# Why "World" War I?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-world-war-i/677100>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 24, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-world-war-i/677100 "2013-12-24T19:46:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-world-war-i/677100/61 "2014-01-01T00:49:54Z")

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Though not factually accurate, the French film[_Black and White in Color_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_White_in_Color) gives an interesting take on WWI in the French and German colonies in West Africa. The entire film is evidently available on youtube.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-world-war-i/677100/62 "2014-01-01T03:34:29Z")

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> [@Pushkin](#):
>
> Yup, that’s where an ancestor of mine died in service in 1917, apparently his duties including following [Jan Smuts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Smuts#First_World_War) about.

This thread might interest you: [South African leader Jan Smuts - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=540017)

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