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Books > History > World history > From 1900 > First World War
This book shows the strong influence of judgements made of Wilson
by the British diplomatists during the early years of his national
prominence (1912-1914) on the way the British dealt with Wilson at
the Paris Peace Conference. It also shows the strong effect which
practitioners of the so-called "Old Diplomacy" had on Lloyd George
on this key issue of wartime and peace diplomacy. It shows that the
British diplomatists viewed Wilson as a very successful American
politician, but not as a prophet, or saviour. The religious imagery
used by certain historians and more junior British diplomats, such
as Harold Nicolson and John Maynard Keynes does not reflect the
views of their more senior colleagues.
This book contributes to the global turn in First World War studies
by exploring Australians' engagements with the conflict across
varied boundaries and by situating Australian voices and
perspectives within broader, more complex contexts. This diverse
and multifaceted collection includes chapters on the composition
and contribution of the Australian Imperial Force, the experiences
of prisoners of war, nurses and Red Cross workers, the resonances
of overseas events for Australians at home, and the cultural
legacies of the war through remembrance and representation. The
local-global framework provides a fresh lens through which to view
Australian connections with the Great War, demonstrating that there
is still much to be said about this cataclysmic event in modern
history.
The Shelf2Life WWI Memoirs Collection is an engaging set of
pre-1923 materials that describe life during the Great War through
memoirs, letters and diaries. Poignant personal narratives from
soldiers, doctors and nurses on the front lines to munitions
workers and land girls on the home front, offer invaluable insight
into the sacrifices men and women made for their country.
Photographs and illustrations intensify stories of struggle and
survival from the trenches, hospitals, prison camps and
battlefields. The WWI Memoirs Collection captures the pride and
fear of the war as experienced by combatants and non-combatants
alike and provides historians, researchers and students extensive
perspective on individual emotional responses to the war.
A highland regiment at war in the East
When this book was originally published both the regiment and
author remained anonymous. Today we know it concerns the wartime
experiences of the 2nd Battalion, The Black Watch and that its
author-an officer of the regiment-was Blampied. To make the book
more relevant to modern readers references to the regiment,
division etc. have been inserted into this edition. The war in
Mesopotamia-known as Iraq since the 6th century-against the Ottoman
Turkish empire was very different to the experience of the Western
Front, but the fighting could be no less fierce and in one of its
earliest engagements the regiment suffered terribly, providing yet
another example of how the Great War destroyed 'family' regiments
in minutes.
This book provides an excellent insight into a highland regiment at
war and is particularly interesting since the theatre of operations
is familiar as the same one as the most recent conflict in the
region.
With the Middlesex Regiment against the Bolsheviks 1918-19
This unusual book from the First World War period. It tells of the
attempts of the British-in company with European and American
allies and the Japanese-to stem the red tide of Bolshevism in
Russia by providing military aid to the White Russian forces. These
are the experiences of the men of Middlesex
Regiment-'B-oners'-already worn out in other theatres of war and
hoping their days of campaigning were about to be over-as they rose
to an extraordinary challenge in the harshest of environments in
the Siberian winter. This is a fascinating book for those
interested in the sideshows of the Great War in which the typically
stolid 'Tommy' served-here portrayed in the most affectionate terms
by the author-who was also their Colonel. It is also a vital work
for those interested in the Russian Revolution, the Civil War and
the policies and attitudes of the involved nations as they created
the conditions for another World War and helped establish the
international balance of power for three quarters of a century.
The London Rifles in the Trenches
The London Rifle Brigade was one of the famous territorial
regiments that saw service during the Great War. This book-for the
sake of good value-brings together two accounts of its service on
the Western Front. The first is a short history written by an
anonymous author that briefly, with the aid of photographs and
maps, outlines the activities of the regiment during its time in
Europe; the reader can therefore follow the Rifles battalions
through the war in detail. The second title in this volume is
Gilbert Nobb's 'On the Right of the British Line.' Nobbs was an
officer of the regiment and saw much active service before being
seriously wounded. His first hand account adds the immediacy of
personal experiences in the trenches and under fire to the
accompanying history. Available in softcover and hardback with dust
jacket for collectors.
