Understand how the assassination sparked a world war and how the first phase unfolded.
This accessible history presents contemporary editorials and commentary from 1914 to explain the crisis, the moves on the map, and the Belgian defense that shaped the war’s early days.
The book frames the origins of the Great War, from the Serb dream and Balkan tensions to the clash of great power blocs. It traces the European crisis, the strategic aims of the major powers, and the bold military movements that followed the opening shots. Camp fires of propaganda give way to a clear narrative of events as they unfolded.
- How the assassination and Balkan politics pushed Europe toward war and test the balance of power.
- The emergence of the two opposed blocs and the long shadow of the enveloping German movement toward Paris.
- The map of early battles, the Allied retreat, and the peril and resilience shown by the British and French forces.
- The siege of Antwerp and Belgium’s role as a symbol of courage and the struggle to defend liberty.
Ideal for readers seeking a concise, accessible account of the war’s first phase and the forces that shaped its opening months.