Geographical documentation of locations related to the period of the First World War
In 2004, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, thirteen enthusiasts from around the world joined forces in the project "The war to end all wars – VR collaborative project". Utilizing the method of 360° spatial photography, we symbolically documented a location within our surroundings that was connected to the First World War – a war that marked the beginning of the 20th century and reshaped the world.
The First World War began on June 28, 1914, with the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in Sarajevo. Although this event was the immediate catalyst, the underlying causes of the war ran deeper: imperialist rivalries among European powers, a complex network of alliances, nationalist tensions, and militarization. The war, which was initially envisioned as a localized conflict in the Balkans, expanded into a global catastrophe, drawing in all the major powers of the era – from Austro-Hungary, Germany, France, Russia, Great Britain, Italy, to the United States of America and Japan.
The scale of the war was unimaginable: four years of combat, over 70 million mobilized soldiers, millions of dead and wounded, devastated cities, displaced populations, alongside profound psychological and social wounds. One of the bloodiest fronts was the Isonzo Front, where twelve brutal offensives took place between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies between 1915 and 1917. This very area became the core focus of my documentary endeavor.
In 2008, while documenting stream erosion and the aftermath of the 1998 earthquake in the Tolminka River valley, I paused at the Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca – a unique monument of peace constructed by Austro-Hungarian soldiers during the war. This moment of reflection made me realize how this geographical spot, which is relatively accessible to a person in good physical condition, could present an enormous challenge for someone with limited mobility.
"Why not?", I thought to myself, and resolved to use 360° spatial photography to bring locations related to the First World War closer to individuals with physical disabilities – creating a visual geographical outline of the space, enriched with concise data and historical narratives. Through this, I aimed to establish a distinct, original approach that transcends classical historical displays and ensures accessibility even for those who cannot physically visit these locations.
My primary goal was to document and visualize the area of the Isonzo Front along with its hinterland, stretching from Duino to Log pod Mangrtom. The field research was highly demanding: in addition to the photography equipment, I needed heavy lights to illuminate the caverns, a GPS unit, a laptop computer, and essential survival gear for a long day in the field. A 20-kilogram backpack became my daily companion.
Since I reside in central Slovenia, the travel time to the Isonzo Front areas was a significant factor – two hours of driving to the site in the morning and two hours back home in the evening. Over the years, the visualizations of these geographical sites gradually expanded, and the ambition regarding the scope of the documented territory grew to include other parts of Europe that served as major theaters of the war.
The consequences of the First World War were far-reaching: the collapse of four great empires (Austro-Hungarian, German, Russian, and Ottoman), the emergence of new nation-states, radical shifts in political systems, severe economic crises, and lasting societal trauma. The war laid the groundwork for subsequent conflicts, including the Second World War, and remains a vital source of historical reflection today.
By documenting these landmarks, my desire is to contribute to preserving the memory of the events that shaped our past – not merely as a historian, but as someone who firmly believes that history must be accessible to all.
author: Boštjan Burger, September 26, 2014
