Last year I wrote a brief analysis of the First Battle of the Isonzo. Now nearing the ninety-fifth anniversary of the first Isonzo battle I thought it might be somehow fitting to highlight the connections between this engagement and the Second World War. Recently I read a post over at The Spitfire Site, where an ongoing post-blogging project on the Battle of Britain addressed Italy’s entrance into the war. The similarities between the Italian assaults against Austrian-Hungarian positions during the First World War and the invasion of France in the Second World War are striking.
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On 6 June 1944, Allied forces began the liberation of Western Europe with the landings along the Normandy coastline. Last year I complained about how television (cough, History Channel, cough) barely noted the 65th Anniversary of the Normandy landings. This year, however, I have decided to allow history to literally speak for itself.
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Ninety-four years ago, Austria-Hungary and Italy slugged it out in the first of twelve battles along the Isonzo River. Having just entered the Great War on behalf of the Entente, the Italians endeavored to make a quick and substantial impact on the territory under the control of the Austrian-Hungarian forces along their border. With the aim of driving the forces of Austria-Hungary off the Isonzo River and out of the eastern sector (modern day Slovenia), the Italians launched poorly planned infantry based assaults on 23 June 1915.
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So today marks the 65th anniversary of the Allied landings at Normandy and the beginning of the push towards Berlin. It is interesting how the American media, particularly the History Channel, briefly mention the importance to June 6th while not doing any justice to those who fought and died. Years ago, the History Channel would have run an all day marathon of D Day related shows and commentary. Now, you are left with a few shows that have stretched connections to the momentous D Day landings. Ultimately, I could careless about what the History Channel does, or does not do, but I do think it is a strong reflection of the entire American mindset of “out of place, out of mind.” Maybe if you are fortunate enough to have a mega cable television package, you will take the time to tune into channels that are airing D Day related shows and commemorations. Better yet, take the time to read up on the historical impact of the landings and mark the sacrifices made so many decades ago with a moment of silence. Forget television, for it has already forgotten your history.
Synopsis
The purpose of Thompson-Werk is to present the musings of a US War and Society doctoral student. Discussion topics principally center around the World Wars and Vietnam.
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- Remembering the Battles of the Isonzo - Thompson-Werk: [...] year I wrote a [...]
- 66th D-Day Anniversary - Thompson-Werk: [...] the liberation of Western [...]
- Acquisitions - Thompson-Werk: [...] Not wasting any time, [...]
- Tweets that mention A Story of Whom? - Thompson-Werk -- Topsy.com: [...] This post was mentioned [...]
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