Victory 1918

by Alan Warwick Palmer

When an armistice was finally signed in the forest of Compiegne outside of Paris, the Great War had shuddered to an end, but not before it had been fought on three continents, three oceans, and nine seas. Studies of World War I tend to focus on the Western front, the muddy trenches of France and Belgium, which is particularly problematic considering the final year of the conflict, when offensives in the Balkans, the Middle East, Italy, and the West all ended with decisive victories for the Allied powers. Alan Palmer embraces the full scope of the war and illuminates many of the major players -- Allied generals Sir Douglas Haig, Sir Edmund Allenby, Ferdinand Foch, and John J. Pershing; Central Powers generals Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff; as well as David Lloyd George, Britain's prime minister. Victory 1918 is rife with tales of horrible misunderstandings such as the Austrian emperor Charles's appeal for peace on September 14, 1918, which was thought by the Allies to be a trick and, if taken seriously, could have saved as many as a quarter of a million lives. As he ably shifts between the diplomatic big picture and the local horrors of the trenches, Palmer presents the war in all its banality and valor.

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

384 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1998

About the author

Author also writes under Alan Palmer

Alan Palmer was Head of the History Department at Highgate School from 1953 to 1969, when he gave up his post to concentrate on historical writing and research.

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book called, VICTORY 1918, it covers much more from the early days 1914 to the Peace conference.. If you are looking for details about the fighting in Salonika, Bulgaria, and against the Turks this is your book. There is even some material on the the fighting in Italy. In fact, the fighting on the Western Front and in Russia is given much less attention than in most WWI books.

There is some material also on the naval aspects, and the personalities of the war. It's not all that long a book, but it covers a great deal, including much that is usually skimmed in other books. Unfortunately, it does tend to drag in places, and there are no maps.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers of this slim volume won't learn much about the causes of The Great War. Nor will they learn about its opening battles. Instead Palmer provides exactly what the title promises; an understanding of the circumstances that resulted in the victory of the Allies and their US Associate.

I was interested when I initially browsed its pages because I noted coverage of the Mesopotamian, Jerusalem, Austro-Italian, and Salonika Fronts. I was not disappointed to the extent that these regions are covered. Note, however, that Gallipoli, the German/Austria-Hungarian fighting with Russia, the Russian Revolution, the campaigns in Africa, and Japan's role are only mentioned in asides; after all they didn't directly contribute to the victory. Circumstances associated with the US entry are covered at some length: Ludendorff wrote in his memoirs that, "America...became the decisive power in the war."

Palmer does a fine job of describing the reasons why nearly two months, with heavy casualties, slipped away before the Armistice. He also surveys the different treaty settlements.

I found the book easy to read, entertaining, and informative.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Palmer's "Victory 1918"--unusually for a book covering World War I--spent little of its time on the Western front of mud and trenches. Instead, Palmer focused on the ancillary theaters of the war, showing both how each of them was fought and brought to conclusion, but also how, in a remarkable feat of synchrony (intended or not) most of these minor-major theaters were won around the same time, providing the encirclement and consequent pressure that forced the Germans to capitulate from what otherwise wouldn't have been a totally unwinnable situation in France.

The book rarely flagged, and was engaging throughout. The round-robin tour of the theaters caused a modicum of confusion, but otherwise the large cast of characters and strategies was conveyed about as well as one could wish.

Recommended for those who want a more total view of the Great War, rather than the lip service that is traditionally paid to non Western Front theaters.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Victory 1918"" is an excellent history of the First World War, although it is a bit misleading as a title. Initially I thought this book would focus on the last year of the war, but instead I was pleasantly surprised -- Alan Palmer offers an engaging history of the entire conflict, with a special emphasis on the secondary fronts in the Balkans and the Middle East. Well written and highly readable, I recommend this work for anyone interested in the Great War.

[Allan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alan Palmer connects all the theatres of operation in W.W.I in a fashion I have not encountered in any of my previous readings. He deftly shows how the shooting might have stopped in 1918 but the after effects just keep on coming.

[Andy Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a very readable and well researched account of the complex strands of what was truly a world war. It gives a good analysis of the conflicting national interests and stances, and the political and military personalities involved. And also shows how the decisions made at the end of the war laid the seeds of the Second World War and the continuing turmoil in the Middle East. Would strongly recommend it to anyone who wants an accessible wide but detailed history of the background to the horror and human tragedy of the War.

[Charles Shenk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overwhelmed with too much information - wished more data about how the settlements for peace were provided. However, it did provide why there are still wars are still breaking out throughout the world due to decisions made at the end of World War I. Still world leaders continue to make decisions that are helpful for their success only not necessarily for benefit of others such as climate change, nationalism and racism.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! Perhaps the Best general overview of The Great War I have read

[Tommy Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed. Many people to keep track of. Not as good as the guns of august.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Must Read !

If you want to know about how WW1 affected current events in the Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe this book is invaluable. Keep the book
handy as a reference.
Palmer leaves no detail out as he maneuvers between each theatre of war..
More than just covering battles the author devotes as much attention to the diplomatic process so crucial to understanding the Mid East.
Highly readable but can get bogged down with more detail than necessary.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice to get details rarely covered in more conventional histories of The Great War.

[Kurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book; Good Read

[Lewis Noles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.

[Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at some of the less public theaters of the war; particularly in the middle east.