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Imperial Germany and the Great War, 1914-1918
Unlike other existing surveys, this book explores the comprehensive impact of the First World War on Imperial Germany by offering a rich portrait of life on the home front: the pervasive effects of 'total war' on wealthy and poor, men and women, young and old, farmers and city-dwellers, Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. Now appearing in a second edition, this accessible book reflects important new scholarship in the field and boasts an expanded and revised bibliography. It is essential reading for all students of German and European history, war and society. First Edition Hb (1998): 0-521-56148-5 First Edition Pb (1998): 0-521-56754-8
248 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 14, 2018
While it cannot disguise its nature as a graduate textbook, this concise yet comprehensive look at the German experience of WWI is surprisingly engaging. It's like a Hohenzollern-cetric little brother to Holger H. Gerwig's updated classic on the Austro-German alliance or the capital-focused centennial masterpiece Ring of Steel , with more socio-economics thrown in to balance the Western Front with the Home Front.
Reading about the turnip winter will, as it is wont to, make you crave fresh vegetables with a lean cut of meat.
Ring Of Steel: Germany and Austria-Hungary in World War I by Alexander Watson
First World War: Germany and Austria-Hungary 1914-1918 by Holger H. Herwig
Reading about the turnip winter will, as it is wont to, make you crave fresh vegetables with a lean cut of meat.
Ring Of Steel: Germany and Austria-Hungary in World War I by Alexander Watson
First World War: Germany and Austria-Hungary 1914-1918 by Holger H. Herwig
August 4, 2019
Imperial Germany and the Great War, 1914-1918 provides a great insight into a nation/empire/society at war. Chickering discusses many aspects of Germany's war and home fronts including military leadership, offensive plans, gender, labor, business, economics, generational gaps, war industries, inflation, etc.
It appears that during the Great War, Germany began with enthusiasm but foundered in discontent not only at the home front but also in the ranks of the military. One of Chickering's larger themes is how the changes of Germany were born out of war. For instance, Ludendorff used his ascendancy to take over the reigns of political concerns and ultimately gave up these powers to opposing interest groups and other entities in order to preserve the old order of governmental structure at the end of the war. The Great War also provided an interesting role in the empowerment of labor unions including their right to collective bargaining. Other democratic initiatives were won out of the wartime discourse and subsequent patriotic/paramilitary groups would use the bitterness of World War I in an effort to gain momentum going into the next decades.
The one thing that would have been interesting to cover more would have been how the Treaty of Versailles affected Germany. But Chickering addresses this in his conclusion by rightfully acknowledging this topic would have required another (larger) book.
Those interested in World War I, German history, history of war economies and societies, and those interested in wartime culture should give this book a try. Since it is very well written and not too high brow it is very accessible to the armchair historian along with the seasoned professional.
It appears that during the Great War, Germany began with enthusiasm but foundered in discontent not only at the home front but also in the ranks of the military. One of Chickering's larger themes is how the changes of Germany were born out of war. For instance, Ludendorff used his ascendancy to take over the reigns of political concerns and ultimately gave up these powers to opposing interest groups and other entities in order to preserve the old order of governmental structure at the end of the war. The Great War also provided an interesting role in the empowerment of labor unions including their right to collective bargaining. Other democratic initiatives were won out of the wartime discourse and subsequent patriotic/paramilitary groups would use the bitterness of World War I in an effort to gain momentum going into the next decades.
The one thing that would have been interesting to cover more would have been how the Treaty of Versailles affected Germany. But Chickering addresses this in his conclusion by rightfully acknowledging this topic would have required another (larger) book.
Those interested in World War I, German history, history of war economies and societies, and those interested in wartime culture should give this book a try. Since it is very well written and not too high brow it is very accessible to the armchair historian along with the seasoned professional.
November 12, 2023
Interesting textbook about Germany during WWI, will definitely read this again when I don't have to do school.
February 27, 2020
A dense account of the First World War from the perspective of Imperialist Germany. More specifically, it centers on life on the home front and how civilians and soldiers alike were affected by the ubiquitous concept of “total war.”
Want to read
August 28, 2019good introduction to the politics and social history of Germany in WWI
Managed to get through most of Chickering on the way back in the Eurostar. Interesting to see that the Social Democrats implicated themselves fully with the autocratic rulers, so that by 1917 the left wing (later the Communists) broke away. The strike movement against the war (and for social change) therefore occurred outside the control of the SPD and the labour unions. Which is something to bear in mind for the game. The SPD can choose to break away from the Burgfriede and put itself at the head of the antiwar movement.
Managed to get through most of Chickering on the way back in the Eurostar. Interesting to see that the Social Democrats implicated themselves fully with the autocratic rulers, so that by 1917 the left wing (later the Communists) broke away. The strike movement against the war (and for social change) therefore occurred outside the control of the SPD and the labour unions. Which is something to bear in mind for the game. The SPD can choose to break away from the Burgfriede and put itself at the head of the antiwar movement.
February 19, 2016
This book was unremittingly boring! Perhaps it is the fact that all of this is a retelling of information already covered by other scholars. Perhaps it is the avalanche of detail the author includes with his skimpy analysis. Or perhaps it is the author's obvious attempt to appeal to an academic audience. Whatever the factors are, the book is dull beyond words. While it may serve to illuminate some things for readers not already familiar with the scholarship on World War I, there is nothing new here for the rest of us.
October 26, 2008
A very good study of the origins (and course) of WWI -- synthetic
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews