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This guide has been written specifically for people with little or no prior knowledge of the First World War and will be an ideal introduction to what can be a very complicated and daunting subject.
Written in an engaging way, this is more like a chat down the pub rather than a heavy historical text, and with short, sharp chapters it is very easy to dive in and out without having to re-read the previous 5 pages in an effort to remember where you left off last time your were reading.
Despite this easy going nature this is not a flimsy piece of work. Made up of 53 chapters, all the major aspects of The First World War are covered. Including:
Pre-war strategies such as the German Schlieffen Plan
Why the First World War started
The early battles of Mons and The Marne
The race to the sea
The 1914 Christmas truce
Life in the WW1 trenches
Gas warfare
The war underground
Major 1915 battles such as Ypres, Loos, and Gallipoli
The roles of Canada and Australia/New Zealand in the war
World War One at sea
Verdun
The Battle of The Somme
The roles of Canada and Australian/New Zealand in the war
Tanks
Revolutions and Mutiny
Passchendaele
The Spring Offensive of 1918
How The First World War was finally won
Armistice and peace talks
For anyone looking for an entertaining and informative overview of The First World War, this Layman's Guide provides just enough detail to gain a good grounding of knowledge and understanding, without the reader becoming overwhelmed with detail and complexity.
Awesome, thanks….now if only they could do the same for Iraq & Afghanistan