The Origins of the First World War

by Ruth Henig

First published in 2003. There is an enormous literature on the origins of the First World War and this pamphlet focuses on the major issues involved in the topic and assesses the validity of the different interpretations. Beginning with the legacy of Bismarck's diplomacy between 1871 and 1890, Ruth Henig surveys the roots of the conflict and outlines the assassination crisis which led to war in August 1914, looking especially at the factors which influenced individual countries to mobilize their armed forces. She goes on to consider how the long-term factors leading up to the crisis of 1914 and the crisis itself have been interpreted by successive generations of historians since 1919, including the recent arguments concerning German responsibility for the outbreak of war.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War I, Historical

Paperback

First published September 1, 1989

About the author

Ruth Beatrice Henig, Baroness Henig CBE, DL, was a British academic historian and Labour Party politician.

Reviews

[Negar · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very concise book on the origins of the first world war. I did not know anything about the first WW and I am glad I started with this book. It starts with the actions of Bismarck in 1871 and covers all the conflicts in Europe that resulted in the war declararions of European countries in Auguest 1914.

[Ada]

Teaching about a subject you never really enjoyed and finding out the textbook for students is boring as hell made me want to read a comprehensive overview leading up to this war.

Which worked out. The amount of stuff I had forgotten... 😳. But at least now I have a starting point to start looking for stuff my students will find interesting or at least can sorta relate to.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read for a class on World War I. Decent, but I would have preferred it to be longer.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great intro to WW1

[Bárbara Fiore · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 porque achei o final bem chatinho

[Lia Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

History hl moment

[Emilie]

This was such a general overview that I didn't learn anything. Mrożek really doesn't have great taste in books

[Andreas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a good quick read for anyone who wants to get an overview to the origins of the Great War. That is, as long as the reader is satisfied with the unquestioned telling of the allied view of events. Germany (bad, seeking world domination) forced a war for freedom of mankind onto the Triple Entente (good, preserver of liberty and civilization). To illustrate the author's point of view here is one of the last sentences of the book:
"There can be no doubt at all that German leaders were prepared for war in 1914 and exploited the crisis of June-July 1914 to bring it about".
Well, I guess we all know that it is never that easy and straightforward. Nonetheless, for anyone just looking to get the bigger picture of the events it is a good book, and for the beginner a good starting point for further studies.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lancaster pamphlets provide a concise and up-to-date analysis of major historical topics covered by the main A-level syllabuses and by intoductory courses in higher education. This one covers the origins of the First World War and it is certainly concise and comprehensive. The author looks at the roots of the conflict in European politics of the C19th, including Bismarck's diplomatic legacy, and then moves on to the situation in the years, months and weeks immediately before the outbreak of war.
I knew something about this topic, and like many people, I had seen the years before the war as a failure of diplomacy, particularly a failure of German diplomacy, as summarised by this Punch cartoon: http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get.... This is not an entirely false impression, but it is an over-simplification. Some mistakes or miscalculations were made, but it is difficult to see what else Germany could have done to keep itself, Russia and therefore France and Britain out of involvement in a Balkan war. (I had also underestimated the seriousness of the Balkan situation by my total ignorance of the May 1903 coup, which turned Serbia from a small country with nationalist ambitions into a rogue state.)
This short pamphlet covers the facts and the different opinions on various controversial aspects of the outbreak of conflict. The author does not give her own opinions, but she presents enough information to allow each individual reader to raise the debate and form their own (as a good course primer should). (Section 1 gives the facts; section 2 gives all sides of the debate.)

[Suzie Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a book but a pamphlet of just 54 pages. This is one of the best interpretations of the First World War. It explores the major issues leading up the conflict, beginning in 1871 and ending with the assassination of the Arch Duke Ferdinand and his wife in August 1914.

If you are a student or just want to get to grips with the factors that led to WWI, you won't get better than this.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very, very helpful - balanced arguments throughout and in depth explanation of the causes of WW1.

[Eleni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting addition to the events prior to and during 1914 of how historians have viewed the issue of blame for the events.

[Sikhandi Thiagarajah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great summary .. It helped a lot with my essay

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good, lots of things to learn about the great war!