World War I: Part One

World War I, which lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918, was one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, and led to massive upheaval in international politics: new states were established and several empires fell. This book explores the beginnings of the war, including the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and the influence of fear on the sudden outbreak of fighting. In just 50 minutes, you will find out about the events which led to the outbreak of one of the bloodiest wars in history and understand its profound influence on international relations.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough discussion of the key moments leading to the outbreak of the war, including the confrontation in the Balkans and establishment of alliances between the Central Powers and the Triple Entente. It also features a full description of the first battles, a valuable introduction to the origins of the conflict and an evaluation of the stalemate, giving you all the essential information about the opening phase of the First World War.

About World War I

World War I was one of the largest wars in history, not to mention one of the most deadly as a result of recent technological advances. Poison gas was used as a weapon for the very first time and proved to be as deadly to civilians as it was to soldiers, since it was often blown away from the battlefield towards inhabited areas. Over nine million combatants and seven million civilians were killed over the course of the fighting, which lasted in total for four years, three months and two weeks. In addition, the war indirectly caused the outbreak of World War II. War memorials have since been erected in thousands of towns and villages.

This clear and accessible 74-page book is structured as follows:

• Introduction to World War I, 1914: the early stages
• The origins of the conflict
  • The continent of fear
  • Confrontation in the Balkans
  • The attack in Sarajevo and the march towards war
• The first battles
  • The war plans of the Central Powers
  • The war plans of the Triple Entente
  • Furor Teutonicus: Germany antagonises the rest of the world
  • The development of the Western Front until the Battle of the Marne
  • See-saw in the East
• Stalemate
• Summary