Author(s): Gordon Kerr

Military/War

A Short History of the First World War tells the story of this cataclysmic event. It begins by describing the background to war, the international rivalries and conflicts of the previous decades that led to the nations of Europe forming virtual armed camps, the relentless build-up of military and naval hardware that characterised the early years of the 20th century and the great figures that tried to prevent conflict or enthusiastically pushed for it.