Controversies – Page 6 – First World War Centenary News Archive

January 9, 2014 CN Editorial Team

British Government accused of “whitewash” in favouring Centenary commemorations for “New Commonwealth” over Australia

Australia’s The Daily Telegraph states the UK Government may “downplay” the role of Australian forces during the First World War.

January 10, 2014 CN Editorial Team

UK Culture Minister is criticised in Anzac Centenary row

The Daily Mail has reported that a “senior Whitehall official” has criticised the UK Culture Secretary as concerns were raised that Britain was going to “downplay” Australia’s role in the First World War.

January 10, 2014 CN Editorial Team

UK states suggestion of Anzac “whitewash” during the Centenary is “completely wrong”

The UK has stated that any suggestions it will favour commemorating the “New Commonwealth” contribution during the First World War over Australia are “completely wrong”.

January 16, 2014 CN Editorial Team

Serbia claims letter from 1913 absolves it of blame for the outbreak of the First World War

The Director of the National Archive of Serbia, Dr. Miroslav Perisic, has unveiled a copy of a document from 1913 which he claims absolves Serbia of any “guilt” for outbreak of the First World War.

January 16, 2014 CN Editorial Team

‘Archduke Franz Ferdinand relative: don’t blame us for First World War’

Karl Habsburg-Lothringen, the grandson of the last emperor of Austria-Hungary, Karl I, has said there is no need for his family to show remorse for the First World War.

January 17, 2014 CN Editorial Team

Austrian press criticises Serbian presentation of 1913 document

The Austrian press has been critical of the presentation of a document by the National Archive of Serbia, which Serbia claims absolves it of any “guilt” in starting the First World War.

January 21, 2014 CN Editorial Team

First World War Centenary “largely ignored” in Russia

The Moscow Times interviews British historian Sir Max Hastings about how “World War I was very nearly written out of Russian history during the early years of the Soviet Union”.

January 24, 2014 CN Editorial Team

Gavrilo Princip “to have monument” in Kalemegdan Park, Belgrade, Serbia

The Serbian daily, Novosti, reports an initiative by the Government of Serbia will see a monument to Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassin – Gavrilo Princip – erected in Kalemegdan Park, Belgrade.

January 29, 2014 CN Editorial Team

Petition to honour executed nurse Edith Cavell on UK Centenary coin passes 50,000 names

Almost 51,000 people have now backed a campaign to have the executed British nurse, Edith Cavell, honoured on a £2 coin commemorating the First World War Centenary.

February 3, 2014 CN Editorial Team

Simon Jenkins’ “apology” to Germany for “sickening avalanche of First World War worship” proves divisive

An article in The Guardian by Simon Jenkins has provoked nearly a thousand comments as he “apologises” to Germany as the Centenary approaches.