Category Archives: World War I

One Hundred Years Ago, Lawrence of Arabia killed the Railroad – March 1923: Transjordan

Zur deutschen Fassung. Not quite a hundred, but still more than thirty years ago, I was in Australia as an exchange student. I don’t think I have ever told stories from that time, because back then, we still took pictures … Continue reading

Posted in History, Iran, Islam, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Technology, Travel, UK, World War I | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Battlefield Tourism – Then and Now

Zur deutschen Fassung. The following is the English translation of a presentation I gave during a field trip with my university to Ypres. Because it’s a German university, there is a focus on German (language) sources and on the German … Continue reading

Posted in Belgium, History, Military, Travel, World War I | Tagged | 8 Comments

One Hundred Years Ago, Germany and Russia laid the Foundation for World War II – April 1922: Rapallo

Zur deutschen Fassung. Did you ever notice that the term “discovery” is only used when a white guy first steps onto some territory, where non-white folks have been living for a long time? And that fake explorer fame is even … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, History, Italy, Military, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, World War I, World War II | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

One Hundred Years Ago, the Battlefields turned Red – November 1921: Poppies

Zur deutschen Fassung. Since this is not only a history blog, but also a travel blog, I naturally thought of combining these two aspects when I began the “One Hundred Years Ago …” series. Under the pretext of urgently having … Continue reading

Posted in Belgium, Canada, History, Military, Photography, Travel, UK, World War I | Tagged | 9 Comments

One Hundred Years Ago, Belgium became the most Complicated Country in Europe – July 1921: Language Border between Wallonia and Flanders

Zur deutschen Fassung. The inability to form a new government quickly after an election is usually associated with failed states such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya or the USA. However, the record for the longest time needed to form a government … Continue reading

Posted in Belgium, Germany, History, Language, Politics, World War I, World War II | Tagged , | 18 Comments

One Hundred Years Ago, Alcohol secured World Peace – June 1921: Åland

Zur deutschen Fassung dieser Geschichtsstunde. Where Hannibal once took his elephant for a walk, now the highways are crossing the Alps. Where the Romans no longer felt like expanding and built a wall to keep the neighbors out, today the … Continue reading

Posted in Finland, History, Sweden, World War I | Tagged , | 4 Comments

One Hundred Years Ago, Christmas was still Exciting – December 1920: Bloody Christmas

Zur deutschen Fassung. I find it perfectly fitting that some states have declared a state of emergency for Christmas. Because for me, Christmas has always been a disaster to be avoided. Usually, I escaped by traveling to countries as devoid … Continue reading

Posted in Croatia, History, Italy, Politics, World War I | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

German Migration to the USA

Debates on migration often center on whether it is a good or a bad thing. I rather view migration as something completely normal. Migration has been a permanent component of human history. Over centuries, Germany, or rather the territories that … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, History, USA, World War I | Tagged , | 19 Comments

Random Thoughts (12)

If you have doubts about humanity, listen to this podcast about a hospital in Israel treating wounded and sick Syrians. I wouldn’t have thought that many people read articles as long as the one about my decision to return to … Continue reading

Posted in Albania, Armenia, Cinema, Cold War, Finland, History, Israel, Military, Syria, USA, World War I | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Russian Embassy

I am planning to go to Ukraine soon. But who knows if there will even be a Ukraine left in a few months. Russia is coming closer, at least geographically. To be on the safe side, I want to apply for … Continue reading

Posted in History, Montenegro, Photography, Russia, Travel, World War I | Tagged | 22 Comments