Thomas Peter

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

FILE – In this May 28, 2014 file photo, curator Andreas Mix, right, explains a map of alliances of the European powers prior to World War I to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, second left, during a World War I exhibition at the Historical Museum in Berlin. More than 65 million men were mobilized to fight in World War I, including grandfathers and relatives of many of today’s heads of state and government. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. (AP Photo/Thomas Peter, Pool)

Philippe Wojazer

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

FILE – In this Monday, Nov. 11, 2013 file photo, French President Francois Hollande lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier during Armistice Day ceremonies marking the end of World War I in Paris. More than 65 million men were mobilized to fight in World War I, including grandfathers and relatives of many of today’s heads of state and government. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. Both grandparents of French President Francois Hollande were mobilized. Gustave Hollande, on his father’s side, became an officer. Maternal grandfather Robert Tribert, a tailor by trade, became a corporal, assigned to the Army Theater. (AP Photo/Philippe Wojazer, Pool, file)

Virginia Mayo

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

In this photo taken on Saturday, May 3, 2014, a memorial to those who lost their lives as a result of poison gas attacks during World War I in Zuydschote, Belgium. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. Three members of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s extended family were killed in action. One relative, Capt. John Geddes, served in the Canadian army and was killed at the Battle of Kitcheners’ Wood, in one of the first poisonous gas attacks launched by the German Army. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Virginia Mayo

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

In this Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013 file photo, British Prime Minister David Cameron looks out over rows of World War I graves as he visits Tyne Cot Cemetery in Zonnebeke, Belgium. More than 65 million men were mobilized to fight in World War I, including grandfathers and relatives of many of today’s heads of state and government. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. Three members of Cameron’s extended family were killed in action, one near the very spot where he and the rest of the EU leaders will assemble for Thursday night’s ceremonies. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

Olivier Hoslet

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

In this Wednesday, March 26, 2014 file photo, U.S. President Barack Obama, right, walks among gravestones of World War I soldiers with Belgium’s King Philippe, left, at the World War I Flanders Field American Cemetery in Waregem, Belgium. More than 65 million men were mobilized to fight in World War I, including grandfathers and relatives of many of today’s heads of state and government. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. (AP Photo/Olivier Hoslet, Pool, file)

Virginia Mayo

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

In this photo taken on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, red poppies bloom in the walls of World War I trenches in Diksmuide, Belgium. More than 65 million men were mobilized to fight in World War I, including grandfathers and relatives of many of today’s heads of state and government. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2014 11:39 am
|


Updated: 2:04 pm, Wed Jun 25, 2014.

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

Associated Press |

BRUSSELS (AP) — It’s not just ordinary people whose ancestors fought in World War I.

It’s a shared chapter in the genealogies of President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin. For British Prime Minister David Cameron, it evokes proud family memories of valor tempered by sorrow. For German Chancellor Angela Merkel, it involves a grandparent whose actions are tinged with mystery.

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Wednesday, June 25, 2014 11:39 am.

Thomas Peter

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

FILE – In this May 28, 2014 file photo, curator Andreas Mix, right, explains a map of alliances of the European powers prior to World War I to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, second left, during a World War I exhibition at the Historical Museum in Berlin. More than 65 million men were mobilized to fight in World War I, including grandfathers and relatives of many of today’s heads of state and government. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. (AP Photo/Thomas Peter, Pool)

Philippe Wojazer

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

FILE – In this Monday, Nov. 11, 2013 file photo, French President Francois Hollande lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier during Armistice Day ceremonies marking the end of World War I in Paris. More than 65 million men were mobilized to fight in World War I, including grandfathers and relatives of many of today’s heads of state and government. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. Both grandparents of French President Francois Hollande were mobilized. Gustave Hollande, on his father’s side, became an officer. Maternal grandfather Robert Tribert, a tailor by trade, became a corporal, assigned to the Army Theater. (AP Photo/Philippe Wojazer, Pool, file)

Virginia Mayo

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

In this photo taken on Saturday, May 3, 2014, a memorial to those who lost their lives as a result of poison gas attacks during World War I in Zuydschote, Belgium. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. Three members of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s extended family were killed in action. One relative, Capt. John Geddes, served in the Canadian army and was killed at the Battle of Kitcheners’ Wood, in one of the first poisonous gas attacks launched by the German Army. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Virginia Mayo

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

In this Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013 file photo, British Prime Minister David Cameron looks out over rows of World War I graves as he visits Tyne Cot Cemetery in Zonnebeke, Belgium. More than 65 million men were mobilized to fight in World War I, including grandfathers and relatives of many of today’s heads of state and government. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. Three members of Cameron’s extended family were killed in action, one near the very spot where he and the rest of the EU leaders will assemble for Thursday night’s ceremonies. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

Olivier Hoslet

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

In this Wednesday, March 26, 2014 file photo, U.S. President Barack Obama, right, walks among gravestones of World War I soldiers with Belgium’s King Philippe, left, at the World War I Flanders Field American Cemetery in Waregem, Belgium. More than 65 million men were mobilized to fight in World War I, including grandfathers and relatives of many of today’s heads of state and government. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. (AP Photo/Olivier Hoslet, Pool, file)

Virginia Mayo

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

In this photo taken on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, red poppies bloom in the walls of World War I trenches in Diksmuide, Belgium. More than 65 million men were mobilized to fight in World War I, including grandfathers and relatives of many of today’s heads of state and government. On Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Belgian city of Ypres near the blood-drenched battlefields of Flanders, leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict that wreaked great death and destruction on their continent. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2014 11:39 am
|


Updated: 2:04 pm, Wed Jun 25, 2014.

For Obama, Putin, Merkel: WWI is family history

Associated Press |

BRUSSELS (AP) — It’s not just ordinary people whose ancestors fought in World War I.

It’s a shared chapter in the genealogies of President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin. For British Prime Minister David Cameron, it evokes proud family memories of valor tempered by sorrow. For German Chancellor Angela Merkel, it involves a grandparent whose actions are tinged with mystery.

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Posted in
Europe,
World news

on

Wednesday, June 25, 2014 11:39 am.