Lord D'Abernon was the first British ambassador to Berlin after the First World War. This study, which challenges his positive historical reputation, assesses all the key aspects of Anglo-German relations in the early 1920s. Particular attention is paid to the reparations question and to issues of international security. Other topics include D'Abernon's relationship with the principal British and German politicians of the period and his attitude towards American involvement in European diplomacy.
" ... the student of the Great War and gender is well served, and
Braybon's introduction provides an excellent overview of the
various historiographical themes, whilst her footnotes provide a
useful guide to further reading."? - History "Readers will not be
disappointed by this scholarly, yet accessible, collection of
essays."? - Centre for First World War Studies In the
English-speaking world the Great War maintains a tenacious grip on
the public imagination, and also continues to draw historians to an
event which has been interpreted variously as a symbol of
modernity, the midwife to the twentieth century and an agent of
social change. Although much 'common knowledge' about the war and
its aftermath has included myth, simplification and generalisation,
this has often been accepted uncritically by popular and academic
writers alike. While Britain may have suffered a surfeit of war
books, many telling much the same story, there is far less written
about the impact of the Great War in other combatant nations. Its
history was long suppressed in both fascist Italy and the communist
Soviet Union: only recently have historians of Russia begun to
examine a conflict which killed, maimed and displaced so many
millions. Even in France and Germany the experience of 1914-18 has
often been overshadowed by the Second World War. The war's social
history is now ripe for reassessment and revision. The essays in
this volume incorporate a European perspective, engage with the
historiography of the war, and consider how the primary textural,
oral and pictorial evidence has been used - or abused. Subjects
include the politics of shellshock, the impact of war on women, the
plight of refugees, food distribution in Berlin and portrait
photography, all of which illuminate key debates in war history.
Gail Braybon is an independent historian. She is the author of
Women Workers in the First World War and also wrote, with Penny
Summerfield, Out of the Cage: Women's Experiences in Two World
Wars.
Experiences of the momentous fleet battle of the Great War at sea
The narratives of the fighting at Jutland which are collected in
this book were all written by officers or men who were present at
the battle, and they are, therefore, first-hand evidence of the
detailed events of the fighting. The book is not a criticism; it is
a record of personal experiences. One has often felt that a great
gap would be filled in the histories of old-time naval battles if
one could read true stories of all the hundred and one personal
incidents of the fighting that must have occurred in the days of
old. Imagine the adventure that could be contained in a book truly
describing the fighting incidents of Trafalgar What an insight it
would give us into the character and courage of the men who served
Nelson. So this book of the Fighting at Jutland is an endeavour to
fill a like gap for the one fleet action of the War of 1914-18.
(From the Introduction) This book benefits from the inclusion a
useful supporting narrative of the action in detail and at large to
give the experiences of the individual authors context and to
clarify their role in the wider conflict, as well as numerous
photographs, illustrations, maps and diagrams demonstrating the
manoeuvring of vessels. Available in softcover and hardcover with
dustjacket.
During World War One, the Ottoman Empire, one of the largest and
longest-lasting empires in history, faced severe challenges to its
structure and existence, which eventually resulted in its
dissolution. "Among The Ottomans" introduces two unique diary
accounts written by two generations of the same family in the
declining years of the Ottoman Empire. Written in the heart of the
crumbling Ottoman Empire, Marie Lyster's World War One diaries
describe the political and social climate of Constantinople as
Allied troops swept through Turkey, wreaking havoc on the country's
infrastructure and forcing residents, regardless of their national
affiliations, to endure the hardships of war. Just 200 miles away
in the Dardanelles, her son Henry was fighting with the Allies
against the Turks. Following the Allied retreat in 1915, he was
posted to Salonika in northern Greece, where he worked with the
'Comitajis' as they fought the Bulgarians. Later, as the Military
Governor of Eastern Thrace, he witnessed the rise of Turkish
Nationalism and the struggle for control of the fragmented pieces
of the fallen empire. Published for the first time, these two
diaries provide an unprecedented account of the Great War's impact
across generations and geographical borders and a unique insight
into the final years of the Ottoman Empire.
