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The War to End All Wars: World War I
Nonfiction master Russell Freedman illuminates for young readers the complex and rarely discussed subject of World War I. The tangled relationships and alliances of many nations, the introduction of modern weaponry, and top-level military decisions that resulted in thousands upon thousands of casualties all contributed to the “great war,” which people hoped and believed would be the only conflict of its kind. In this clear and authoritative account, the author shows the ways in which the seeds of a second world war were sown in the first. Numerous archival photographs give the often disturbing subject matter a moving visual counterpart. Includes source notes, a bibliography, and an index.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2009
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962 people want to read
About the author
Russell Freedman
90 books132 followersRussell A. Freedman was an American biographer and the author of nearly 50 books for young people. He may be known best for winning the 1988 Newbery Medal with his work Lincoln: A Photobiography.
He grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as a publicity writer. His nonfiction books ranged in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history. Freeedman's work has earned him several awards, including a Newbery Honor each for Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery in 1994 and The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane in 1992, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.
Freedman traveled extensively throughout the world to gather information and inspiration for his books. His book, Confucius: The Golden Rule was inspired by his extensive travels through Mainland China, where he visited Confucius' hometown in modern day QuFu, in the Shantung Province.
He grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as a publicity writer. His nonfiction books ranged in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history. Freeedman's work has earned him several awards, including a Newbery Honor each for Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery in 1994 and The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane in 1992, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.
Freedman traveled extensively throughout the world to gather information and inspiration for his books. His book, Confucius: The Golden Rule was inspired by his extensive travels through Mainland China, where he visited Confucius' hometown in modern day QuFu, in the Shantung Province.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
October 3, 2010
World War I attracts war buffs of middle school and high school age. Its combination of anachronism--horses and swords--and modernity--tanks and chemicals--is fascinating. Its scale--truly global, nine million combatants dead--is astounding. It began with a conundrum--the obscure heir to the shabby remnants of the Holy Roman Empire murdered by a teenage member of an obscure Serbian terrorist cell--and ended with a remapped and unsettled world destined for an even larger conflict.
Young researchers can quickly locate a plethora of information--trench warfare, mustard gas, the Red Baron--on the internet. And, unfortunately, this reflects the way many of these students are taught history--a mishmash of sources, personalities and events--unconnected by viewpoint or narrative.
With 'The War to End All Wars,' Russell Freedman has given such young (and older) historians an inspiring and involving palliative. It's the place to start a study of this massive and gruesome stuggle. As he has done in his many other fabulous books, Freedman weaves text, pictures, maps, quotes from soldiers of all ranks and stations, into a cogent and clear story that leaves the reader fully informed and well satisfied. And that's in 162 pages of good-sized print with lots of white space.
It's a marvelous and indispensable work for fifth graders up.
Highly recommended.
Young researchers can quickly locate a plethora of information--trench warfare, mustard gas, the Red Baron--on the internet. And, unfortunately, this reflects the way many of these students are taught history--a mishmash of sources, personalities and events--unconnected by viewpoint or narrative.
With 'The War to End All Wars,' Russell Freedman has given such young (and older) historians an inspiring and involving palliative. It's the place to start a study of this massive and gruesome stuggle. As he has done in his many other fabulous books, Freedman weaves text, pictures, maps, quotes from soldiers of all ranks and stations, into a cogent and clear story that leaves the reader fully informed and well satisfied. And that's in 162 pages of good-sized print with lots of white space.
It's a marvelous and indispensable work for fifth graders up.
Highly recommended.
June 23, 2016
Non-fiction is not my thing, so it felt like too many facts listed off one after another. It was somewhat interesting and focused mainly on the battle field. I would rate it a 2.5. It was a good Non-fiction account, but not necessarily one of the highlights of my reading experience.
September 8, 2018
Well written account of WW1 which, being only 162 pages, covers most of the major events with none of the minutia. Gives a clear account of the complicated events leading up to the start of the war, and the fizzled out armistice - which was so poorly done, it led to WW2. None of the horror is diminished by the book's brevity with losses of life of100,000 to 150,000 troops in each battle bandied about like a shopping list. A wonderful starter for anyone (above 15 yo?) wanting to know something about the War to end All Wars. Easy reading with large clear print, lots of photos and blank spaces (to ponder the true shock of what you've just read).
November 6, 2021
Excellent resource in WW1 for older children and teens
This book is a great resource on the Great War for ages 10+ and teens, adults may also utilize it as a quick overview. Freedman does a nice job of summarizing the events leading up to the war and covering the war itself. He provides nice details when needed and gives all the major battles, locations and people involved without getting bogged down in tedious detail. There are a number of photographs included to help tell the story and provide the reader with a connection to the events being discussed. This is a great option if your child needs to do a historical report or research assignment. The history is explained without becoming dry or boring.
This book is a great resource on the Great War for ages 10+ and teens, adults may also utilize it as a quick overview. Freedman does a nice job of summarizing the events leading up to the war and covering the war itself. He provides nice details when needed and gives all the major battles, locations and people involved without getting bogged down in tedious detail. There are a number of photographs included to help tell the story and provide the reader with a connection to the events being discussed. This is a great option if your child needs to do a historical report or research assignment. The history is explained without becoming dry or boring.
