Remembering the ‘war to end all wars’
Lincoln Presidential Library offers
presentation on trench warfare, screens ‘All Quiet on the Western
Front’
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[July 14, 2016]
SPRINGFIELD
– A century ago, World War I took warfare to such vast new levels
that some believed it would be “the war to end all wars.” The
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum looks back at this
terrible time with two events in July: a presentation on trench
warfare and a screening of the classic movie “All Quiet on the
Western Front.”
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The first takes place Thursday, July 14. Dr. Mark
DePue, head of the presidential library’s Oral History Program, will
explain the horrors of trench warfare by focusing on the 1916
battles of the Somme and Verdun – which he calls “military disasters
on a monstrous scale.”
The Civil War, which produced so many military innovations, saw
early versions of trench warfare at the sieges of Vicksburg and
Petersburg.
DePue developed an extremely popular series of presentations on key
Civil War battles, using maps, photos and the soldiers’ own words to
explain what happened and why. Now he is bringing that same approach
to World War I.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Jul/12/images/ads/current/ldn_medical_directory_small_2016.png) The free event takes place at 6:30 p.m. in Union Theater at the
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. To reserve a seat,
visit
www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov and click on “special event
reservations.”
On Tuesday, July 26, the presidential library presents “All Quiet on
the Western Front,” one of the greatest war movies of all time.
The 1930 movie won the Academy Award for best picture, was banned in
Nazi Germany during the ‘30s and has been included on many lists of
great movies.
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Jul/12/images/ads/current/Symphony_lda_091814.png)
Admission is free. The movie starts at 6:30 in Union Theater. Reservations can
be made at
www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, a division of the Illinois
Historic Preservation Agency, is dedicated to telling the story of America’s
16th president through old-fashioned scholarship and modern technology.
The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln books, documents,
photographs, artifacts and art, as well as some 12 million items pertaining to
all aspects of Illinois history. The museum uses traditional exhibits,
eye-catching special effects and innovative story-telling techniques to educate
visitors.
[Christopher Wills, Director of
Communications and Public Affairs, Illinois Historic Preservation
Agency] |