The British cultural history of the Gallipoli campaign has been
overlooked until now - this is a significant book as it offers the
first real opportunity for this important campaign to be included
in undergraduate courses on WWI. The commemoration of war is a
particularly vibrant area of study - Anzac Day, commemorating the
landings that began the Gallipoli campaign, is central to
Australian national consciousness and this book examines why. A
crucial argument in the cultural history of the First World War was
sparked by Paul Fussell's contention that the war signified a
profound cultural rupture; in widening the debate from the Western
Front, this book supports the counter argument that romantic modes
of expression retained resonance and utility. In Australia, the
renewal of the story of Gallipoli by historians and film-makers
(notably Peter Weir's 1981 film starring Mel Gibson) has profoundly
altered the national sense of identity and society's perceptions of
the armed forces; the authors explains how the writing of this
particular event has developed and achieved this central position.
An essential volume for those interested in British military and
Australian history, postcolonialism and nation building, from
academics and students through to the general reader. -- .
A collection of Rudyard Kipling's articles describing the French
Frontline during the First World War. Published to coincide with
the 150th anniversary of Rudyard Kipling's birth.
In the English-speaking world the Great War maintains a tenacious
grip on the public imagination, and also continues to draw
historians to an event which has been interpreted variously as a
symbol of modernity, the midwife to the twentieth century and an
agent of social change. Although much 'common knowledge' about the
war and its aftermath has included myth, simplification and
generalisation, this has often been accepted uncritically by
popular and academic writers alike. While Britain may have suffered
a surfeit of war books, many telling much the same story, there is
far less written about the impact of the Great War in other
combatant nations. Its history was long suppressed in both fascist
Italy and the communist Soviet Union: only recently have historians
of Russia begun to examine a conflict which killed, maimed and
displaced so many millions. Even in France and Germany the
experience of 1914-18 has often been overshadowed by the Second
World War. The war's social history is now ripe for reassessment
and revision. The essays in this volume incorporate a European
perspective, engage with the historiography of the war, and
consider how the primary textural, oral and pictorial evidence has
been used - or abused. Subjects include the politics of shellshock,
the impact of war on women, the plight of refugees, food
distribution in Berlin and portrait photography, all of which
illuminate key debates in war history.
In this extraordinary study of the complex relationship between war, gender, and citizenship in Great Britain during World War I, Nicoletta F. Gullace shows how the assault on civilian masculinity led directly to women’s suffrage. Through recruiting activities such as handing out white feathers to reputed “cowards” and offering petticoats to unenlisted “shirkers,” female war enthusiasts drew national attention to the fact that manhood alone was an inadequate marker of civic responsibility. Proclaiming women’s exemplary service to the nation, feminist organizations tapped into a public culture that celebrated military service while denigrating those who opposed the war. Drawing on a vast range of popular and official sources, Gullace reveals that the war had revolutionary implications for women who wished to vote and for men who were expected to fight.
Many World War II exploits took place away from the spotlight.
Raymond Miller brings his gift to the story of Service and Duty.
How he chose to leave Purdue University, ROTC, a basketball team
and parents behind to help bring a dictator to heel as co-pilot of
a B-17G Flying Fortress Bomber. On Raymond's second combat mission
he nearly lost his life from a piece of shrapnel to the throat and
shattered breast bone. After surgery and rehab he resumed to
co-pilot twenty more combat missions encountering the best the
Germans could throw against them. They'd leave out to fly a mission
over hostile territory not knowing when they might be hit or
knowing if they would return. There were flights where the crews
gulp to alleviate fear, for they felt there were no havens of
security in an Allied victory that at times seemed importable.
Raymond Miller feels honored to have been able to serve his
country. Raymond's story gives a compelling glimpse of three
brothers' value that characterized their early years and their
United States Army Air Corps years of dedication. Raymond says, "I
feel blessed for God has been good to me.
