The First World War: The War to End All Wars

by Peter Simkins, Geoffrey Jukes, Michael Hickey

Raging for over four years across the tortured landscapes of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the First World War changed the face of warfare forever. Characterised by slow, costly advances and fierce attrition, the great battles of the Somme, Verdun and Ypres incurred human loss on a scale never previously imagined. This book, with a foreword by Professor Hew Strachan, covers the fighting on all fronts, from Flanders to Tannenberg and from Italy to Palestine. A series of moving extracts from personal letters, diaries and journals bring to life the experiences of soldiers and civilians caught up in the war.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Military Fiction, World War I, Military History

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2003

About the author

Peter Simkins worked at the Imperial War Museum for over 35 years and was its Senior Historian from 1976 until his retirement in 1999. Awarded the MBE that year for his services to the Museum, he is currently Honorary Professor in Modern History at the University of Birmingham, a Vice-President of the Western Front Association and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Reviews

[A.L. Sowards]

This book is organized into four parts: two on the Western Front (written by Geofffrey Jukes), one on the Eastern Front (by Peter Simkins), and one on everything happening around the Mediterranean (by Michael Hickey). Full of good information, but like any book trying to tell the entire history of WWI, it was only able to scratch the surface.

[Declan Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a combination of the 4 'Essential Histories' books dealing with the First World War presented here is a special omnibus edition with the original books repeated (mostly) in full... including some orphaned or incorrect references to other texts - but nothing too difficult to understand.

The First World War was supposed to be the War to End All Wars (and in that it failed). This book from the Osprey and Simkins, Jukes, Hickey explores the areas and periods of the war from the declaration of war, to Gallipoli, Russia's descent into Civil War, and the victory in Europe.

The authors clearly know their subject(s) and present the information in a clear, easy to follow manner. Maps, explanations, and timelines help the narrative of the events and battles and makes the ebb and flow of the war easy to follow. The General's are dealt with in a modern manner (ie not perfect, but explanations of some of the requirements behind their actions, and the soldiers' stories told to bring home the horror of the war in all the battles.

A superb primer for the war, and a great addition to books which - far from glorifying war - explain it in such a way to help the reader understand that war is no longer a suitable response of nations, governments or people in the 'west'.

[Jeremy Gerbrandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads like a textbook. Which is fair; capturing the scope and nuance of the entire First World War past the names, dates, and numbers is an impossible task. Especially if you've only got 364 pages.

But, it's a good starting point. I had learned a lot about the Western Front, the Russian Revolution, and the beginning and end of the war in school, but the deeper descriptions of the battles were good. I had never learned anything about the war in the Mediterranean outside of vague references to a disaster at Gallipoli so learning about the role those fronts played was cool. Portraits of soldiers and descriptions of life at home in all of these countries were well done.

It made me want to read more in-depth about specific events and theatres of war and isn't that what a book trying to brush on all of the highlights of a major event should do?

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, balanced presentation - dense with information and pictures, graphs and maps. I appreciated the division in the book - it was divided by Eastern and Western fronts.

I purchased this book in Kansas City, MO at the National WWI Memorial and Museum. It was my selection to complete my 4 years of study.

Recommended.

[Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story of World War I with a focus on military history. The author's arrangement into the three fronts - Eastern, Western, and Mediterranean - is a good way to organize it and tell the story in a logical sense. This is a great read for those who are interested in learning more about the war.

[William Boyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relatively dry summary of the events of the War, mostly the Western Front, and spending no more than a page for all the battles excluding Verdun and the Somme. It has some interesting pictures but there are better books out there for the period, so I would personally read one of those if I had the chance again.

[Ionuț · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impresionantă Serbia, de asemenea surprizatoare atutudinea încăpățânată a Bulgariei. Nu cunosteam atatea detalii, o lectură de neratat pentru pasionați. Citatul regelui sârb va dăinui mereu.
Milioane de morți pentru ambițiile unor politicieni fără scrupule, departe de linia întâi, unde oamenii simpli treceau printr-un calvar inimaginabil.
Iar familiile soldaților, acasă…

[Stanley Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book on the First World War. This work is laid out differently that most works on the war. This made it easier to follow the narrative of each front. I have read many works on the Great War and this one ranks near the top...

[Alex Frame · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive summary of the prelude, battles during and aftermath of WW1 which reads at breakneck speed and easily segueing from one battlefront to another
For those who want a shorter precise version of that war.

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 4 out of 5]

With 2014 marking the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, 2003's "The First World War - The War to End All Wars" by Peter Simkins, Geoffrey Jukes, & Michael Hickey is not a bad book to pick up for anyone interested in learning a bit more information about the Great War or the War to End All Wars as it was known then. The book itself is an interesting read which is divided into 4 parts - 2 dealing with the Western Front, 1 on the Eastern & 1 the Mediterranean with each author covers a section that is in his area of expertise which adds to the interest. In addition to covering the highlights of the major battles & strategies of the war there are also anecdotes at the end of each part dealing with soldiers, life on the home front as well as a glimpse as to how much hardship the major powers endured. With plenty of photographs as well as maps of some of the major campaigns, "The First World War - The War to End All Wars" while not necessarily being the most in-depth look at World War I, it offers a decent overview of the war & for this reader is a must have in any collection for anyone wanting to expand his or her knowledge of the war or to learn about it.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent general history of the war, I highly recommend it to both novices and semi-experts alike. It concentrates on military affairs and on the British point of view. Unlike some British histories, it doesn't disparage American participation. One gets a view of how one front affected another but the division of the book into different section for each theatre was somewhat jarring. I also quibble with a somewhat favorable view of the incompetent butcher, Italian General Luigi Cardona. Still a good read.

[Vanjr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice overview of "the great war". Is nicely divides the war into 3 arenas. Short sections on the lives of soldiers and the lives of the people provide a nice human touch. The book does not focus on pre-war causes or post-war implications and is light in those areas. It was the first book on this war that i have read and would say it is a nice introduction. British authors so somewhat from that perspective.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed reading The First World War: The War to End All Wars, as ever I am disappointed in the lack of mention of the minorities who served in the War. Women, the First Nation peoples, African Americans, those from the Indian Subcontinent etc. I know the book was probably not established for that purpose, however not to mention them is to deny their sacrifice.

[Geoff]

highly recommended for balanced views on IWW. three authors, three fronts, unforgettable detail that knit them all together.

[Brie_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book but a little too heavy on the military details for me to consider if light reading

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Summary

Nice coverage of the other war fronts, in addition to the Western Front. The numerous maps helped also. I now have a clearer idea of the full war.