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Over 540 illustrations

• A concise, authoritative account of the course of the Great War, with analysis of its political causes and background, decisive encounters and landmark engagements



• A full description of every major battle on land and at sea detailing military strategy, successes and failures illustrated with full colour campaign maps and battle plans



• Covers all of the most successful weapons of war from dreadnoughts and anti-aircraft guns to U-boats and heavy field artillery, with specification boxes providing key technical details on each weapon



• Focuses on the key military figures who shaped the course of the war from Generals Douglas Haig and Alexei Brusinov to Paul von Hindenberg and Erich Ludendorff and on political leaders such as David Lloyd George, Kaiser Wilhelm II to President Woodrow Wilson



• A highly readable popular history of the military and political events of World War One illustrated with more than 500 compelling photographs, maps and plans

World War I was the first truly global conflict and had an impact on virtually every country on the face of the planet. The scale of human loss was staggering: some 8 million soldiers and more than 6 million civilians died in four years of fighting, and a further 21 million troops were wounded. It was also the first time that many of the military technologies we now take for granted were first seen, including aircraft, submarines and tanks. Yet these were overshadowed by more established weapons like machine guns and artillery: the most lethal weapon of all.

The war brought about wide-ranging and profound political changes. It saw the end of the Austro-Hungarian, Russian and Ottoman Empires, and humbled Germany, Europe’s greatest land power. It left Britain impoverished and confirmed the economic and financial pre-eminence of the United States. The war also affected women as never before. They were no longer seen as merely wives and mothers but actively supported the fighting in a wide range of roles. They served behind the lines in hospitals and worked in a number of key war industries.

This wide-ranging book begins with the state of Europe before the war before embarking on four major chapters, chronicling the course of the war a year at a time. Major battles are interspersed with spreads detailing the weapons and tactics that often decided the outcomes. A final chapter looks at the aftermath of war and the newly emerging European states. All aspects of the conflict are covered, from common war illnesses through to espionage, the use of propaganda and atrocities on all sides. Key fact boxes delve into the lives of the political leaders, generals and fighters who made a difference, while also discussing the different political movements which flourished such as pacifism and women’s suffrage.

The heroic story of World War I is told in an accessible style and is supplemented with more than 500 compelling photographs, maps and battle plans. This is the perfect book for both the general and specialist reader.

About the Authors

Ian Westwell - Author

Ian Westwell has been involved in publishing in a variety of editorial capacities for nearly twenty-five years and has worked on books, magazines and part-works. He has completed numerous articles and more than fifteen books on all aspects of military history. His most recent publications include Condor Legion: The Wehrmacht Training Ground and World War I: Day by Day.