Your WWI

[Krispy 9]

ATTENTION!

Hello soldiers,

I'm beginning this thread, more in part because of the great submissions that have been submitted to the #ww1-history Discord channel on our official Discord Server (discord.gg/playbtw if you're not there yet, why not?) as it's getting populated with fantastic pieces of artwork from the time of the war or amazing real life footage showing the living conditions while deployed. But why should Discord have all the fun?

I assume many of you are interested in Beyond The Wire because of the setting of WW1. What we'd like to know in this thread though is what drew you to exploring more of the history of World War 1 as a period of history that you enjoy. Whether it be a particular battle that sparked your imagination or a certain piece of weaponry that compelled you to research more about the era, share your story.

If you are new to the forums, this might serve as a great way to introduce yourselves and get to meet some of the folks you'll eventually be meeting on the battlefield.

[North_Dumpling 5]

Hello there, my name is Eugene and let me introduce myself. 
I've been an active content creator for about 4 years now, helped shipping and buildings mods.

My WWI started with when Rising Storm 2 was about to release and I wanted to support it, so I decided WWI would be a good choice. A good way to learn history myself and perhaps participate in creating something truly ambitious. Unfortunately due to circumstances our team didnt succeed, however I have learned a lot from my experience. 

I'm hoping to bring something new to the title through utilizing SDK tools in the distant future and tell stories I previously couldnt. 

Cheers!

 

[Tommy 10]

Hey.

There is a lot that drew myself into exploring, and getting myself really interested in WW1, it is just the sheer amount of technological progression within the time period, which got me interested, and the battle conditions and paintings really depict how reality was back then, just the immersion of a game being set during WW1 is absolutely fascinating and great, quite a lot of inspiration came from paintings, books including games such as Verdun.

Weaponry has always been that type of subject, which automatically gets you to review the era and so on, and not just standard issue weaponry which is interesting, even all the experimental ideas fascinate you, in how people wanted to design things. There is also the opening of tanks, I'm not such a big fan of tank warfare myself (I do prefer some good ol' classic fighting with rifles, and melee combat. Major praise to tanks nonetheless!), although the size and structures certainly catch your eye, if you're ever over the top!

There is quite a lot of battles, that bring out how reality was back then, including the trenches how they were back then (despite during later in the war, trenches got less and less unorganized and far more advanced than in the early parts of the war.) 

I'm happy, honoured and humble, to be apart of this fantastic community, where communication is the highlight, with developers communicating to the public alongside more. I simply cannot wait to see what they hold for us in the future, the road as of now and ahead looks great!

I'll see you on the battlefield!

Edited May 5, 2020 by Tory

[Old Bill 1]

My WWI started when I learned about my family history. My original interest in history started when my parents took me when I was little to the US National WW2 museum about an hour away from where I live. Since then I have been incredibly interested in Military history. My interest in WWI started when I found out I had some veterans on the British side of my family. One was a minesweeper in the Royal Navy, another a pilot, another in the Medical Corps, and a couple others in the infantry. There were so many stories from them and from there I just went with it. For some reason I’ve been really drawn to the Battle of Passchendaele. I just find that one especially interesting. 

[Kingkat54 11]

Have been interested in WW1 for a while. Have many books and dvd series. Knowing that it could have been avoided makes it all the more interesting. The global scale of the war itself and the nations involved was amazing. Although America arrived late in the war, their presence was decisive. And the advent of the weapons, from the machine gun, submarine, airplanes and tanks, made the casualties even more horrendous. The catastrophic changes ushered in by the war,are still felt today. Especially the Middle East, that was carved from the Ottoman Empire. Lookin gforward to this game as it progresses, and have enjoy the small time I have spent in game so far. 

[HDMRice 1]

WW1 is important to me, as it was a major turning point in history for most countries. For my country, Canada, it was pivotal in forming an identity of our own, where we showed our determination, grit, and resolve in the face of extreme situations, even from our own people! Here's looking at you, Sam Hughes. The push of technologies is also a big interest of mine, especially some of the trench created items, and many of the "bolt on" solutions to try and turn bolt action rifles into semi or full auto contraptions.

My family history is important as well, and thankfully we have some very extensive records, most notably around my great grandfather. He fought through out the war, signing up in 1916, and was initially attached to the Eaton Motor Machine Gun Battery, which eventually reformed with other units to become the Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade. He rode around on his motorcycle, spotting enemy machine gun batteries, and relayed that information so the Canadian mobile machine guns could ride up on them, and take them out. He was eventually wounded by shrapnel. The story goes that he came under artillery or mortar fire, and the standard procedure was to ditch your motorcycle, and get to cover. Well, he didn't want to ditch the motorcycle, because he had a fresh cigar in his coat pocket, and was afraid he'd ruin it. So he kept on, and was hit by a piece of shrapnel. He healed up, and continued on, and was awarded two medals for his ability to spot the entrenched machine guns and report back the information.

I haven't played the game yet, its currently downloading, but I can't wait to get into it. The few videos I've watched of gameplay looks amazing.

[FM. HezzyBear 13]

I have always been a fan of military history. Just something about the smell of blackpowder and the screeching sound of a Tiger tanks tracks. Just fills me with interest. Always been a fan of WWI and the tactics and equipment used. Found out as a kid that my great grandfather served in the 21st Lancers (AKA The Death or Glory Boys) and road on Horseback with a beautiful black horse who's name i cannot say.  From then on i found such an interest in my own family's military history.

[Kingkat54 11]

Family connections to history make for greater stories. Both of my Grandfathers were drafted in 1917, but were married with children, and were never called into service. 

[Pike 0]

what drew me into WWI was , it isnt really covered by history often, just told that it was bad, and then brushed to WWII. 
my group for Arma 3 has been doing WWII campaigns, and i thought it would be interesting to try to make something WWI, as it isnt really covered, and i could dig for more information with people that have knowledge to learn something new. i just find the fact of the mind boggling sized artillery, the crack of machine guns, seeing what happened at the start in high detail, its just so interesting , and seeing something that could dive me into something 100 years old just interests me.

[Kingkat54 11]

WW1 is often overshadowed by WW2. However, the weapons developed during WW1 are fascinating. Especially the airplanes, and early submarines. Technology created the massive slaughter, and the world changed forever. Why I really like this game.

 

[Matt 0]

We're pretty used to hearing about WW2, mainly because it was such a black and white situation. WW1 is a lot less black and white, in that nobody was innocent and there wasn't an obvious bad guy since every European power (except Switzerland of course) was looking to expand their territory and prestige through military force. The elites were hungry for a war and ended up getting more than they bargained for. I'd say WW1 was just as, if not more influential than WW2 on how it changed the course of history. Empires fell, ideologies were born, technology boomed and culture changed. It's amazing how different Europe was back then, in regard to its culture surrounding monarchies and aggressive imperialism, which today would be so foreign. As a Canadian, WW1 is extremely important in our history. 

The weapons really interested me, as well as the tactics and trench warfare. Nowadays we're used to seeing over the top, tacticool rifles and soldiers with expensive night vision, but back then, a bolt action with a bayonet was all you had, and the French unfortunately weren't even given proper uniforms because politicians were still stuck in the old mindset that their soldiers had to look flashy in battle. The melee weapons used in the trenches were brutal, and looked like they were out of medieval times. 

I'm really hoping to see the third battle of ypres and a vimy ridge map. The image of a waste land with shell holes and a miles of scorched trees are what come to mind when I think of WW1.

[Vyklop 1]

When I was 6, I was given two books of paintings/vignettes of events from The Great War

The red of blood mixing with the red of the pants of French soldiers as they lay dying

Dark soldiers highlighted against the sky as the traveled across a wasteland of watery shell holes.

the blinded, leading the blinded, leading the blinded after a gas attack

A man holding his dying friend.

After that, I heard the stories of my Great Great Grandfather, who served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1916 - 1919

I read the stories of Robert Shankland, William Hall and Leo Clarke.

I was enamoured by the men who sacrificed so much for a pointless war that built my nation.