Five Brothers and a War

Spanish Flu Pandemic

As World War I was ending, the so-called “Spanish” Flu pandemic was taking hold. Ultimately far more people worldwide died of the Spanish Flu than died as a result of the war. Estimates of deaths range from 20-100 million, with the accepted number at 50 million. The cause of the pandemic was related to the United States entering the war, due to vaccines given to American soldiers. The disease had nothing to do with Spain, but the American military brass promulgated the charade in order to hide its true origins. It should have been called “U.S. Armed Forces Flu”. Ultimately, the disease spread worldwide rapidly as troops were sent home. This is the first example of a pandemic that was actually caused by the medical community. More people died of the Spanish Flu than of the Bubonic Plague centuries earlier. In Holland, the mortality rate was 7.1 per 1,000 in the population. In all, about 48,000 Dutch citizens died, representing an 84% increase in deaths during the flu period. Leendert van Pelt and Maria Sonneveld were married in August, just as the pandemic was beginning. The strongest upsurge of flu deaths began within five weeks of their wedding. The war ended about ten weeks after they were married.

history

August 29: Leendert van Pelt and Maria Sonneveld were married

World War I Ends

Spanish Flu Pandemic Deaths

Five Brothers and a War

Page 140