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World War 1
GatoGordo
Member Posts: 1,221 ✭✭✭✭✭
Does anyone here have a recommendation for a good history book on WW1? I'd like a comprehensive history on the events leading up to the war, the war itself, and the post-war happenings. I've thought this war was one of the dumbest, and nastiest, wars ever, and that's saying a lot considering the history of war, but I'm the first to admit my knowlege is limited.
I find the era fascinating with things like the Russian and Mexican revolutions, the rise of socialism, sufferage, and of course, the machinations that led to the war itself.
I've found a number of possibilities searching the web but would appreciate more opinions.
Thanks
I find the era fascinating with things like the Russian and Mexican revolutions, the rise of socialism, sufferage, and of course, the machinations that led to the war itself.
I've found a number of possibilities searching the web but would appreciate more opinions.
Thanks
Comments
otherwise books by Jeff Shaara.
Many history books say Germany caused the war and that it was Germany's Fault. Almost 100 years later the truth is coming out more and more that all the nations share a equal
share in the responsibility.
The short of it is the Arch Duke was assassinated by Serbian Nationalists and Austria demanded a list of demands that Serbia was willing to meet except for one that being to allow Austria police to investigate and arrest those involved inside Serbian territory. When they said no to that sticking point and Germany offered it's total support for Austrian Military action the war was on. Russia had an interest in aiding Serbia so they mobalized.
But the thing to consider is the stage was set for another localized war in the Balkins.
The factors that brought about a World war was in some part the French desire to get involved so as to gain lost territory in the Franco Prussian War 30 years before. When France Mobalized it caused Germany to INvade via Belgium to face the threat. Germany got a bad rap for that but the fact is the French were freely and un wisely invited this upon themselves.
The World War developed primarily due to England's insistance to get involved and send it's troops. This is the key to the conflict and shows it for what it was all about. What almost all wars are all about. Economics and money. England did not want Germany to ever challenge it in world trade and off shore colonization. England was engaged very early on in trying to bring in it's former colony the United States and in the end did.
A global war it became and some say it was the death of Europe. With the second phase of the war it pretty much was. We are seeing the results now with the decline of European people and importation of Eastern immigrants Etc.
I typed this before any other posts were here. As the other poster said The Guns or Augest would be the best single book to look at.
and the
Bolshevik Revolution
by Antony Sutton
Vatican Assassins
by Eric Phelps
There are many others but those should answer any question not found in the history textbooks. Vatican Assassins and several others can be found here.
Good times [8D]
The First World War
Authors John Keegan
Publisher New York: A. KnopfDistributed by Random House
Year 1999.
ISBN 0375400524
Annotation 1st American ed.
If you want a great book about the war from a worms eye view, the best I've found is entitled "Make the Kaiser dance" by Henry Berry, 1984. You can find the synopsis on the web for it.
If you guys can recommend a good VCR to DVD converter, I have a lengthy WWI WWII collection.
If you have a VCR to plug in, a Sony Vaio, PCV RZ22G is what I use. It's a super machine.
The book details the final offensive of the war, the one that broke the back of the German Army. It also gives a scathing commentary on the American high command, something which I did not expect.
Thanks again.
If you want to begin at the beginning start with "The Guns of August". Some have said the most important month of the 20th Century was August 1914! "The Guns of Aug." is a must read if you want to know about WW I.
By Barbara Tuchman. Worth it as one of the first popular books on the war and the "ach - if we only new ...." quote is priceless itself.
Here's a comprehensive history including events that led up to war.
The First World War
Authors John Keegan
Publisher New York: A. KnopfDistributed by Random House
Year 1999.
ISBN 0375400524
Annotation 1st American ed.
+1 A very good and pleasent to read book.
I have read it three times.
"Let the last man on the right touch the English Channel with his sleeve."
The Schlieffen Plan.
There are other books in the series but some of them were not nearly as good.
They take you from the start of WW I to well beyond the end of WW II.
"History of The World War, by Francis A. Marsh" published in 1919 and a 1st edition, 736 pages.
Seems there are reprints available on-line, but they seem to be broken into volumes (?).
The book takes you through the war, in detail, from a fresh perspective and before the revisionists began their work. Of course, it is openly claimed to be from the US perspective and likely is deliberately shaded. Still, a great read and full of good information and details.
My uncle fought in France in WWI, but he never talked much about it.