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The Great War Explained
This is much more than just another book to add to the thousands on The Great War. It sets out to fill a gap. Written for the layman by a layman (who is also an articulate and experienced battlefield guide) it summarizes the key events and contributions of key individuals, some well, others unknown but with a story to tell.
To get a true picture of this monumental event in history, it is necessary to grasp the fundamentals, be they military, political, social or simply human. The slaughters at Verdun, Somme and Passchendaele are no more than statistics without the stories of those that fought, drowned and died there.
It is designed to capture the imagination and feed the mind of those ever increasing number of people who seek a better understanding of The Great War.
To get a true picture of this monumental event in history, it is necessary to grasp the fundamentals, be they military, political, social or simply human. The slaughters at Verdun, Somme and Passchendaele are no more than statistics without the stories of those that fought, drowned and died there.
It is designed to capture the imagination and feed the mind of those ever increasing number of people who seek a better understanding of The Great War.
- GenresWorld War IHistory
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 24, 2017
Picked up this book in Ypres near the Menin Gate. It is an excellent book for beginners looking for an accessible overview, but it's also a great resource even for those who have done more extensive research. It provides good 'big-picture' descriptions and would serve as a good pocket-reference for teachers or people visiting the battlefields. There were several sections of the book where I found material that I either had not encountered before in lengthier sources or had forgotten. It was an excellent read.
March 15, 2019
An excellent beginners overview onthe Great War. Stevens provides great Appendixes which are helpful for those without the military or political background knowledge to make sense of this incredible war. Very concise, specific, and thorough without being too dry or overwrought. Especially wonderful as I read it three days after purchasing it at the British Grenadier Bookshop in the shadow of the Menin gate after an amazing afternoon around Ypres with Salient Tours.
January 3, 2016
The book The Great War Explained , by Phillip Stevens, acts as a guide for readers new to World War One. It describes the high points of the Great War in a concise 224 pages, detailing the battles between the Central Powers and the Triple Entente. From the Black Hand Movement to the demise of the Five Empires, the book explains the First World War in a way that anyone can read and digest. Readers will appreciate Stevens’ use of separating key events to simplify the war and his descriptions of major people and armies that it found at the end of the book. The Great War Explained accomplishes the goal of explaining the war so that readers can gain a better understanding of this period of history.
At the beginning of the book, readers are informed about the origins of the Great War. The Great War was started by the Chancellor of the Kingdom of Prussia, Otto, Prince von Bismarck. Bismarck wanted a strong and united Germany, so he ordered his country to fight Denmark and Austria for possession of territories in 1866. He rounded off the territorial expansion by dominating France in the Franco-Prussian War, claiming the territories of Alsace and Lorraine. By 1871, Bismarck finished his creation of a German united federation. Germany was late to colonization. Therefore, the new empire was fixed on the idea of colonies and possessions. With this fixed idea, Germany allied themselves with Austria-Hungary and prepared for battle against the mutual defensive pact of Russia and France. Germany used their Schlieffen plan to solve the problem of fighting Russia and France on two fronts. With this fifteen-year-old revised plan, Germany readied themselves for war. Tensions rose in Serbia with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The Black Hand Movement, a secret order dedicated to the end of Austrian rule, executed the assassination. After the assassination, Austrian government offered a ten-point ultimatum to Serbia. Serbia accepted most of the points except the last one, resulting in Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. These events would lead to the start of the Great War.
The book continues with the beginning of the war. Britain prepared their Royal Navy for war. Germany began their Schlieffen plan. To carry out with the Schlieffen plan, Germany needed to cross through Belgium and attack France. Belgium refused to let Germany enter, so Germany attacked Belgium. At the time, neither Germany nor France knew if Britain would join the war. They found out soon. Britain gave Germany an ultimatum to either stop the fight against Belgium or go up against Britain, France and Russia. Germany did not stop attacking, so Britain declared war on Germany, going against the Treaty of London. Germany continued to attack Belgium, but the Belgium troops surprisingly resisted German attacks. Germany soon abandoned the Schlieffen plan for a new plan of separating the BEF and the French. Germany lost the first Battle of Ypres. After the loss, Germany took more of a defensive route. The Germans came back from the loss and defeated Russia in the Battle of Tannenberg. The prisoners and resources gained from the victory benefited Germany.
Near the middle of the book, readers learn of the battle of Verdun. This battle was one of the most brutal clashes of the Great War. Germany tried to take over the French-controlled area of Verdun. The Germans came close to capturing the territory, but the battle ended with Germany withdrawing their troops to help prevent France and Britain from capturing the Somme River. This battle weakened both the French and German armies, especially the French, losing over 380,000 forces. During this battle, Britain’s Grand Fleet fought against the German’s High Seas Fleet in the Battle of Jutland. The Battle of Jutland ended in a draw. The Allies won the Battle of Somme, but the number of Allied causalities from the battle made it seem like it was a draw.
