World War I in photos

July 30, 2014 5:20 PM

A 10-Part Series By Alan Taylor. "One hundred years ago, in the summer of 1914, a series of events set off an unprecedented global conflict that ultimately claimed the lives of more than 16 million people, dramatically redrew the maps of Europe, and set the stage for the 20th Century."
posted by Librarypt (10 comments total)

So harrowing and heartbreaking to go through these. Thanks for posting.
posted by scody at 5:34 PM on July 30, 2014 [1 favorite]

What a waste of lives and resources.
posted by codacorolla at 6:37 PM on July 30, 2014

So vivid and heartbreaking. Thank you for this.
posted by GrammarMoses at 6:38 PM on July 30, 2014

Incredible archive of photographs.

Sad to think this kind of thing is still going on worldwide, albeit not on that scale.

.
posted by CrowGoat at 8:20 PM on July 30, 2014

Extremely vivid, definitely a new perspective. Somehow they convey the banality of it all. I wonder what a German POW was thinking as he helps to push a train-cart of wounded Allied soldiers.
posted by cacofonie at 9:16 PM on July 30, 2014

> I wonder what a German POW was thinking as he helps to push a train-cart of wounded Allied soldiers.

Man, I wasn't even supposed to be here today.
posted by tiaz at 12:20 AM on July 31, 2014 [2 favorites]

Alan Taylor, not to be confused with this guy
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 2:20 AM on July 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

These galleries made me realize how very little I know about the first World War, particularly the involvement of non-Europeans. Thanks for sharing.
posted by bowtiesarecool at 5:45 AM on July 31, 2014

Wow; what an amazing collection! I am surprised it took so long to be posted here. It moves me on so many levels; the devastation and human cost was just enormous, and yet 20 years later the same countries were preparing to do it all again. It makes one wonder just how thin the veneer of civilization is for all of us. The faces of the people are haunting, especially when I realize they are all gone now. I wonder what became of all those wounded, especially in the pre-antibiotic era when an infected blister could kill you. And all those troop movements helped set the stage for the 1918 flu pandemic as well.

On a less serious note, this picture immediately made me think of this guy.
posted by TedW at 6:42 AM on July 31, 2014

(mefi's own) alan taylor is a treasure. if you aren't looking at his in focus series you're missing out. and as a bit of history, he got started on this path with the help of projects.
posted by nadawi at 6:50 AM on July 31, 2014 [5 favorites]