The origins of the First World War : controversies and consensus

"The Origins of the First World War" is a concise introduction to one of the major historical controversies. This pamphlet: surveys the roots of the conflict; assesses the legacy of Bismarck's diplomacy; outlines the assassination crisis; focuses on influences affecting individual countries; and examines the historical debate. This edition includes a new introduction, a chronology of the key events and an update on the historical debate explaining the directions in which the historiography is heading. 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. "Opening with an overview of the events that led to the outbreak of war in 1914, followed by an analysis highlighting the debate during and immediately after the war, the author also covers: the reactions to the Treaty of Versailles, both in Europe and in the USA; the new consensus following the Second World War; and the challenges posed to that new orthodoxy by Fritz Fischer and his theses. Mombauer brings the story up to the present with current views of the significance and meaning of the origins of the First World War."--Jacket

This work provides concise introduction to one of the major historical controversies of our time. This third edition includes a new introduction, a chronology of the key events and an update on the historical debate explaining the directions in which the historiography is heading.

Alan Sharp

Ruth Henig has a thorough mastery of an extensive literature and the ability to make this daunting mass of scholarship accessible to students who need a rapid but reliable introduction to a major historical controversy.

Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Series Title......Page 3 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Contents......Page 9 Foreword......Page 11 Introduction to the third edition......Page 13 Acknowledgements......Page 16 Timeline of key events......Page 20 1 The origins of war......Page 22 2 The historical debate......Page 46 Annotated select bibliography......Page 66 Index......Page 69 A concise introduction to one of the major historical controversies, this pamphlet surveys the roots of WWI; assesses the legacy of Bismarck's diplomacy; outlines the assassination crisis; and examines the historical debate