The exhibition of enemy aircraft in “Kriegsausstellungen” invited the public to look at enemy airplane construction and aesthetics. These assembled knowledge bases were disseminated in several ways: designers and engineers were familiarized with the construction, pilots with the strength and weaknesses of their adversaries´ planes articles in technical journals – for instance the periodical “Flight” in Britain – were published and widely read. Enemy aircraft captured more or less intact were taken into the air not only to check out their tactical advantages or weak points in order to help their own pilots to develop skills to defeat them, but also to find out about handling characteristics in relation to design and airframe engineering. British and French authorities and airplane companies were primarily interested in German fuselage and wing construction, especially airframes, whereas the Germans were curious to know more about Entente engine construction in a phase of stagnating German engine development. Downed hostile aircraft were closely examined, sometimes reverse engineered, and test-flown. On the field of plane technology, too, exchange did not cease. The symbolic field of air fighting as “tournaments”, “duels in the air” or “hunting” was well established before 1914 and was activated by the warring nations. This did not describe the historic reality, but there were links to the peaceful but already nationalistically charged pre-war competitions. The cultural pattern figured air warfare to be “the ultimate sport”. It figured as an ultimate, dangerous and lethal proving ground, promoting innovative, up-to-date technological and tactical developments. Obviously, competition became very different by air fighting. But actually forms of exchange as well as common technological and cultural vectors continued during the war. At first sight, this informal European cultural-technological community working on “aeronautical progress” was broken up by the war. A common market for airplanes – French Bleriots XI sold well in Germany –, common “airmindedness”, a common cult of aviators, and converging technologies evolved within a few years. From the “aeronautics year” 1909 onwards, international “air meets”, transnational competitions, striving for international records, shows and sports with pilots from other countries, these events not only pushed performance, set new records and stimulated technological information by reviews and descriptions of aeroplanes, but also led to contacts between pilots, designers and engineers, thus building a European aeronautical culture. Read MacMillan’s essay to learn much more about the lessons of 1914 for our age.Airplane technology and culture developed very fast before and after 1914. All three men were also fifth cousins, being equal descendants of King George II of England. Wilhelm’s mother was the sister of George’s father George’s mother and Nicholas’ mother were sisters from the Danish royal family. (family tree image by Marcia Underwood see essay for image credits) In fact, they were all cousins with each other: Wilhelm and George were first cousins, George and Nicholas were also first cousins, and Wilhelm and Nicholas were third cousins.* WWI family relationships One aspect of the war upon which she remarks is the close connection among the three principal monarchs of the age, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany King George V of England and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. In illuminating the years before 1914, MacMillan shows the many parallels between then and now, telling an urgent story for our time. In the latest Brookings Essay, “ The Rhyme of History: Lessons of the Great War,” noted historian Margaret MacMillan compares current global tensions-rising nationalism, globalization’s economic pressures, sectarian strife, and the United States’ fading role as the world’s pre-eminent superpower-to the period preceding the Great War.
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