July 19, 2017
Fantastic introduction to the Great War. Lots of quotes from actual soldiers, and a good solid overview of the main events.
April 8, 2018
Not much here that I didn’t already know, and he doesn’t really get into the “whys,” but a really good overview of the major battles
November 8, 2022
Bravo! Always difficult to make sense of WWI.
I’ve studied WWI quite a bit but this little book clarified elements for me with its simplicity.
(That said, I am not a fan of the voice of the narrator…too sales-y, radio-announcer-y sounding for a book about war, in my opinion.)
Clean book review:
Only one curse word but significant military violence so I recommend age 14+
I’ve studied WWI quite a bit but this little book clarified elements for me with its simplicity.
(That said, I am not a fan of the voice of the narrator…too sales-y, radio-announcer-y sounding for a book about war, in my opinion.)
Clean book review:
Only one curse word but significant military violence so I recommend age 14+
December 16, 2023
While taking a class on WWI, I decided to read this abbreviated book on the causes, battles, and the decisions made at the end of the Great War. The author gave a nice perspective on the technological advances made during the war in terms of rifles, poison gas, aircraft, and tanks. The amount of bloodshed during the 5 years of the war was horrific, and I can't even imagine what it was like fighting in the trenches. I am going to dive into a couple of other books on the battles to dig deeper into the first world war.
February 28, 2023
A quick and decent overview of WWI. Read with my middle school students.
October 21, 2014
This book is about world war 1 or the Great War. The great war started 1914 and ended 1918 and over 20 million lives were lost. The book explains many of the tragic things that happens during the first world war as well as shows some insight from people fighting within the war. There are also many stories from people that were at places like germany. The story starts in Sarajevo Bosnia where Archduke Franz was assassinated on June 28, 1914. This set Austria-Hungary in a outrage from Russia to Germany to the USA. They also talk a lot about Different weapons as well as vehicles. One of the main points they focus on is the Axis and The Allies and how the war focused on the different countries fighting and bombing as well as attacking certain areas. So overall the book is a really good book that explains the horrors and drama of the first world war. I also like how it goes into great in depth detail on many of the things going on not just saying that oh this guy was shot in the head. One of the other things is that even though there is a lot of detail there were a few things that they could have explained more which made me look some things up. It is really good to read a book that explains history while doing it somewhat sarcastically as well as focussing mainly on things not really well known about The Great War.
January 30, 2016
Another amazing book by Freedman. He has a talent for pulling together a complicated and multi-faceted story into a readable form. The photos and the quotes from soldiers and officers are well chosen to enhance the narrative and help us understand a bit better the particular horrors of this war. How amazing was the confidence of the countries at the start of the war that it would be over in a few, short months; and how depleted each of those countries felt in so many ways at the end. This was the perfect book to serve as an overview of all aspects of World War I.
July 15, 2011
My first reaction was that this was very 'young' - and then I realized it was SUPPOSED to be, and just enjoyed it. I enjoyed the details he provided - pictures, the small stories of hope in the trenches, carrier pigeons, airplanes designed in a few weeks, the idea that the US needed a year to get enough troops to send. I also appreciated that he ended with the beginning of WWII, that he discussed the end of WWI as the "20 year armistice" that it was.
September 10, 2020
Although the instantaneous basis of World War I was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne, the authentic causes of the war lay much deeper. The chief causes accountable for the outbreak of the war were miscellaneous.
The system of 'secret alliances' which developed after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 was the greatest cause of the First World War. On the eve of war Europe was divided into the armed camps-Triple Alliance and Triple Entente.
The former consisted of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Italy and the later was composed of England, France, Russia and Japan. The first step towards the formation of the Triple Alliance was taken when Germany entered into an alliance with Austria Hungary. In 1882 even Italy joined this alliance and it came to be known as the Triple Alliance. The beginning of the Triple Entente was made in 1894 when France concluded an Alliance with Russia. With the dawn of the present century England, who was following a policy of splendid isolation, also started looking for allies.
She entered into a treaty with Japan in 1902 and in 1904 with France (Entente Cordiale). When England concluded a treaty with Russia in 1907. The Triple Entente came into existence. Thus on the eve of war the whole of Europe was divided into two camps bound by various secret alliances. These secret alliances naturally gave rise to suspicion.
The system of secret alliances made it inevitable that if war did come it would involve all the Great Powers of Europe. The members of each group felt bound to support each other in order to strengthen the solidarity of the group.
Written by Russell Freedman, this book principally shows that World War I, was the first world conflict in which potent modern weapons, including machine guns, poison gas, flamethrowers, tanks, and airplanes, were used.
With the extent of its carnage, it was called “The War to End All Wars,” because it was thought that mankind would never again subject the world to such spiteful and overwhelming weapons of mass destruction.
Germany's desire to build a world empire also added to the world unrest. As long as Bismarck was at the helm of affairs Germany was on the whole a satiated power and was interested in maintaining the status quo based upon her supremacy in Europe. After Bismarck's fall in 1890 Germany's ambitions began to soar high and she set her ambition at world-dominance. This sentiment is evident from the following statement of Treitschke, the eminent historian of Germany: "Just as the greatness of Germany is to be found in the governance of j Germany by Prussia, so the greatness and good of the world is to be found in the predominance of all German culture, of the German mind-in a world, of the German character."
