The gap in time between the Napoleonic wars and the 1940s was not much more than that between WW1 and today. (125 years versus around 100) However, that's one extra generation and given the rise in life expectancy since 1900, there are far more people alive today that as children knew people that had lived through WW1 than in the 1940s would have known people alive in the Napoleonic era. So there's more personal or familial interest. In Europe the wars of Italian and German reunification, and the pushing back of the Ottomans in the Balkans would have been more well known. In Britain and the Dominions the Boer Wars and the building of the Empire after 1815. Crimean war and Indian mutiny especially.So I was watching Swiss Family Robenson which is based during the Napoleonic wars and heard the reference by the mother scorning napoleon. It almost sounded how people scorned Hitler.
So it got me thinking.
Do we today view ww1 the same way people saw the Napoleonic wars in ww2?
AhemWWI was Lions led by Donkeys, butchers killing men for no gain for four years, over and over and over.
about the only heroic figure out from the whole mess was von Lettow-Vorbeck on the ground, and then the Flying Aces, 'Knights of the Air'
And the numerous Victoria Cross, Iron Cross, Croix de Guerre, and Medal of Honor winners, as well as the sacrifice of individual soldiers
People today might be able to name one or two of themAnd the numerous Victoria Cross, Iron Cross, Croix de Guerre, and Medal of Honor winners, as well as the sacrifice of individual soldiers
Without the David Lean film, T.E.L would be near as as unknown as Lettow-VorbeckAhem