Video: 'The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century - Slaughter' (June 7, 1917, at 47:00)
(Thursday, June 7, 1917, 3:10 a.m. CEST; on the Western Front during World War I) —
The Battle of Messines opened today as the British Second Army, under the command of General Sir Herbert Plumer, detonated 19 ammonal mines under the German lines near the village of Messines in West Flanders, Belgium, killing 10,000 in the deadliest deliberate non-nuclear man-made explosion in history.
Video: 'THE DRAFT | The Selective Service Act | PBS'
(Tuesday, June 5, 1917; during World War I) — About 10 million American men between the ages of 21 and 31 began registering for the draft today. Continue reading About 10 million American men begin registering for draft 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1917)
Video: 'The Pulitzer Prizes at 100'
(Monday, June 4, 1917) — The first Pulitzer Prizes for achievements in newspaper, magazine and online journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States were awarded today. Continue reading First Pulitzer Prizes awarded 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1917)
Video: 'President Kennedy's family reflects on his 100th birthday'
(Tuesday, May 29, 1917, 3:00 p.m. local time) — John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States (1961-1963), was born John Fitzgerald Kennedy today at 83 Beals Street in Brookline, Massachusetts, to businessman/politician Joseph Patrick “Joe” Kennedy and philanthropist/socialite Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy. Continue reading U.S. President John F. Kennedy born in Brookline, Massachusetts 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 29 1917)
(Friday, May 18, 1917; during World War I) — U.S. President Woodrow Wilson today signed the Selective Service Act of 1917, which gave him the power to conscript men ages 21 to 30 and the option of calling up 500,000 volunteers. Continue reading Wilson signs Selective Service Act, denies Roosevelt’s request to command volunteer division 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1917)
Video: 'World War I: Nivelle Offensive 4/4' (May 15, 1917, at 1:44)
(Tuesday, May 15, 1917; during World War I) — Less than one month after launching the Nivelle Offensive, the disappointment of which triggered a series of significant mutinies on the Western Front, French General Robert Nivelle was replaced today as Commander-in-Chief of the French Army by Philippe Pétain. Continue reading Petain succeeds Nivelle as French Commander-in-Chief 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1917)
Video: 'Our Lady of Fatima May 13, 1917'
(Sunday, May 13, 1917) — Three shepherd children, Lucia de Jesus dos Santos and two of her cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, reported seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary today near Fatima, Portugal. Continue reading Three peasant children near Fatima, Portugal, report seeing vision of Virgin Mary 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 13 1917)
Video: 'The Great War episode 5 Mutiny'(April 16, 1917, at 18:31)
(Monday, April 16, 1917; during the on the Western Front of World War I) — Siegfried Sassoon, an officer in the Royal Welch Fusiliers and one of Britain’s greatest war poets, was wounded by a German sniper today while leading his company in an attack at Fontaine-les-Croisilles. Continue reading Siegfried Sassoon wounded by a German sniper at Fontaine-les-Croisilles 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1917)
Video: 'The Great War episode 5 Mutiny' (April 16, 1917, at 27:47)
(Monday, April 16, 1917, 6:00 a.m. CEST) — The Nivelle Offensive, a massive Franco-British offensive on the Western Front in the First World War, was launched today by General Robert Nivelle, commander of the French armies, deploying some 1.2 million soldiers and 7,000 artillery pieces, with which he promised to break the German line within 48 hours. Continue reading Nivelle Offensive begins in northern France 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1917)
Video: 'Vimy Ridge Heaven to Hell - Full Documentary'
(Easter Monday, April 9, 1917, 5:30 a.m. CEST; on the Western Front during World War I) — Canadian forces launched a successful counter-offensive against German troops today in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, a diversionary attack for the Apr. 16, 1917, French Nivelle Offensive in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. Continue reading Canadian forces launch counter-offensive against German troops in Battle of Vimy Ridge 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 9 1917)
