First World War For Dummies

Learn about: The complex causes that led to war Key battles on land and sea Generals whose plans could lead to triumph or disaster The reality of life on the frontline and the home front How the war changed the world The plain–English, easy–to–read guide to the First World War Explore the causes and clashes of the First World War with this engaging guide to the war to end all wars. From Europe, Africa and the Middle East to the Atlantic and Pacific, this book provides an essential overview of the lead–up to the war, the complex web of entangling treaties, the great battles (including Tannenberg, Gallipoli, Ypres, Verdun, the Somme and Vimy) and the aftermath that defined the worlds balance of power for decades. Understand the origins of the war dive in with an analysis of the causes of the First World War, the combatants, the rise of technology and more Be there at the beginning in Europe study the exuberant beginning of the war and the horror that soon unfolded as battle after battle resulted in a massive toll for all the armies involved Witness the world at war understand the nuances of the war as the conflict widened and drew in additional countries, the reality of trench warfare, the rise of U–boats and airplanes and the sinking of the Lusitania Investigate the home front explore civilian life, how women contributed to the war effort, political struggles and more Analyse the Armistice and aftermath dig into the details of the Russian Revolution, the collapse of Germany and the Treaty of Versailles Open the book and find: A glimpse of the world before the war Details of battles fought across the globe The roles of civilians, propaganda, protests and politics The effects of technology on this first modern war Discussions of the wars aftermath and long–term consequences The changing ways in which historians have viewed the war Places to visit, films to watch and authors to read to learn more

Introduction  1 Part I: Origins of War  7 Chapter 1: The First World War: An Overview 9 Chapter 2: The World in 1900 29 Chapter 3: Crisis Mismanagement: Unpicking the Causes of the First World War 55 Part II: Europe at War, 1914–1916  75 Chapter 4: 1914: The First World War Starts Here 77 Chapter 5: 1915: Cunning Plans to Win the War 101 Chapter 6: 1916: The Big Battles 117 Part III: A World at War  137 Chapter 7: Welcome to the World of the Trenches 139 Chapter 8: War at Sea, War in the Air 155 Chapter 9: Turkish Delights 175 Chapter 10: The Imperial War 195 Chapter 11: America Goes to War 213 Part IV: Home Fronts  229 Chapter 12: The Civilian War231 Chapter 13: Women at War 249 Chapter 14: Struggles for Power 265 Part V: Armistice and Aftermath, 1917–1918 and Beyond  281 Chapter 15: 1917: The Year of Big Changes 283 Chapter 16: 1918: Victory and Defeat 303 Chapter 17: Aftermath: The World After the War 323 Chapter 18: Remembering the War 343 Part VI: The Part of Tens  359 Chapter 19: Ten Key Generals of the First World War 361 Chapter 20: Ten Great First World War Films 367 Chapter 21: Ten Famous Wartime Writers and Poets 371 Chapter 22: Ten Enlightening Places to Visit 377 Index  381

Dr Sen Lang is a Senior Lecturer in History at Anglia Ruskin University and has been teaching history to college and university students for more than three decades. Lang is the author of a number of books on history, including British History For Dummies and European History For Dummies.