James Taub

lol yes when you tell Europe to rearm, this is what happens, you absolute muppets

Can’t wait for the hand wringing that happens when they rediscover stupid nationalistic tendencies and get another arms race going followed by a fucking massive war

Which was all preventable

Archive day at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Back working with the topic that made me first fall in love with history. Getting ready for a conference next June.
#CivilWar #History

Peter Lang Verlag - Pilgrimages to the Western Front of World War I The book introduces a multidisciplinary exploration of battlefield pilgrimages and situates these pilgrimages within the broader field of pilgrimage ...

A book which I recently contributed to was just released, and you can order it with 30% off using code PWF30. The chapters here deal with visiting battlefields of #WWI. Mine is on Jewish veterans of the French Army in the interwar years, be sure to check it out!

www.peterlang.com/document/144...

YouTube video by WW1: Not So Quiet On The Western Front | Podcast The Nivelle Offensive 1917: The Disastrous Battle That Led to Mutiny | WW1 Podcast Episode: 75

The Chemin des Dames and the Spring Offensive of 1917, plus Spencer Jones and I take on the topic of the ‘mutinies’ in this episode!
#WWI #History #Podcast
youtu.be/tzsXvlGvjp8?...

Successful southern trip.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga visit.

Interesting connection between many states who hate the Philadelphia Eagles and those who lost the Civil War...

PS. Notice the Lions are loved by all. #AmericasTeam.

YouTube video by WW1: Not So Quiet On The Western Front | Podcast The French Army at the Battle of the Somme: A Forgotten Campaign | WW1 Podcast Episode: 71

Your Friday commuting listen:

youtu.be/k_1TRDhcQnw?...

It can also be argued that Joffre, the CinC of the French Army played a much larger role than he is given credit for, even with his failures before the battle. It's Joffre who sends leaders and men into the fight, and it's also him who moves Pétain in May due to the latter's notorious pessimism.

The next, General Nivelle, is remembered primarily for his offensives of 1917, which saw him removed from command. He takes over command of the French forces at Verdun in May, 1916. Meaning for the vast majority of the battle, HE was in command. It was also Nivelle who said "Ils ne passeront pas!"

In the panoply of French generals of #WWI, other men can and should claim that title, and I argue they should do so with stronger arguments than Pétain. The first is de Castlenau, the man on the spot in the first days of the battle. Rushing reserves in his direction saved the east bank of the Meuse.

Historians today are of the opinion that Pétain himself was not the savoir of Verdun as his PR team would claim. I HIGHLY suggest reading the below chapter in the 2025 released ‘Les dramaturgies de Verdun’. If you need translation help let me know.

editionspierredetaillac.com/products/les...

There was recently mass to commemorate Maréchal Pétain in Verdun. The key argument of the organizers is “one must separate the Pétain of 1916 from that of 1940”. Apart from overlooking his collaboration with the Nazis, it very much overstates his importance in 1916. This needs to be discussed.

Episode 103: African Americans in WWI (Ad Free) Join now to unlock exclusive Not So Quiet On The Western Front content

A new podcast episode is now up! Dan and Spencer brought me back as a guest, but this time we stepped away from the French to talk about the story of Black Americans and their fight for quality during #WWI.

Also available via Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
not-so-quiet.com/supporters/a...

Haha it was the only way I’d get on screen! I’ve got a few issues but it’s a great documentary to get folks into it.

Somehow made it into Ken Burns' new American Revolution series on PBS.

YouTube video by WW1: Not So Quiet On The Western Front | Podcast Daily Life of a WWI French Soldier | WW1 Podcast Episode: 67

Several new episodes on the French Army in #WWI are now out on YouTube. Follow the history of the French participation in the war from August of 1914 through 1915, with a few special episodes dedicated to specific topics.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=acRW...
#History #Podcast

YouTube video by WW1: Not So Quiet On The Western Front | Podcast The French Army on the Eve of War | WW1 Podcast Episode: 61

If you're more YouTube/Video inclined, our podcast series on the French Army in WWI is now available there!

youtu.be/1Tu3Kb1raNk?...

Tie for 11/11

Here we go...

It seems like a really good time to repost this.

Yeah, no. This is great. I’m sure it won’t backfire at all. Who needs real historians anyway? Let’s go off a database of crowdsourced and un-curated information and push it to the masses.

As a #WWI guy, it's also really sad because the LARGEST and BLOODIEST battle in American history remains the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The doughboys never got their due.

#TIL one of the last Lafayettes was killed as a cavalry platoon leader in 1945.
#WW2

Here is Marie Xavier Jean Bureaux de Pusy Dumottier de Lafayette, holding the sword of his ancestor, the Marquis de Lafayette. When he died near Saint-Nazaire he was serving as a lieutenant in the 8ème Cuirassiers.

For the French Army 22 August 1914 (27,000 KIA alone) and 25 September (closer to 28,000) were the worst days. The German Army’s was 21 March 1918.

The medical staff of the RCIM awaits trucks to take them to rest areas. Standing at the left is médecin auxiliaire Le Gall, who had cut the skirts off of his capote so he could move more easily in the mud and water of the Verdun battlefield.

Men of the Régiment colonial du Maroc (Colonial Infantry Regiment of Morocco) descending down to Verdun after heavy combat, 30 October 1916. The previous few days had seen them fighting to recapture Fort Douaumont.
#WWI

Me when I see a pretty sunset.

The internal struggle between having a proud Scottish education and a deep love of French history.

Tübingen