At the end of the book, readers are informed about the last two years of the war. 1917 brought about the events of the French front, the Chemin des Dames, and the arrival of the Americans in the Great War. The Chemin des Dames was a battle that resulted in French embarrassment, as France lost and suffered over 90,000 causalities in the first day of battle. France lost the entire battle in a couple of days. The Americans arrived late in the war to help the allies. Their speed and strength were used to take on the Germans. The last chapter talks about 1918, the last year of the war. 1918 brought about the Spanish ‘Flu, the American’s effect on the end of the war, and Germany’s defeat. The Spanish ‘Flu was an unknown strain of influenza that originated in America. The flu spread across Europe and caused an estimation of twenty-five million deaths. The Americans worked towards a negotiated peace treaty, but could not ignore the German attacks. America launched their largest attack on the German forces with phases that decided the conclusion of the war. All these factors caused Germany to surrender unconditionally. The last page informs the reader of the demise of the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires, and the formation of a German republic.
Stevens guides the readers through the Great War in an effective way. He separates the four years of the war into four chapters. Within these chapters, Stevens highlights the main battles that decided the outcome of the war. Stevens does a good job of not letting his bias affect the way he writes about the war. With these tactics, Stevens accomplishes his goal of explaining the Great War.
The Great War Explained is a book that guides the Great War in a similar way to a history textbook, highlighting the main events that transpired in different sections of the war. Readers will witness a transition of power between the Triple Entente and the Central Powers. Stevens' writing is so vivid that readers can read through the important battles and feel like they are soldier or commander fighting for their country. This book is for anyone who wants to understand the basics of World War One and someone who needs a fresh glance of the war. Stevens’ book brings new interest to the Great War and provides great insight that intrigues readers of all backgrounds. The Great War Explained is a book for the ages.
At the beginning of the book, readers are informed about the origins of the Great War. The Great War was started by the Chancellor of the Kingdom of Prussia, Otto, Prince von Bismarck. Bismarck wanted a strong and united Germany, so he ordered his country to fight Denmark and Austria for possession of territories in 1866. He rounded off the territorial expansion by dominating France in the Franco-Prussian War, claiming the territories of Alsace and Lorraine. By 1871, Bismarck finished his creation of a German united federation. Germany was late to colonization. Therefore, the new empire was fixed on the idea of colonies and possessions. With this fixed idea, Germany allied themselves with Austria-Hungary and prepared for battle against the mutual defensive pact of Russia and France. Germany used their Schlieffen plan to solve the problem of fighting Russia and France on two fronts. With this fifteen-year-old revised plan, Germany readied themselves for war. Tensions rose in Serbia with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The Black Hand Movement, a secret order dedicated to the end of Austrian rule, executed the assassination. After the assassination, Austrian government offered a ten-point ultimatum to Serbia. Serbia accepted most of the points except the last one, resulting in Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. These events would lead to the start of the Great War.
The book continues with the beginning of the war. Britain prepared their Royal Navy for war. Germany began their Schlieffen plan. To carry out with the Schlieffen plan, Germany needed to cross through Belgium and attack France. Belgium refused to let Germany enter, so Germany attacked Belgium. At the time, neither Germany nor France knew if Britain would join the war. They found out soon. Britain gave Germany an ultimatum to either stop the fight against Belgium or go up against Britain, France and Russia. Germany did not stop attacking, so Britain declared war on Germany, going against the Treaty of London. Germany continued to attack Belgium, but the Belgium troops surprisingly resisted German attacks. Germany soon abandoned the Schlieffen plan for a new plan of separating the BEF and the French. Germany lost the first Battle of Ypres. After the loss, Germany took more of a defensive route. The Germans came back from the loss and defeated Russia in the Battle of Tannenberg. The prisoners and resources gained from the victory benefited Germany.
Near the middle of the book, readers learn of the battle of Verdun. This battle was one of the most brutal clashes of the Great War. Germany tried to take over the French-controlled area of Verdun. The Germans came close to capturing the territory, but the battle ended with Germany withdrawing their troops to help prevent France and Britain from capturing the Somme River. This battle weakened both the French and German armies, especially the French, losing over 380,000 forces. During this battle, Britain’s Grand Fleet fought against the German’s High Seas Fleet in the Battle of Jutland. The Battle of Jutland ended in a draw. The Allies won the Battle of Somme, but the number of Allied causalities from the battle made it seem like it was a draw.
