Cataclysm: The First World War as Political TragedyDavid 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. |
Contents
The Destruction of Peace | 3 |
The Failure of the War of Movement | 37 |
OUTCOME | 38 |
ESCALATION | 78 |
The Widening of the War | 87 |
War Aims and Peace Negotiations | 103 |
Strategy | 123 |
Technology Logistics and Tactics | 145 |
The Third Phase Spring 1917Autumn 1918 | 243 |
Towards Exhaustion SummerAutumn 1917 | 263 |
The Central Powers Last Throw | 303 |
The Turn of the Tide SummerAutumn 1918 | 343 |
Ceasefire | 379 |
LEGACY | 409 |
Rebuilding 19201929 | 431 |
Demolition 19291945 | 457 |
Manpower and Morale | 161 |
Armaments and Economics | 179 |
Naval Warfare and Blockade | 199 |
The Politics of the Home Fronts | 215 |
The War Becomes History | 477 |
489 | |
549 | |
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Common terms and phrases
aims Allies Alsace-Lorraine American armistice arms army artillery assault attack August Austria-Hungary Austrian Balkan battle battlecruisers became Belgium Berlin Bethmann blockade Bolsheviks bombardment Britain British cabinet campaign casualties cent Central Powers Chemin des Dames civilian command conflict conscription crisis cruiser decision defeat defence despite divisions east Eastern economic enemy Europe European Falkenhayn favour fighting Fleet forces France French German Germany’s guns Habsburg Haig ibid Imperial industrial infantry Italian Italy Joffre July labour later leaders less Lloyd George London Ludendorff machine-guns March Marne military million minister mobilization Moltke munitions naval navy negotiations neutral November numbers October offensive officers operations Ottoman Paris peace Pétain Petrograd Poland political railway remained revolution Romania Russian September Serbia shells ships soldiers Somme South Slavs Stavka strategy submarine tactics territory tion took treaty troops Turkish Turks U-boats Verdun victory warfare Western Front Wilhelm Wilson World Ypres