Lasting effects of bygone battles on Europe

Abstract

This paper analyzes how the sites of four battles across France and Germany continue to affect the modern day. The wars of the past still influence the culture of European countries, as ongoing remembrances of the battles continually remind Europe of the horrors in its past. Additionally, the wars still affect the geography and physical landscape of Europe, as the ground still displays the scars wrought during the battles. The paper examines the state of the battlefields, memorials, cemeteries, and museums in the area before looking at how these remembrances of the battles change the culture of the region. It also looks at the environmental consequences of the battles, such as the unexploded munitions still embedded in the ground.