The French felt that the German industrial prosperity was mainly due to these areas. It is felt in certain quarters that if Germany had not interfered in Morocco, the Frenchmen might have found some compensation for the loss of Alsace-Lorraine and forgotten their revenge against Germany. But the German interference in the affairs of Morocco further added to the bitterness between the two countries.
From the 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand to the punitive 1918 Treaty of Versailles, Russell Freedman’s photo essay and lucid, well-researched text masterfully tell the story of this complex war, suggesting how it sowed the seeds of future conflict.
A gripping read.
The system of 'secret alliances' which developed after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 was the greatest cause of the First World War. On the eve of war Europe was divided into the armed camps-Triple Alliance and Triple Entente.
The former consisted of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Italy and the later was composed of England, France, Russia and Japan. The first step towards the formation of the Triple Alliance was taken when Germany entered into an alliance with Austria Hungary. In 1882 even Italy joined this alliance and it came to be known as the Triple Alliance. The beginning of the Triple Entente was made in 1894 when France concluded an Alliance with Russia. With the dawn of the present century England, who was following a policy of splendid isolation, also started looking for allies.
She entered into a treaty with Japan in 1902 and in 1904 with France (Entente Cordiale). When England concluded a treaty with Russia in 1907. The Triple Entente came into existence. Thus on the eve of war the whole of Europe was divided into two camps bound by various secret alliances. These secret alliances naturally gave rise to suspicion.
The system of secret alliances made it inevitable that if war did come it would involve all the Great Powers of Europe. The members of each group felt bound to support each other in order to strengthen the solidarity of the group.
Written by Russell Freedman, this book principally shows that World War I, was the first world conflict in which potent modern weapons, including machine guns, poison gas, flamethrowers, tanks, and airplanes, were used.
With the extent of its carnage, it was called “The War to End All Wars,” because it was thought that mankind would never again subject the world to such spiteful and overwhelming weapons of mass destruction.
Germany's desire to build a world empire also added to the world unrest. As long as Bismarck was at the helm of affairs Germany was on the whole a satiated power and was interested in maintaining the status quo based upon her supremacy in Europe. After Bismarck's fall in 1890 Germany's ambitions began to soar high and she set her ambition at world-dominance. This sentiment is evident from the following statement of Treitschke, the eminent historian of Germany: "Just as the greatness of Germany is to be found in the governance of j Germany by Prussia, so the greatness and good of the world is to be found in the predominance of all German culture, of the German mind-in a world, of the German character."
The French felt that the German industrial prosperity was mainly due to these areas. It is felt in certain quarters that if Germany had not interfered in Morocco, the Frenchmen might have found some compensation for the loss of Alsace-Lorraine and forgotten their revenge against Germany. But the German interference in the affairs of Morocco further added to the bitterness between the two countries.
From the 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand to the punitive 1918 Treaty of Versailles, Russell Freedman’s photo essay and lucid, well-researched text masterfully tell the story of this complex war, suggesting how it sowed the seeds of future conflict.
A gripping read.
April 25, 2020
“I was wounded in the battle and taken to a casualty clearing station. I was beside a fellow who had got his arms bandaged up - I’d simply got my right arm bandaged. He was trying to light his pipe but couldn’t get on very well so I offered to fill and light it for him. But when I’d lit it I suddenly reali[z]ed he had nowhere to put it, as he’d had his lower jaw blown away. So I smoked the pipe and he smelt the tobacco, that was all the poor chap could have.”
-Trooper Walter Becklade
5th Calvary Brigade
There were many more excerpts like this from the book that raised the hair on my skin out of horror, sadness, amazement all alike.
I am not finding the words I wish to convey how thankful I am to not live in a world as it was during the First World War. Many of the personal accounts of young soldiers my own age were included in this book, and in their journals write the very same thing I am looking back through history and seeing: that to fight a war is hell on Earth.
My great grandfather James ‘Archie’ Layton was an American soldier that fought in WWI. I have a framed picture of him in uniform and I often look at it and wonder who he was and what he stood for. When I visited Verdun I wondered if he’d been even within a hundred miles of where I was standing; whether or not he’d questioned the likelihood of outlasting the war; if he even had a thought as to his future children, grandchildren, and so on.
If anything, this book made me take a step back and recognize the sacrifices made by those not as lucky as my great grandfather to live through it. The world changed tremendously in that four year period. How will it have changed four years from now?
-Trooper Walter Becklade
5th Calvary Brigade
There were many more excerpts like this from the book that raised the hair on my skin out of horror, sadness, amazement all alike.
I am not finding the words I wish to convey how thankful I am to not live in a world as it was during the First World War. Many of the personal accounts of young soldiers my own age were included in this book, and in their journals write the very same thing I am looking back through history and seeing: that to fight a war is hell on Earth.
