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44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Brilliant Account of World War I, June 14, 2001
By A Customer
The first of three volumes by Hew Strachan of the University of Glasgow (and beginning in 2002 holder of the Chichele Chair of Modern History at Oxford University), this brilliant book, indicates that his trilogy, "The First World War," is going to be the definitive overall account of World War I for years to come. Recognizing a weakness in previous histories, Strachan has wisely chosen to emphasize comparative history, and he has drawn extensively on sources in German, French, and English to provide multiple perspectives on the war both at home and at the front. He also goes gives us full accounts not simply of the war in Europe but in Africa, the Pacific, and the Middle East, effectively including some topical chapters within an overall chronological framework. The thrust of "To Arms," the first volume, is a narrative of the origins and the early stages of the Great War. The book features superb descriptions of the diplomatic crises and intellectual justifications for war in 1914, an incisive analysis of Germany's global strategy, and vivid accounts of the early battles on land and sea. Additionally, Strachan provides topical chapters covering several years on the war in Africa and the Pacific, as well as thematic chapters on finance and industrial mobilization. With expert dexterity, Strachan maintains a balance between the large sweep of history and the views and actions of historical actors. The author never loses sight of what is important, and he uses dramatic vignettes and skillful analysis to highlight it. The book includes social and economic developments, but its emphasis is on political and military history, and that makes it rattling good reading. Despite the book's length (1,200 pages), Strachan's extensive research, up-to-date findings, incisive analysis, and lucid prose make reading it both edifying and enjoyable.
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43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
World War I - Comprehensively, July 6, 2001
.... ... This book is a must for any serious student of 20th Century history. Professor Strachan, who has headed the Glasgow University's Department of War Studies, has just been appointed to a prestigious chair at Oxford. Reading his latest book explains the appointment. It is a tour de force of information, and, of more importance to the student of this defining event for the 20th Century, an insightful and thorough analysis of the crucial events preceding and during the first year of the war. It is the first of three volumes and, although some sections deal with events after 1914, the first volume is focused on the causes and the beginnings of the conflict. A word of caution for prospective purchasers of this book: This is not a book for the casual reader of history, especially military history. Professor Strachan assumes a relatively sophisticated reader. Furthermore, his depth of descriptive detail and analysis might be much more extensive than a casual student of history would appreciate. If the reader is not familiar with military terms such as "staff ride," perhaps another summary of World War I would be more appropriate. The work is actually a comprehensive reference book on the entire subject of World War I. The section on the entry of Turkey into the war, could be a book in itself. Extensive treatment of the economic and social aspects of the war provides a broad backdrop for the military events. The military analysis is suburb and provocative. Just one of many examples: Strachan's explanation of the legendary "Schlieffen Plan" and the reality of its effect on the war put the simplistic common historical explanations into a more understandable perspective. A careful reader is given enough detailed information to be able to appreciate the realities of battlefield commanders and the enormous complexity of the interplay of thousands of events as they shape the ever-changing outcomes of a war with one front 400 miles long. As the British would say, Strachan "puts paid" to the simple explanation that the initial German offensive ended in the trench stalemate because Moltke weakened his right and failed to follow the Schlieffen Plan. Strachan carefully reviews all the facts and concludes that the salient event was the French victory on the Marne, which resulted from French willingness to maneuver. American readers will eagerly await Strachan's view of the U.S. entry and participation in the War. We can hope that some of this will be in Volume II.
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53 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good...But Not, June 27, 2002
Hew Strachan was commissioned to write this book to replace C. R. M. F. Cruttwell's 1934 A History of the Great War and it has been anxiously anticipated by scholars. Most reviewers have called it definitive, but this is difficult to claim with still two volumes to follow. Given that this book took 15 years to complete, it is doubtful that Strachan himself will ever complete the work. Nevertheless, this is a monumental achievement but flawed.
To Arms is an enormous achievement in scholarship. Strachan has utilized all the most recent resources as well as the older material in several different languages. The synthesis of this overwhelming and diverse amount of information into a coherent, pleasurable, and largely unbiased prose is perhaps Strachan's greatest achievement. Strachan covers the year 1914 including the events preceding the war, Anglo-German antagonisms, war plans for all the belligerents, Socialist parties in each country, leaders, and economies. The roles of the leaders, the maneuvers of the armies and navies, and the tangling alliances all receive ample treatment. The virtually unprecedented depth of treatment of the African theater is worth the purchase alone. Both the Eastern and Western Front are covered in some depth as far as the armies and generals are concerned. Strachan has also impressively managed to paint the war as a truly global war, and not just a European war. Japan and her war aims are expertly explained. Strachan manages to cover political, economic, social, and military issues while revealing the lack of planning and preparation for war, especially the war aims of the different countries.
There are weaknesses. The typographical errors are numerous enough to become irritating. Expect major revisions on the reissue. The maps that accompany the book have already been a chief criticism of most reviewers but I must state that they are simply useless. The importance of operations and command strategy are the chief focus while the individual trials of combat for the soldiers are absent, but these may be covered in the later volumes. Strachan also tends to skim over extremely important areas, giving passing treatment to the crucial battle of the Marne and its intricacies. Strachan prefers to explain it from the generals' points of view, and focuses on the cooperation problems with Sir John French and the BEF with Foch, Joffre, Lanrezac and other French generals. Factual errors are few. The only one I can remember is Hitler celebrating the coming war in Vienna when it was actually Munich
Despite these problems this book is deserving of the high praise it has received and a worthy read for any First World War scholar. Casual readers and those with only a marginal understanding of the First World War would do well to avoid this book. Strachan assumes a competent level of knowledge of the War from his readers and tends to skim things of standard knowledge
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