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OTD 31 July 1917 Battle of Passchendaele

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Some history ...  31 July 1917 marks the start of the Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres. This was a military campaign during the First World War, fought by the Allies (British Empire, Russian Empire and the French Republic) against the German Empire. The Battle, took place on the Western Front from 31 July 1917 to November 1917 for the control around Ypres, a city located in West Flanders, Belgium. Passchendaele lays on the east side of Ypres around 8 km or 5 miles from the city. This battle of 1917 was controversial. It was the British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George who opposed the offensive. General Ferdinand Foch, the French Chief of the General Staff was opposed too. cross on a cemetery of the Commonwealth near Ypres, Belgium The choice to fight in Flanders came from General Hubert Gough. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig (commanding the British Expeditionary Force - BEF) did not receive approval for the Flanders op...

OTD 31 July 1917 Battle of Passchendaele

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Fighting in Flanders Fields, own picture from a photograph taken in 2017 In Flanders Fields Museum On 31 July 1917, one of the worst battles in History took place near Ypres in Belgium. It was called the Battle of Passchendaele or the Third Battle of Ypres . Hundred years ago, soldiers from the British Empire (they came from Australia, Canada, India, Newfoundland, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom), France and Belgium had to fight for a few square meters of land in the deadliest Flanders Fields. Menin Gate with the monument of India in Front - own picture taken in 2017 On 30 July 2017, a lot of remembrances will take place at Ypres. There will be a special Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in presence of King Philippe of the Belgians, his wife Queen Mathilde, William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The Menin Gate with lots of names of Fallen soldiers - own picture taken in 2017 The poppies are a sym...

OTD 28 July 1860 Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia

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28 July 1860 marks the birth of a very noble girl. She received the following title and names: Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia. Her birth took place at the Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg, then a part of the Russian Empire, now located in Russia. Source picture: Wikipedia Family Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia was the daughter of Grand Duke Michael Nikolaievich of Russia and Grand Duchess Olga Feodorovna (born Princess Cäcilie of Baden). She was the sister of inter alia: - Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of Russia (killed in 1919) - Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia - Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia (killed in 1919) - Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia - Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich of Russia (killed in 1919) - Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich of Russia. Anastasia was raised in the Caucasus where she lived between 1862 and 1878 with her family. She was known in the family as "Stassie" and ...

Hotel Sacher in Vienna Austria

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Hotel Sacher, Vienna, Austria - picture taken in 2011 A five star hotel, which is of course a part of the Leading Hotels in the World, located in the Inner Stadt of Vienna, near the Vienna State Opera ... that is all applicable to Hotel Sacher. Hotel Sacher also is famous for the specialty of the house: the Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with apricot filling. Some History In 1876, the hotel was founded by the restaurateur and purveyor to the court Eduard Sacher (1843-1892). In 1880, Eduard Sacher married Anna Fuchs (1859-1930). She became the managing director after his death and she soon earned a good reputation for her commercial skills and her eccentricity.  Under her management, the Hotel Sacher became one of the finest hotels in the world, it became a meeting place of aristocracy and diplomats as well. After World War I, Anna held the upper-class reputation of the hotel, however this led to financial problems and the change of ownership in the 1930's. ...