The women of the Red Cross at war
The author of this book, Violetta Thurston was a trained Red Cross
volunteer senior administrator and nurse sent to Belgium by the
organisation in the early days of the First World War in charge of
a party of British nurses expecting to assist wounded British
soldiers. Instead, they arrived to find the country on the brink of
collapse and the roads around the capital clogged with refugees
fleeing the combat zone. They had just arrived in Brussels when the
German Army marched in, ostensibly passing through, but in reality
establishing its presence and becoming their first patients. Soon,
and to her relief, Violetta moved to a hospital at Charleroi
nursing the wounded irrespective of nationality. After a return to
Brussels she was sent to Copenhagen in Denmark and then to the
eastern front and the Red Cross operations in Warsaw, Poland before
moving on towards Lodz-which was at that time under bombardment
with the so called Red Cross 'Flying Column.' Working among Russian
troops on the front lines Violetta and her team from the 'flying
Column' moved into the trenches at Radzivlow where they undertook
their difficult and humane work in close proximity to the German
line and under constant firing. This book gives readers an insight
into the work of the members of the Red Cross during the Great War
and illustrates the work that brave women undertook in most trying
and dangerous conditions.
Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each
title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our
hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their
spines and fabric head and tail bands.
Indian Army lances in the high passes
The author of this book, an officer in an Indian Army cavalry
regiment, went to war in Europe at the outbreak of hostilities.
Soon he found himself returning to the Sub-Continent and a posting
far beyond the North-West Frontier to neutral Persia-now modern day
Iran-to serve with the 'East Persian Cordon'. Its purpose was to
prevent the infiltration of German and Turkish agents-a threat all
too real-intent on destabilising British interests in Afghanistan.
It was a region also plagued by raiding Mohammedan tribesmen and
the author had barely arrived at his command before he and his
squadron of lancers were all but cut to pieces in an ambush. The
Russian Revolution then erupted changing the balance of power in
the region. Bolshevik forces were soon gathering on the frontier
and James found his mission extended to include the new allies in
the form of the White Russian forces and new enemies, as the
British government joined the battle against Communism. This is a
very unusual account of the First World War that is virtually never
reported in most accounts.
Attack
by Edward G. D. Liveing
One Young Man
by John Ernest Hodder-Williams
Two immediate accounts of the Battle of the Somme
The attack on the fortified village of Gommecourt took place on
July 1st 1916 and was an essential component of the first great
allied attack of the Battle of the Somme. This is not a book of
great strategy, but of the very personal experience of war as lived
by ordinary men. Here two accounts have been brought together, both
for the sake of value and by virtue of their comparatively short
lengths, because they may have not been published independently.
The first account is by the commander of No.5 Platoon of a
battalion of the County of London Regiment. It takes the reader
through the preparations for and the actual undertaking and
aftermath of the attack in graphic detail. The work is an
invaluable detailed record of a platoon action on the Somme, but
also one of the most riveting pieces of Western Front infantry
action first hand experience available. The second piece-written in
the form of letters-reveals the march to war of an ordinary young
man until he became a veteran infantryman. The action centres once
again on the Somme in the Gommecourt sector.
Why did millions of men agree to fight the most horrific war in
history? And go on doing it, in many cases, for years? The question
of consent is one of the many issues of the Great War that still
haunt us today.
The soldiers of 1914-1918 created a large body of newspapers and
magazines by, for and about themselves. Often misleadingly called
'trench journals', these rich archival sources have received
surprisingly little sustained scholarly attention. Through the
first comprehensive investigation and analysis of the English
language trench periodicals of the war - British, Canadian,
Australia, New Zealand and American - The Soldiers' Press presents
a cultural interpretation of the means and methods through which
consent was negotiated between the trenches and the home front.
The few existing book-length studies tend to use trench newspapers
as sources of information to answer historical questions. The
Soldiers' Press treats soldier journalism on its own terms and
provides a new answer to one lasting conundrum of World War I.
Through a detailed examination of newspaper coverage from 1899-1914, this book seeks to understand the vicarious experience of warfare held by Edwardians at the outset of the First World War. The attitudes towards and perceptions of war held by those who participated in it or encouraged others to do so, are crucial to our understanding of the origins of the First World War. Taking into account media history, cultural studies, and military history, the author argues that the press depicted war as distant and safe; beneficial and desirable and even as some kind of sport or game.
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