My great grandfather James ‘Archie’ Layton was an American soldier that fought in WWI. I have a framed picture of him in uniform and I often look at it and wonder who he was and what he stood for. When I visited Verdun I wondered if he’d been even within a hundred miles of where I was standing; whether or not he’d questioned the likelihood of outlasting the war; if he even had a thought as to his future children, grandchildren, and so on.
If anything, this book made me take a step back and recognize the sacrifices made by those not as lucky as my great grandfather to live through it. The world changed tremendously in that four year period. How will it have changed four years from now?
September 18, 2022
"It was a perfect day for a parade."
"The War to End All Wars: World War 1," by Russell Freedman is a non-fiction book about World War 1. This book goes over the events that lead to World War 1, The Military Campaigns that took place during WW1, The causes of American Involvement, and the fall of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.
I enjoyed this book very much. It was very easy to read or listen too. I love History, especially both World Wars, so I took great pleasure in reading. If you don't like History, or Non-Fiction this may not be the book for you! The book goes in-depth on every aspect of the first World War. From the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand to the Treaty of Versaille, this book dives deep into each topic, even including First-Hand Accounts from witnesses. All-in-all, I would rate this book a 5/5!
"The War to End All Wars: World War 1," by Russell Freedman is a non-fiction book about World War 1. This book goes over the events that lead to World War 1, The Military Campaigns that took place during WW1, The causes of American Involvement, and the fall of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.
I enjoyed this book very much. It was very easy to read or listen too. I love History, especially both World Wars, so I took great pleasure in reading. If you don't like History, or Non-Fiction this may not be the book for you! The book goes in-depth on every aspect of the first World War. From the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand to the Treaty of Versaille, this book dives deep into each topic, even including First-Hand Accounts from witnesses. All-in-all, I would rate this book a 5/5!
November 3, 2023
A thoroughly well researched and well-presented introductory history of WWI from beginning to end.
Russell accomplishes covering the war at the macro level, explaining the high-level politics and movements of armies - but, by using primary sources to directly quote soldiers, also lets you see what it was like for ordinary people on the ground (or under the ground, rather) and that is where he slams you with the horror of this war. A journal entry describing a single death does more to convey how horrible this was than any total numbers of KIA you could cite.
May 20, 2018
A great nonfiction addition which introduces young readers to WWI and the way it led to the Second World War. The book clearly covers the events leading up to the war, the death toll, the technology used, the major battles, the results of the war, and the way the end of WWI led to WWII twenty years later.
May 10, 2024
This book is a good overview of WWI for middle-grade or high school learners. It has a lot of photographs and would make a good addition to a history classroom library. My biggest complaint is the narrator on the audiobook has an overly peppy voice which was a little distracting to the solemn message.
July 28, 2018
A quick, down-and-dirty, informative read. The perfect book for anyone delving into the First World War for the first time. Freedman sets the stage in very plain language: The players, events leading up to war, each campaign, and what exactly happened.
January 3, 2019
For me this was an easy to read account of a war I know very little about. I found it to be a great overview.
August 11, 2020
This was a fast-paced book featuring an overview of WWI. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
March 23, 2023
A simple, short, overview of WW1. Nothing amazing, but a decent introduction.
October 3, 2024
Decent intro to WWI for the YA crowd.
January 26, 2020
Really interesting! Learned several things I did not know about "The Great War."
December 17, 2015
I picked this up at an elementary book fair, thinking it would be a good classroom resource for the Remembrance Day season. It proved to be a very detailed overview of the whole war, much more detailed and direct than I had pictured for elementary age. Not that my husband or I are WWI experts, but even we learned new things.
May 20, 2010
Superb history as only Russell Freedman can write it.
March 2, 2020
Spoiler alert: World War I was not the war to end all wars. As someone who enjoys reading a lot of books relating to military history, there is always something both immensely fascinating as well as troubling about World War I and its impact on the world. Before World War I there was the illusion that European society was moving in a more peaceful manner, as there had been no massive wars between European powers for about a century. And after the war the European colonial empires were in question, the world was filled with people who viewed themselves as cheated out of the rewards commensurate with their sacrifices, and history took a far darker turn. In my own family two of my great-grandfathers were gassed with disastrous results in combat in France, and that has shaped my own view of the tragedy of that war. And because World War I was a mere warm-up act for the horrors of World War II, the war cannot even be remembered for being as horrific as it is because things would only get worse over the next twenty-five years. The author, unsurprisingly, finds it necessary to connect World War I to this larger context.
This book is between 150 and 200 pages long and is divided into fifteen relatively short chapters. The book begins with an introduction that discusses World War I as a great war (which would make World War II the Greater War, I suppose). After that the author begins with a discussion of the causus belli, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand by some greater Serbia radicals (1) in Sarajevo as well as the way that both sets of European alliances were armed to the teeth (2). After that the author discusses the belief in victory that many nations had at the beginning of war (3) and the horrific slaughter that began the war (4) and the resulting stalemate that set in on all fronts (5). The author discusses the technology of death and destruction developed to try to break the stalemate (6), life and death in the trenches (7), as well as the experience in going over the top (8). After that comes a look at Verdun (9), the Somme (10), as well as the war at sea (11). After that the authors explore the collapse and mutiny that were faced by the warring powers starting in 1917 or so (12). The arrival of the Americans in the fight (13) gave the exhausted Western allies an advantage that led to the general collapse of empires (14), after which the author explores how it was that the victors of World War I predictably lost the peace (15) that followed, after which the book ends with notes, a bibliography, acknowledgements and picture credits, and an index.
If I did not think this was an amazing be-all and end-all book about World War I history, it certainly was a competent offering in the field. It is also a short book that is well-photographed and that certainly makes it an accessible one to those who want a basic introduction to World War I history and not something that is going to be too taxing about obscure matters that would be of interest to someone like me. I can see myself recommending this book to someone who can read it without finding it too lengthy and it provides a basic enough insight into the experience of soldiers as well as the course of the war that someone would certainly have a basic level of information about the war after reading and understanding it. If that is not an extremely high standard, it is certainly at least the sort of standard one could rightly expect from a book like this one, and the end result is not unpleasing even to those who are able to and enjoy reading books that are far more detailed in nature. This is a book that one can read with modest profit and enjoyment, if World War I is a subject you are interested in.
This book is between 150 and 200 pages long and is divided into fifteen relatively short chapters. The book begins with an introduction that discusses World War I as a great war (which would make World War II the Greater War, I suppose). After that the author begins with a discussion of the causus belli, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand by some greater Serbia radicals (1) in Sarajevo as well as the way that both sets of European alliances were armed to the teeth (2). After that the author discusses the belief in victory that many nations had at the beginning of war (3) and the horrific slaughter that began the war (4) and the resulting stalemate that set in on all fronts (5). The author discusses the technology of death and destruction developed to try to break the stalemate (6), life and death in the trenches (7), as well as the experience in going over the top (8). After that comes a look at Verdun (9), the Somme (10), as well as the war at sea (11). After that the authors explore the collapse and mutiny that were faced by the warring powers starting in 1917 or so (12). The arrival of the Americans in the fight (13) gave the exhausted Western allies an advantage that led to the general collapse of empires (14), after which the author explores how it was that the victors of World War I predictably lost the peace (15) that followed, after which the book ends with notes, a bibliography, acknowledgements and picture credits, and an index.
If I did not think this was an amazing be-all and end-all book about World War I history, it certainly was a competent offering in the field. It is also a short book that is well-photographed and that certainly makes it an accessible one to those who want a basic introduction to World War I history and not something that is going to be too taxing about obscure matters that would be of interest to someone like me. I can see myself recommending this book to someone who can read it without finding it too lengthy and it provides a basic enough insight into the experience of soldiers as well as the course of the war that someone would certainly have a basic level of information about the war after reading and understanding it. If that is not an extremely high standard, it is certainly at least the sort of standard one could rightly expect from a book like this one, and the end result is not unpleasing even to those who are able to and enjoy reading books that are far more detailed in nature. This is a book that one can read with modest profit and enjoyment, if World War I is a subject you are interested in.
May 27, 2011
Russell Freedman really does not pull any punches in some of the quotes that he selects to represent the feelings of those directly involved in World War I combat. The violence spoken of that was personally experienced by these soldiers is graphic beyond understanding, to the point where it's difficult to even authentically imagine some of the scenes as described. Such descriptions in The War to End All Wars: World War I always have a point, though. They give the reader a measure of underlying comprehension of the particularly gory nature of this conflict, and why World War I was so much bloodier than most wars. This was a time in history when battle technology was rapidly advancing in some avenues yet not in others, and when that disparity reared its ugly head...the results were sickening.
The start to World War I was so complicated and distorted that to this day, scholars debate what really went on under the surface and how, exactly, the tangled cross-alliances between countries led to all of the involved parties getting into a war that had little ultimate meaning for anyone. There was not much to gain for any of the nations in the struggle, but after the initial declarations of war were announced and scores of national militias were called to mobilize, it would have been practically impossible to avoid the crushing hammer of war that hung over all of their heads. So The Great War began, with none of the major players aware in the least of where the path of war would eventually lead them. Even in their wildest nightmares, it's difficult to believe that the extent of the full slaughter of World War I could have been guessed by anyone.
Great Britain, France and Russia (as well as some smaller allies) boldly sent their prime fighting forces to meet the armies of Germany and Austria-Hungary in a mighty initial clash that rocked the world. Before long, the British and their German foes were embedded so deeply in trenches on their respective sides of the Western Front that significant advance by either militia became virtually impossible, and the main part of the war settled down to a slow crawl that pushed the boundaries of ordinary tedium. Soldiers from both sides who were on the front lines of the Western Front were deluged by sudden, frenzied killing followed by long stretches of interminable boredom, back and forth, over and over again without much to divert their minds from the prison of reality. It must have been like being immersed in freezing cold water and then boiling hot water and back again, without a break, and knowing that it's going to continue as far into the future as one can see. I honestly can't figure how they were able to stand up under that sort of continuous pressure.
The Western Front was set up perfectly for a horrible, extended bloodbath, due to the nature of newly developed weaponry. For the first time, the automated machine gun was a huge part of a war; removing from the equation the need to manually cool down gun barrels between shots meant that both sides could fire faster, and for a much longer time. Fighting forces used to being able to charge the enemy as one big group, and accept the number of resulting casualties if it meant successfully infiltrating the other army, were now totally overmatched; a sudden sprint toward the enemy's trenches would do nothing but leave hundreds (or even thousands) of soldiers completely vulnerable to the merciless attack of the foe's potent and devastatingly rapid machine guns, an implacable force of pure death that could render a whole crew of soldiers dead within moments. The chilling power of the awesome new artillery was making an impact in this war, all right, and was chiefly responsible for the lack of movement on the Western Front that torturously stretched on for years.
Even as Russell Freedman feeds us quote after quote about what it was really like on the Western Front, it's hard to truly be able to envision such horrors happening right before one's own eyes. Soldiers mutilated beyond recognition in the blink of an eye, lying on the ground writhing in unimaginable torment as the half of their body still intact dies at far too slow a pace, screaming to their comrades to quicken their demise... These were the same emotionally innocent soldiers who had jumped at the chance to personally enter the war, bursting with national pride to join the front ranks and really show everyone how much they loved their country. Now, their dreams for patriotic adventure were destroyed, and so was any hope for their own future. That was the real toll extracted by World War I, I believe, more terrible than any other. The destruction of hope for the future.
Even this war would pass, though. After nearly four years of nonstop gruesome death, the United States finally stepped in and cast their lot with the original Allies, bringing fresh troops to a cluster of brave nations so badly in need of them. Now undeniably outnumbered, Germany fought on for a while before national morale became too low to reasonably continue any further, and that proud nation, the last to fight on its side of the war, surrendered to the Allies. After eight-and-a-half million deaths and twenty-one million injuries accrued worldwide, The Great War was at its end. There would be no more fighting on the continent of Europe, which had been decimated by the destruction that had covered its face so completely.
As Russell Freedman shows, the harsh treaty requirements pushed upon the German government by the Allied nations would not be accepted without resentment. This unhappiness with the status quo ended up being a major reason why the Germans, only twenty years later, were so willing to get behind a leader like the recklessly idealistic Adolf Hitler, whose frenetic promises to reunite Germany into a powerful nation and take back what had once belonged to her stirred the patriotic spirit of her denizens and made them feel whole again. It is on this ominous note of looking toward the dark storm clouds of the future that the author takes his leave, allowing us to ponder for ourselves the second World War that was to come, and how it grew from the seeds of the first disastrous conflict.
So, what is there to learn from World War I? That's not an easy question to definitely answer. The reasons behind the war were so protracted, and the extent to which the nations were involved so wrapped up in the complicated alliances that had been formed, that it's hard to really point the finger of blame at one particular people. Was it the fault of Serbia, maybe? Or was Germany, or Russia, or Austria-Hungary the real culprit? I really don't know, and I don't think anyone does know. Perhaps the most enduring lesson that we can take from World War I is to see the totally overwhelming cost that war potentially can have on any nation involved, and how absolutely crucial it is, therefore, not to let ultimately small issues take us down that path of aggression. The tax levied by war is just too great. We cannot afford to mourn another "Lost Generation". We just can't...
The War to End All Wars is a book of great intensity and power, wonderfully written, though dependent for most of its deeper meaning on the words of the men who were actually there and fought in the trenches, seeing their friends die violent deaths and knowing well that theirs could be next. This is a book that I'm sure will take its rightful place at the top with the other best nonfiction books about The Great War, explaining the conflict and its time period to younger readers in ways that they can fully understand, while not at all dimming the presentation of the raw horror of the events that it describes. This might be the best of Russell Freedman's books that I have read.
The start to World War I was so complicated and distorted that to this day, scholars debate what really went on under the surface and how, exactly, the tangled cross-alliances between countries led to all of the involved parties getting into a war that had little ultimate meaning for anyone. There was not much to gain for any of the nations in the struggle, but after the initial declarations of war were announced and scores of national militias were called to mobilize, it would have been practically impossible to avoid the crushing hammer of war that hung over all of their heads. So The Great War began, with none of the major players aware in the least of where the path of war would eventually lead them. Even in their wildest nightmares, it's difficult to believe that the extent of the full slaughter of World War I could have been guessed by anyone.
Great Britain, France and Russia (as well as some smaller allies) boldly sent their prime fighting forces to meet the armies of Germany and Austria-Hungary in a mighty initial clash that rocked the world. Before long, the British and their German foes were embedded so deeply in trenches on their respective sides of the Western Front that significant advance by either militia became virtually impossible, and the main part of the war settled down to a slow crawl that pushed the boundaries of ordinary tedium. Soldiers from both sides who were on the front lines of the Western Front were deluged by sudden, frenzied killing followed by long stretches of interminable boredom, back and forth, over and over again without much to divert their minds from the prison of reality. It must have been like being immersed in freezing cold water and then boiling hot water and back again, without a break, and knowing that it's going to continue as far into the future as one can see. I honestly can't figure how they were able to stand up under that sort of continuous pressure.
