Understanding how and why the First World War came about rather than rehashing the battles during the war. When it comes to the war itself, I have a particular interest with the Eastern Front, the home fronts of Germany, Austro-Hungary, and other Central and Eastern countries and the irredentist movements which had a role in the igniting the war. Europe nearly went to war several times due to two crises over Morocco but kept out of the Balkan Wars of 1912-13. Italy invaded Libya and thus began the drive to push the Ottomans out of southern Europe. The Russians, who since time immemorial had their eyes on the Turkish Straits. The British who were looking to expand their empire into Asia while trying to prevent Russia from threatening India. And the French expansion of its possessions into Indochina and the Middle East looking wearily at the British.

The home fronts played a large part in the defeat of Germany and seems to be overlooked somewhat. A starving Germany resorted to unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917 which became the straw that broke the Americans' back, resulting in Woodrow Wilson declaring war on Germany in April 1917 which ultimately led to the German Michael Offensive in order to win the war before America could reinforce the Allies (at a rate of 250,000 fresh troops a month).
1

by
3.81 avg rating — 4,076 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
2

by
4.11 avg rating — 1,251 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
3

by
4.17 avg rating — 4,647 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
4

by
3.59 avg rating — 91 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
4

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11,758 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
4

by
4.69 avg rating — 99 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
7

by
4.29 avg rating — 38 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
7

by
4.04 avg rating — 71 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
9

by
3.84 avg rating — 74 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
10

by
4.18 avg rating — 84,033 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
11

by
4.23 avg rating — 13,853 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
12

by
3.95 avg rating — 409 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
13

by
3.87 avg rating — 45 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
14

by
4.48 avg rating — 31 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
15

by
3.66 avg rating — 38 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
16

by
4.15 avg rating — 21,288 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
17

by
4.36 avg rating — 987 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
8 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Allan 87 books
0 friends
Saturday's 2241 books
67 friends
Clare 8410 books
346 friends
Nyan 8 books
0 friends
Jane 3 books
4 friends
Cally 4 books
25 friends
Ana 8 books
13 friends
Nancy 648 books
3 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-1 of 1 (1 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Liam (new)

Liam Ostermann There are two books on this list about the empress Elizabeth of Austria-Hungary - by only the wildest stretch of the imagination - a stretch that would allow a biography of almost any royal of the centuries before the first World War - can they be in any way relevant to this list - for a start this woman was dead twenty or more year before the war started.


back to top