It is a day that should go down into history, but likely won’t at least not with any fanfare.
On January 1, 2008, Erich Kastner, the last remaining soldier who fought for the German Imperial Army during the First World War died. (CBC)
Unlike the “winning” side… Germans don’t celebrate or even commemorate their war veterans… for obvious social issues.
However, at this point almost 100 years later… I think it’s safe to say what happened during WWI was simply the worlds greatest tragedy. And those veterans, on all sides, deserve our respect for having fought in such terrible, horrifying conditions.
And so, goodnight, Mr. Kastner. You are the end of a generation. We hope never again to repeat the bloodshed that you were a part of.