At the end of the book, readers are informed about the last two years of the war. 1917 brought about the events of the French front, the Chemin des Dames, and the arrival of the Americans in the Great War. The Chemin des Dames was a battle that resulted in French embarrassment, as France lost and suffered over 90,000 causalities in the first day of battle. France lost the entire battle in a couple of days. The Americans arrived late in the war to help the allies. Their speed and strength were used to take on the Germans. The last chapter talks about 1918, the last year of the war. 1918 brought about the Spanish ‘Flu, the American’s effect on the end of the war, and Germany’s defeat. The Spanish ‘Flu was an unknown strain of influenza that originated in America. The flu spread across Europe and caused an estimation of twenty-five million deaths. The Americans worked towards a negotiated peace treaty, but could not ignore the German attacks. America launched their largest attack on the German forces with phases that decided the conclusion of the war. All these factors caused Germany to surrender unconditionally. The last page informs the reader of the demise of the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires, and the formation of a German republic.
Stevens guides the readers through the Great War in an effective way. He separates the four years of the war into four chapters. Within these chapters, Stevens highlights the main battles that decided the outcome of the war. Stevens does a good job of not letting his bias affect the way he writes about the war. With these tactics, Stevens accomplishes his goal of explaining the Great War.
The Great War Explained is a book that guides the Great War in a similar way to a history textbook, highlighting the main events that transpired in different sections of the war. Readers will witness a transition of power between the Triple Entente and the Central Powers. Stevens' writing is so vivid that readers can read through the important battles and feel like they are soldier or commander fighting for their country. This book is for anyone who wants to understand the basics of World War One and someone who needs a fresh glance of the war. Stevens’ book brings new interest to the Great War and provides great insight that intrigues readers of all backgrounds. The Great War Explained is a book for the ages.
October 15, 2025
I'm afraid the title 'The Great War Explained' is a complete misnomer. If you want a book which goes into great detail about every action on the Western Front in France with the odd vague, and, in one instance, somewhat inaccurate reference to other activities that went on, then this is your book. If you want a book that slots ALL aspects of the war into place, then you would be better off passing this one by. In order to cover everything in the same detail, a book five times as thick would be needed and would need to go into far greater detail about the Eastern front than just a page and a half, likewise for Gallipoli, likewise for Jutland - including the actions at Coronel, The Falklands, the North Eastern English town bombardments and Dogger Bank, and likewise for the Southern Front - all of which are subjects of other books of equal or greater thickness. Sorry, but this book did not meet my expectations at all.
February 11, 2018
After reading dozens of First World War histories over the years, I've finally found one that puts things into context and give me a better understanding of the big-picture. Philip Stevens has an eye for the telling detail, often ignoring the more well-known anecdotes for others that make his point more tellingly.
This isn't an in-depth history - it couldn't be in only 140 pages (plus 75 pages of interesting and varied appendices) - but it tells a coherent story.
This isn't an in-depth history - it couldn't be in only 140 pages (plus 75 pages of interesting and varied appendices) - but it tells a coherent story.
September 13, 2018
Visited Ypres Menin Gate and picked up this book and another about WWI. I had always been interested in WWII until I visited Verdun in the summer of 2017 and wanted to learn more about The War to End All Wars. This is a very good book that helps one understand what led up to the war and the major events that took place between 1914 to 1918.
November 2, 2019
I bought this after visiting the French and Belgian WW1 graves. I really was ignorant about this war and this book does a great job of explains everything. I have learnt so much and really understand the loss that this war represents. Great read for the layperson!
March 5, 2021
A well written military history.
A concise and authoritative account of the origin, chronology, strategy and personalities of WW1. A useful primer for anyone visiting the battle sites and cemeteries.
A concise and authoritative account of the origin, chronology, strategy and personalities of WW1. A useful primer for anyone visiting the battle sites and cemeteries.
January 5, 2023
This book provides a useful primer of events leading up to the Great War and the subsequent battles through 1914-18, particularly on the Western Front.
Many readers will likely want to explore specific events in more detail, but you will do so having been given an excellent introduction to events, military and political leaders, and weaponry.
But most of all, you will have a sense of the futility of much of the military campaign, fought over meters, in often dreadful conditions with horrific results.
Many readers will likely want to explore specific events in more detail, but you will do so having been given an excellent introduction to events, military and political leaders, and weaponry.
But most of all, you will have a sense of the futility of much of the military campaign, fought over meters, in often dreadful conditions with horrific results.
November 27, 2018
This book is a must for anyone interested in World War I or anyone studying it. I really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews