The arming of Europe and the making of the First World War

Viac o knihe

David Herrmann's study offers a comprehensive analysis of how land-based military power shaped international relations leading up to the First World War. Unlike previous works that focus on the naval arms race, Herrmann utilizes extensive documentary research from military and state archives across Germany, France, Austria, England, and Italy to reveal the previously overlooked impact of changes in European army strength during this era. His research contributes to the understanding of the war's causes and details how European armies integrated new twentieth-century weaponry, such as quick-firing artillery, machine guns, motor transport, and aircraft, in the decade before 1914. The narrative spans from the onset of international crises in 1904 to the war's outbreak, highlighting shifts in military power that explain why conflict erupted in 1914 rather than at an earlier time. Following its defeat by Japan in 1905, Russia struggled to engage in a European war, but by 1912, as it regained military capacity, an unprecedented land-armaments race commenced. This competitive military atmosphere during the July crisis of 1914 significantly increased the likelihood of war compared to a decade earlier.