The Western Front was set up perfectly for a horrible, extended bloodbath, due to the nature of newly developed weaponry. For the first time, the automated machine gun was a huge part of a war; removing from the equation the need to manually cool down gun barrels between shots meant that both sides could fire faster, and for a much longer time. Fighting forces used to being able to charge the enemy as one big group, and accept the number of resulting casualties if it meant successfully infiltrating the other army, were now totally overmatched; a sudden sprint toward the enemy's trenches would do nothing but leave hundreds (or even thousands) of soldiers completely vulnerable to the merciless attack of the foe's potent and devastatingly rapid machine guns, an implacable force of pure death that could render a whole crew of soldiers dead within moments. The chilling power of the awesome new artillery was making an impact in this war, all right, and was chiefly responsible for the lack of movement on the Western Front that torturously stretched on for years.
Even as Russell Freedman feeds us quote after quote about what it was really like on the Western Front, it's hard to truly be able to envision such horrors happening right before one's own eyes. Soldiers mutilated beyond recognition in the blink of an eye, lying on the ground writhing in unimaginable torment as the half of their body still intact dies at far too slow a pace, screaming to their comrades to quicken their demise... These were the same emotionally innocent soldiers who had jumped at the chance to personally enter the war, bursting with national pride to join the front ranks and really show everyone how much they loved their country. Now, their dreams for patriotic adventure were destroyed, and so was any hope for their own future. That was the real toll extracted by World War I, I believe, more terrible than any other. The destruction of hope for the future.
Even this war would pass, though. After nearly four years of nonstop gruesome death, the United States finally stepped in and cast their lot with the original Allies, bringing fresh troops to a cluster of brave nations so badly in need of them. Now undeniably outnumbered, Germany fought on for a while before national morale became too low to reasonably continue any further, and that proud nation, the last to fight on its side of the war, surrendered to the Allies. After eight-and-a-half million deaths and twenty-one million injuries accrued worldwide, The Great War was at its end. There would be no more fighting on the continent of Europe, which had been decimated by the destruction that had covered its face so completely.
As Russell Freedman shows, the harsh treaty requirements pushed upon the German government by the Allied nations would not be accepted without resentment. This unhappiness with the status quo ended up being a major reason why the Germans, only twenty years later, were so willing to get behind a leader like the recklessly idealistic Adolf Hitler, whose frenetic promises to reunite Germany into a powerful nation and take back what had once belonged to her stirred the patriotic spirit of her denizens and made them feel whole again. It is on this ominous note of looking toward the dark storm clouds of the future that the author takes his leave, allowing us to ponder for ourselves the second World War that was to come, and how it grew from the seeds of the first disastrous conflict.
So, what is there to learn from World War I? That's not an easy question to definitely answer. The reasons behind the war were so protracted, and the extent to which the nations were involved so wrapped up in the complicated alliances that had been formed, that it's hard to really point the finger of blame at one particular people. Was it the fault of Serbia, maybe? Or was Germany, or Russia, or Austria-Hungary the real culprit? I really don't know, and I don't think anyone does know. Perhaps the most enduring lesson that we can take from World War I is to see the totally overwhelming cost that war potentially can have on any nation involved, and how absolutely crucial it is, therefore, not to let ultimately small issues take us down that path of aggression. The tax levied by war is just too great. We cannot afford to mourn another "Lost Generation". We just can't...
The War to End All Wars is a book of great intensity and power, wonderfully written, though dependent for most of its deeper meaning on the words of the men who were actually there and fought in the trenches, seeing their friends die violent deaths and knowing well that theirs could be next. This is a book that I'm sure will take its rightful place at the top with the other best nonfiction books about The Great War, explaining the conflict and its time period to younger readers in ways that they can fully understand, while not at all dimming the presentation of the raw horror of the events that it describes. This might be the best of Russell Freedman's books that I have read.
August 1, 2025
“Humanity is mad! It must be mad to do what it is doing. What a massacre. What scenes of horror and carnage! I cannot find words to translate my impressions. Hell cannot be so terrible. Men are mad!” - Second Lt. Alfred Joubaire of the French 124th Regiment at Verdun, aged 21, from his final diary entry dated May 23, 1916.
My first book about World War One. I’m just at the start of my journey. I thought it was a really good introduction for me - someone who barely knew a thing about the Great War. It set a good foundation for me to want to read further and to continue to flesh out my understanding of events. There are countless perspectives, topics, and areas of interest I want to pursue. I wrote down a list of further reading topics and questions that sprang to mind while I was reading. So many curiosity gaps to fill - not only related directly with the war between the Allies and the Central Powers. For example, I’m curious to learn more about the Lusitania situation, the Russian Revolution, the Treaty of Versailles, and Woodrow Wilson.
I have to admit I’m not clear on why it happened in the first place. I’m confused as to how the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austria-Hungary throne, by a young Serbian man - Gavrilo Princip, led to a world war a month later. Author Russell Freedman writes: “Even today, historians continue to debate the tangled and confusing causes of the conflict, the series of accidents, blunders, and misunderstandings that swept the nations of Europe toward war in the summer of 1914, whether war might have been avoided, and which persons or nations were responsible [...] In the rush of events, the Kingdom of Serbia, supposedly the cause of the war, had almost been forgotten.” Exactly. I found that curious. Once you start reading about the events of the war, Serbia and Austria-Hungary are barely mentioned. It’s like they disappear from the narrative, making you think there’s gotta be something more to it than that. Was it just an excuse, a convenient distraction? It seemed like the Allies and Central Powers were warring over the typical things most nations war over – land, resources. Power/dominance. A license to declare “I’m the King of the World!” “We’re Number One!”
