World War I

A century of material progress and growing prosperity led the nations of Western Europe to believe that they were in the vanguard of a new and peaceful world order. But their economic rivalries, backed by growing military establishments, finally degenerated to an extreme level of barbarity. World War I rocked the political balance of Europe, interrupted its economic growth, and decimated a generation of its youth. It began the disintegration of the colonial system that had seemed so permanent in 1914 and launched communism as a world force. World War I, Revised Edition provides a concise, highly readable portrait of this great conflict, with an emphasis on the critical role played by the United States. A new chapter added to this edition includes the military innovations in tactics and weaponry, giving readers a complete picture of the "War to End All Wars."