Catastrophe 1914: Europe Goes to War

In this volume, the author paints a different picture of the First World War from the familiar one of barbed wire, mud and futility. He traces the path to war, arguing that Germany and Austria-Hungary were primarily to blame, and describes the first clashes in the West. The author also re-creates the lesser-known battles on the Eastern Front, brutal struggles in Serbia, East Prussia and Galicia. The author offers frank assessments of generals and political leaders and analyses of the political currents that led the continent to war. He argues passionately against the contention that the war was not worth the cost, maintaining that Germany's defeat was vital to the freedom of Europe. This volume is a vivid portrait of how a continent became embroiled in war and what befell millions of men and women in a conflict that would change everything.