Interesting post, but I'd rather not thank anyone involved in that carnage and would rather have less technology than millions of deaths and wounds that are still bleeding not only in Europe, especially as WW1 lead to WW2. I don't thank the Manhattan Project for the progess in nuclear energy or the Nazis for the advancement of medicine they might have reached with their experiments either.
For anyone intersted in WW1, I highly recommend the free audio series
"Blueprint for Armageddon"
http://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardcore-history-50-blueprint-for-armageddon-i/