But like I said, I’m just at the beginning of learning about the Great War. Perhaps things will start to make sense to me as I read more books on the subject. As of August 1, 2025, I’ve only read two books about WWI and both books were more like overviews.
〜〜〜
There were times I got emotional and had to take deep breaths when reading the descriptions of the conditions - imagining the wounded who were left to die alone in the mud, the indescribable fear of “going over the top” into No Man’s Land amid a barrage of artillery fire. How could one not experience shell sock (PTSD) under such circumstances?
My first book about World War One. I’m just at the start of my journey. I thought it was a really good introduction for me - someone who barely knew a thing about the Great War. It set a good foundation for me to want to read further and to continue to flesh out my understanding of events. There are countless perspectives, topics, and areas of interest I want to pursue. I wrote down a list of further reading topics and questions that sprang to mind while I was reading. So many curiosity gaps to fill - not only related directly with the war between the Allies and the Central Powers. For example, I’m curious to learn more about the Lusitania situation, the Russian Revolution, the Treaty of Versailles, and Woodrow Wilson.
I have to admit I’m not clear on why it happened in the first place. I’m confused as to how the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austria-Hungary throne, by a young Serbian man - Gavrilo Princip, led to a world war a month later. Author Russell Freedman writes: “Even today, historians continue to debate the tangled and confusing causes of the conflict, the series of accidents, blunders, and misunderstandings that swept the nations of Europe toward war in the summer of 1914, whether war might have been avoided, and which persons or nations were responsible [...] In the rush of events, the Kingdom of Serbia, supposedly the cause of the war, had almost been forgotten.” Exactly. I found that curious. Once you start reading about the events of the war, Serbia and Austria-Hungary are barely mentioned. It’s like they disappear from the narrative, making you think there’s gotta be something more to it than that. Was it just an excuse, a convenient distraction? It seemed like the Allies and Central Powers were warring over the typical things most nations war over – land, resources. Power/dominance. A license to declare “I’m the King of the World!” “We’re Number One!”
But like I said, I’m just at the beginning of learning about the Great War. Perhaps things will start to make sense to me as I read more books on the subject. As of August 1, 2025, I’ve only read two books about WWI and both books were more like overviews.
〜〜〜
There were times I got emotional and had to take deep breaths when reading the descriptions of the conditions - imagining the wounded who were left to die alone in the mud, the indescribable fear of “going over the top” into No Man’s Land amid a barrage of artillery fire. How could one not experience shell sock (PTSD) under such circumstances?
December 14, 2017
The book The War to End All Wars: World War I by Russell Freeman is an extraordinary book. The book opens with information about The Great War and how there were an estimated 20 million people who died during the war. In the beginning, it explained how the war first started because of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and how all of the countries became involved in the war. As the book continues, it tells the terrible history of what happened during war and includes quotes from soldiers about some of the events that took place and what was going on at the time. As you read, the book gives details about all of the newly created technology and the new weapons that were used. Some of the new technology that was invented during this time was the tank and mustard gas, which were often used on the western front.
In the middle of the book, it talked about life in the trenches and the different battles. In this section, there is a story about how the western front, Allies and the Germans had an informal truce on Christmas day and played a game of soccer. This event was interesting because the book did not focus entirely on the battles of the war but also included stories about the life of the soldiers. The book also highlighted the horrible conditions of the trenches and how the western front didn’t move more than 2 miles in months. The next part of the book explained how both sides introduced the plane into the battlefield, mostly using it for recon and locating the enemy.
In the last part of the book, it discussed how the war was ending. It provided details about the last battle of the war and how the peace treaty was signed on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, on the eleventh hour. After the Allies won the war, Germany had to give up some of its land. With the land Germany gave up and the collapse of many empires, new countries were formed. At the very end of the book, the Treaty of Versailles is mentioned. Which was the main cause of World War II. Over all, this was a well-written book that included helpful information and interesting details.
In the middle of the book, it talked about life in the trenches and the different battles. In this section, there is a story about how the western front, Allies and the Germans had an informal truce on Christmas day and played a game of soccer. This event was interesting because the book did not focus entirely on the battles of the war but also included stories about the life of the soldiers. The book also highlighted the horrible conditions of the trenches and how the western front didn’t move more than 2 miles in months. The next part of the book explained how both sides introduced the plane into the battlefield, mostly using it for recon and locating the enemy.
In the last part of the book, it discussed how the war was ending. It provided details about the last battle of the war and how the peace treaty was signed on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, on the eleventh hour. After the Allies won the war, Germany had to give up some of its land. With the land Germany gave up and the collapse of many empires, new countries were formed. At the very end of the book, the Treaty of Versailles is mentioned. Which was the main cause of World War II. Over all, this was a well-written book that included helpful information and interesting details.
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