Complete Idiot's Guide to World War I

9780028639024

0028639022

Understand the diplomacy and strategy behind "the war to end all wars." You're no idiot, of course. You know that World War I was "the Great War," and you're familiar with its images: muddy trenches, poison gas, and a no-man's-land of craters and barbed wire. But when it comes to understanding its causes, why it dragged on for four years, and how it set the stage for World War II, you're lost behind enemy lines. Don't wave the white flag just yet! The Complete Idiot's GuideR to World War I gives you a comprehensive overview of the first global war, from the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand to the Treaty of Versailles. In this Complete Idiot's GuideR, you get: * Broad coverage of the secret treaties and entangling alliances that led to war. * Comprehensive analysis of some of history's bloodiest battles, including the Somme, Tannenburg, Gallipoli, and Belleau Wood. * Expert commentary on the development of weapons such as the tank, the dreadnought battleship, poison gas, and the German U-boat. * Valuable insights into the war's influence on this century's political and cultural development. Explore the fascinating history of ... * Germany's "Schlieffen Plan" and France's "Plan XVII." * The introduction of the airplane and the tank to modern warfare. * The Battle of Jutland-still the biggest sea battle in history. * Petain's heroic "They shall not pass!" defense of Verdun. * The nightmarish realities of trench fighting. * The American forces that spurred the Allies to victory.