No. 159 - The year 1914: the German Narrative

‘Institute for Western Affairs' Bulletin (No.159/2014): Prof. Zbigniew Mazur, ‘The year 1914: the German Narrative’. 

The Memory of the First World War, which the contemporaries referred to as the Great War of 1914-1918, has always divided countries of Europe and beyond. The brunt of the burden of this war, the bloodiest fighting and the biggest casualties were brought to bear mainly on the Western part of Europe and the French-Germany frontline rather than the East as in the case of the Second World War. The Polish celebrations of the 1914 anniversary as well as the following war years, should therefore focus not as much on commemorating its road to freedom and independence but rather on incorporating that strand into Europe’s collective memory.