Please, gentlemen, tell us what exact point you believe to be controversial. In my view, the question is whether on occasions like Armistice Day, countries should be proud of their past - a matter of feeling, for sure. (Fortunately, the officials of France and Germany have learned a lot.)

A statement like "X knew why he fought" is not precise enough to be discussed in one piece. "X was convinced to be serving his country" is more specific, and probably true for most soldiers of most countries. "The government had never had a better option" is quite a different statement; see my post of 09 Dec 13 - 07:42 AM.

Treaties as such are no moral justification. (Think of the Soviet Union invading Czechoslovakia in 1968, formally justified by the Warsaw treaty.)