Was the outcome of World War I on a tightrope? In this significant new review of German politics and strategy during the war, Holger Afflerbach argues that the outcome of the war was actually in balance until relatively late. Using new evidence from diaries, letters, and memories, he fundamentally overturns our understanding of German strategy from the decision to start the war to the failure of the western offensive, the radicalization of the German war effort under Hindenburg and Ludendorff, and the final collapse of the Central Powers. He reveals the struggles in Germany during the war between peace advocates and hardliners who wanted to fight to the end. He argues that Germany was not as committed to total conquest as previous assessments suggest. Many German peace proposals could have offered the opportunity to end the war before plunging Europe into the abyss.

Pages: 566, Dimensions: 16x16cm