World War 1: A History From Beginning to End

Good summary of World war I
Good description of world war I – The great war that engulfed the entire world for 4 years, involving 32 countries, which changed the face of Europe forever. This short books tours one of the darkest and deadliest periods in modern history – First world war – I. It all started as a diplomatic feud brought on by the assassination of the a monarch of Austrian – Hungary erupted into the conflict and spread like hell-fire to entire Europe and surrounding continents.My take away from this book:Europe was divided into 2 major alliances – “Triple Entente”, an agreement between Russian Empire, The French Republic and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the “Triple Alliance”, which was forms of Germany, Austria Hungary and Kingdom of Italy. The agreement provided for the protection of the nation. However in 1902, Italy made a secret pact with France – promising to remain neutral if Germany provoked France.The precarious geography of Europe in 1914 was a considerable, inevitable and catalyst for agitation. Each nation trying to exploit other for strategic advantage. Most seismic event and perhaps the immediate cause of first world war was the assassination of the Arch Duke of Austria – Hungary Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie on June 28th 1914 on their visit to Bosnia. The assassin was 19 year old Gavrilo Princip – who resented the Austrio – Hungary annexation of Bosnia and dreamt of free and independent Serbia. Austria – Hungary held Serbia responsible for the assassination and issued an ultimatum, which was so damaging and humiliating and Serbia had no other option but to reject the ultimatum leading to war on 28th July 1914. This war led to many bloody battles fought during next 4 years that resulted in deadliest calamities and ended with the loss of over 11 million military personnel and 7 million civilians. World War I stands among the worst wars to befall humanity and millions of lives were lost in the desperate rush for the tiny stretches of scorched earth.Some of the events and battles over 4 years are :1. On 1st August 1914, Germany declared war on Russia.2. Italy dismantles the delicate pact of Triple Alliance, citing the purpose of Alliance was for defense and not for aggression.3. Britain demanded that Germany cease her march into Belgium and withdraw. But Germany ignored the demands to halt the incursion, which led to Britain declaring war on Germany on 4th August 1914.4. Britain and France declared war on Austria- Hungary on the 12th August 1914.5. On 28th August, British naval squadron sunk 3 German cruisers off the coast of Helgoland. The aim was to prevent supplies from reaching central powers (Members of Triple Alliance).6. Battle of Marne Began. The Allied efforts succeeded in preventing the advancing German force for reaching Paris.7. In August, Britain, France and Germany began a series of assault in Africa. From 9th August h 1914 to 26th August 1914, Britain and France mounted a successful offensive into German occupied Togoland, forcing the German army to surrender. Meanwhile. German forces advanced into British controlled Kenya and seized the town of Taveta.8. In Battle of Tennenberg, Germany crushed Russia’s Second Army.9. The Ottoman Empire joined the central powers and quickly closed the Dardanelles strait, vital shipping route to Allied forces.10. German U boat proved to be an effective attacker of British warships. 1914 saw use of airplanes as major threat and deadly military weapon.11. The first ever bombing raid in Britain occurred on 19th January 1915, carried out by 2 German giant airships filled with hydrogen. The Britain Navy was ordered to intercept and repel the German squadron. German and Ottoman forces began an assault on British, held Suez Canal in an attempt to gain control of another significant shipping route. British had quashed the assault.12. At the Battle of Bolimow, the Germans unleashed xylyl bromide on the Russian forces.13. At the Battle of Ypres, German attacked Allied forces using Chlorine gas, which chocked many soldiers. This gas attack which was a new weapon used in the battlefield, took the Allies by surprise.14. The Ottoman Empire began the annexation of up to a million Armenians from its Turkish region leading to Armenian Genocide by Turks of Ottoman as they viewed Armenians as a people of different religious and political allegiances. This is viewed by Allied forces as a crime against humanity.15. Italy betrayed It’s declaration of neutrality and joined the Allies after assurances that it would receive support in acquiring land from Austria-Hungary.16. At the second battle of Champagne, the French carried out the final offensive on Germany.17. Bulgaria allied with the central powers and declared war on Serbia. In response, Allies declared war on Bulgaria.18. In 1916, infamous battles of Somme and Verdun was fought which claimed the lives of 2 million in just few months.19. Allied forces were able to defeat the Germans in Cameroon after seventeen deadly months of aggression. After the fall of Cameroon, Africa was ostensibly under Allied control.20. German began a 9 months long offensive against French forces at the historical French city of Verdun.21. The year 1917 saw many revolutions and catastrophes.- Battle of Passchendaele, Battle of Cambrai, famous October revolution in Russia led by Lenin and Trotsky, which dissolved Russian government and supplanted with Marxist- Soviet government.22. The year 1918 saw the end of first world war. On July 15th 1918, German began their final offensive of first world war. The Allied mounted a massive counter offensive in a final attempt to win the war. In the end, German troops surrendered to Allies.23. In the final weeks of the Great war, Germany contacted Washington DC and requested an armistice. Washington agreed, under the proviso that the Germany removed her forces from the occupied countries and took full responsibility for the war. Armistice was declared and the brutal war was finally over.24. Germany had to submit to vast number of crippling sanctions outlined in the Treaty of Versailles at the Paris Peace conference in 1919. German’s overseas colonies were seized and taken over by other European powers. This sanctions contributed to the great German depression in the decade that followed and was a prelude to second world war.Thanks.

Good
Good

Topic miss
I don’t like this book becqz some of content has missed

good
good

Very precise truthful spot on for all the critical battles. I enjoyed the read very much.

The books summarises the major events of the conflict leaving certain details that whilst interesting are not necessary to understand the period.