The First World War

This narrative history focuses on why World War I occurred, how it was fought, and why it had the consequences it did. It examines in turn, the state of Europe in 1914 and the outbreak of war; the onset of attrition in 1915 and the extension of the war; the collapse of Russia and the weakening and eventual surrender of the Central Powers; the making of peace; and the historical controversies surrounding the causes and conduct of war.