Cataclysm

The First World War as Political Tragedy

By: David Stevenson

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Paperback | 1 June 2005 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
624 Pages

Edition Type
New edition

Dimensions(cm)
23.5 x 15.24 x 3.81

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David Stevenson's widely acclaimed history of World War I changes forever our understanding of that pivotal conflict. Countering the commonplace assumption that politicians lost control of events, and that the war, once it began, quickly became an unstoppable machine, Stevenson contends that politicians deliberately took risks that led to war in July 1914. Far from being overwhelmed by the unprecedented scale and brutality of the bloodshed, political leaders on both sides remained very much in control of events throughout. According to Stevenson, the disturbing reality is that the course of the war was the result of conscious choices -- including the continued acceptance of astronomical casualties. In fluid prose, Stevenson has written a definitive history of the man-made catastrophe that left lasting scars on the twentieth century. Cataclysm is a truly international history, incorporating new research on previously undisclosed records from governments in Europe and across the world. From the complex network of secret treaties and alliances that eventually drew all of Europe into the war, through the bloodbaths of Gallipoli and the Somme, to the arrival of American forces, and the massive political, economic, and cultural shifts the conflict left in its wake, Cataclysm is a major revision of World War I history.

Industry Reviews

"David Stevenson is the real deal....His defining characteristic is his outstanding rigour as an historian.... [ think him tremendously clever." "This book should be on the shelf with the best of the many books about WWI. Cataclysm is a major re-examination of the shaping tragedy of the 20th century."

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction History General & World History Politics & Government Miscellaneous Items Military History First World War History Regional & National History European History

Maps	p. IX
Abbreviations	p. XI
Note on Military and Naval Terminology	p. XV
Introduction	p. XVII
Outbreak
The Destruction of Peace	p. 3
The Failure of the War of Movement, Summer-Winter 1914	p. 37
Escalation
Making a New World, Spring 1915-Spring 1917	p. 81
The Widening of the War	p. 87
War Aims and Peace Negotiations	p. 103
The Land War in Europe: Strategy	p. 123
Technology, Logistics, and Tactics	p. 145
Manpower and Morale	p. 161
Armaments and Economics	p. 179
Naval Warfare and Blockade	p. 199
The Politics of the Home Fronts	p. 215
Outcome
The Third Phase, Spring 1917-Autumn 1918	p. 243
The February Revolution and American Intervention, Spring 1917	p. 247
Towards Exhaustion, Summer-Autumn 1917	p. 263
The Central Powers' Last Throw, Autumn 1917-Summer 1918	p. 303
The Turn of the Tide, Summer-Autumn 1918	p. 343
Ceasefire	p. 379
Legacy
Peacemaking, 1919-1920	p. 409
Rebuilding, 1920-1929	p. 431
Demolition, 1929-1945	p. 457
Conclusion: The War Becomes History	p. 477
Bibliography	p. 489
Notes	p. 511
Index	p. 549
Table of Contents provided by Rittenhouse. All Rights Reserved.

Cataclysm

The First World War as Political Tragedy

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

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How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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