Today is August 1st, 1914, just four days ago Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Today Germany and Russia declared war against each other, France ordered a general mobilization, and the first German army units will cross into Luxembourg in preparation for the German invasion of France. During the next three days, Russia, France, Belgium, and Great Britain will all line up against Austria-Hungary and Germany, and the German army will invade Belgium. The “Great War” that ensues will be one of previously unprecedented devastation and death.

But right now, many of the people of Europe are kind of greeting the coming war with delight. Most patriotically, they all assume that their country will be victorious within months. Of the initial combatants, Germany is most prepared for the outbreak of hostilities, and its military leaders have already organized a serious military strategy known as the “Schlieffen Plan,” with which they expect the defeat of France through a massive arcing offensive through Belgium and into northern France. Russia, a touch slow to mobilize, is to be kept busy by Austro-Hungarian forces while Germany attacks France.

But we all know that even the best laid plans rarely make it to face the enemy… No one really knows how ugly this war is going to get….

And things aren’t looking very good for Mrs. Hall at the moment either…

PLEASE NOTE - Falling Through the Archives is taking a small break - Look for Episode 7 on August 12, 2022.

Sorry for the interruption. We too look forward to looking in on John and Ed again soon!

This podcast has been brought to you by Watershed Z Productions.

 Staring

Jim Hodges - As the Narrator

John Teach- As John

Cori Andre - As Ed

With Special guest

Mike Allender- As Advertisers

Music is from 1911, 1913, and 1914 – and in the public domain.

They are…

I Love the Ladies by Byron Harlan

He’s a Devil in His Own Hometown by Ed Morton

California and You by Irving Kaufman

When You’re a Long, Long Way from Home by Henry Burr

I Want to go Back to Michigan by Elida Morris

The Aba Daba Honeymoon by Collis and Harlan

He’d Have to Get Under, Get Out and Get Under to Fix His Automobile by Billy Murray

When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose by American Quartet

The Oceana Roll by Eddi Morton

And

Cohen on the Telephone by Joe Hayman

Sound Design and Editing done by Hayden Hodges

The newspaper articles read on the show are actual written accounts of the time period and can be found in The Library of Congress under Chronicling America.

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Falling Through the Archives

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