wrote::

    WW1- Keep up the good work. Great set of photos. Frank Linehan Cork City

    Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 8:46 pm #
  13. codognetreviso wrote::

    great photos but i would have liked to see some of the river piave where the front line of italy was set and vittorio veneto where the war end was signed…great work though congratulations

    Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 11:58 pm #
  14. Cosmikazee wrote::

    Great photos, however the captions seem to be one off, they dont match up with the photos, the comment for one photo is always on the photo below it

    Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 4:50 am #
  15. Anonymous wrote::

    Fantastic !!!

    Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 6:58 pm #
  16. Anonymous wrote::

    lots of texts are wrong attached to photos!

    Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 7:18 pm #

Trackbacks/Pingbacks (5)

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  3. 95.nci Yılında Fotoğraflarla Birinci Dünya Savaşı on Monday, September 7, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    [...] 2 Birinci Dünya Savaşı seferberlik ilanı. Eton koleji eğitimde tüfek omuza yürüyüş esnasında. İngiltere 1915. Credit: Nationaal Archief # 3 Yeni acemiler savaş eğitim için trene binmeden az önce. Credit: freeparking # 4 Hollanda ordusu açık havada eğitim yaparlarken. Hollanda, 1915. Credit: Nationaal Archief # 5 Recrues du 152 RI .Eylül 1914. Credit: abac077 # 6 Birinci dünya savaşı Mitau/Jelgava German askerleri . Credit: Jens-Olaf # 7 Büyük babam Joe (fotoğrafı gönderen kişinin zannedersem). Credit: freeparking # 8 Halt! Militärisch gesperrt! Wer weiter geht, auf den wird geschossen. Credit: drakegoodman # 9 Fransız makinalı tüfekli askerleri. Credit: drakegoodman # 10 Fransız askerleri makinalı tüfeklerle. Hotchkiss & St Etienne. Credit: drakegoodman # 11 1917. İngiliz subaylar NCOs ve the MG08/15 model İngiliz silahları. Credit: drakegoodman # 12 Landsturm piyadeleri yanlarında taşınabilir toplarıyla birlikte Liege’de. Credit: drakegoodman # 13 Livonia “Almanlar saldırıyor” Credit: Jens-Olaf # 14 1915. Alman askeri Italya dağlarında. Sırtında katlanabilir bisikleti. Credit: Nationaal Archief # 15 Romen askerler Transilvanya’da. Merl LaVoy, photographer. Credit: otisarchives2 # 16 Bir ingiliz birliği. Orman içinde yol alıyor. Credit: fortinbras # 17 Meydan savaşı öncesi İngiliz süvari birliği arazide yol alıyor. Fransa 1916. Credit: Nationaal Archief # 18 İngiliz süvari birliği Hartlepool plajı çevresinde devriye atarken. İngiltere 1914. Credit: Nationaal Archief # 19 Cezayirli askerlere komuta eden Belçika askerleri at sırtında dörtnala. Belçika 1915. Credit: Nationaal Archief # 20 Sırp süvarileri. Merl LaVoy, photographer. Credit: otisarchives1 # 21 Hasta ve yaralılar at sırtında hastaneye götürülürken. Rearcourt yakınları [Harcourt?], Fransa 09/26/1918. Credit: otisarchives3 # 22 Koruyucu kıyafetiyle bir eşek ve Avustralyalı askerler. Çanakkale 1915. Credit: thompsoe # 23 Sırp askerleri.troops botta. Merl LaVoy, photographer. Credit: otisarchives2 # 24 Rus bombardıman uçağı Credit: Jens-Olaf # 25 Hardal gazından korunmak için gaz geçirmeyen bungalov sığınak-siperler. Çatıda sağ altta “ayaklarınızı silin” yazıyor.Credit: otisarchives2 # 26 68.nci topçu birliği uçaklara görünmemek için kamufle olmuş ve dürbünle etrafı tararken. Belçika 1914. Credit: Nationaal Archief # 27 Batı cephesi. İngiliz askerleri ve sağ yanda Alman askerleri Credit: Jens-Olaf # 28 Selanik cephesi. İngiliz askerleri çamaşır yıkıyorlar. Fotoğraf Merl Lavoy. Credit: otisarchives2 # 29 Avustralya askerleri bir saldırıya karşı hazırlanıyor. Gelibolu Credit: State Library of New South Wales collection # 30 Kimyasal saldırıya karşı gaz maskeleriyle. Credit: State Library of New South Wales collection # 31 22 Nisan 1915. Savaştaki ilk gaz (klor gazı) saldırısı Almanlar tarafından yapıldı. Saldırı sonrası bir Belçika kasabası yakınlarındaki korkunç görüntüler. Bu olayı şiddetle kınayan müttefiklerin cevabı da aynı yolla aynı şiddette oldu. Credit: drakegoodman # 32 Alman askerlerinin Finlandiya’ya saldırı anı. Credit: Jens-Olaf # 33 21cm’lik havan topu mermileri atışa hazırlanıyor. Credit: drakegoodman # 34 Bir 7.85cm ‘leichter Minenwerfer havan topu. Atış takımı hayatlarından memnun bir şekilde az sonra ölüm kusacak olan mermileri yüklerken. Credit: drakegoodman # 35 İngiliz 25cm topu. (9.2 inç Howitzer) Credit: drakegoodman # 36 Atış pozisyonu ayarlayan bir uçaksavar-topçu birliği.Credit: drakegoodman # 37 Birinci Dünya Savaşı’nın kaderini değiştiren silahlardan biri. Credit: drakegoodman # 38 15 cm sFH 13 L/14 obüs pozisyon almış durumda. Credit: drakegoodman # 39 Birinci savaş sırasında Fransa’dan bir kare. Credit: Sherlock77 (James) # 40 Askerler siperde tankları kamufle edilmiş durumda. Credit: drakegoodman # 41 Bir Fransız tankı. 1917″. Credit: drakegoodman # 42 Hasar almış bir İngiliz Mk II tankı. Credit: drakegoodman # 43 İngiliz Mk IV tankı “Falcon II”. Credit: drakegoodman # 44 Renault FT 1917 model tank. Yanında Alman askerlerinin miferleri. Credit: drakegoodman # 45 Renault FT 1917  ormanlık alanda. Credit: drakegoodman # 46 Renault FT 1917. French FT-17 a 37 mm Puteaux silahıyla donatılmış. Credit: drakegoodman # 48 1 numaralı Amerikan Kızıl Haç hastanesi. Credit: otisarchives3 # 49 İngiliz askerleri. Selanik 1915. Photograph by Merl Lavoy. Credit: otisarchives2 # 50 Motosiklet ambulans. Credit: otisarchives3 # 51 Western Front. Almanlar ve Fransızlar çok ağır kayıplar verdiler. Credit: Jens-Olaf # 52 Ölen arkadaşlarını defneden Fransız askerleri. Credit: otisarchives3 # 53 15 Kasım 1918. Savaşın son günlerinde bile ölümler aynı hızla devam ediyor. Öldürülen askerler gömüldükten sonra. Credit: otisarchives1 # 54 30 Mayıs 1920 savaş biteli 2 yıl olmuş. Hüzünlü bir anma günü. Credit: The Library of Congress # 55 21 Şubat – 20 Aralık 1916 tarihleri arasında süren Verdun savaşı sırasında 300.000 Fransız ve Alman askeri öldü. Douaumont mezarlığı 15.000 Fransız askerin ebedi istirahatgahıdır.Credit: Dennis Knake # 56 14 Temmuz 1919 – Zafer kutlamaları. Atılan silahlardan oluşan piramit silahlara karşı nefretin bir sembolü olsa da artık çok geçtir. Credit: drakegoodman # Asıl Kaynak: TheBigFoto.com [...]

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