The First World War

Though innumerable works have been written in English about the First World War, most cover the conflict from the perspective of Britain or the Allies. Holger Herwig’s book differs in this respect by focusing on the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary and describing the war they waged. Drawing upon previously unavailable archival collections, he describes the two partners and their alliance, one that faced long odds in the conflict against the numerically superior Entente. Enmeshed in a war of attrition, the two powers tapped their economic and social resources to their limits in order to sustain their campaigns, an effort that ultimately led to the collapse of their war effort. It is Herwig’s description of this effort and how it shaped the war which makes this book rewarding reading for any student of the conflict.