The politics of diplomacy : Britain and France in the Balkans in the First World War

britain's Conduct During The First World War Was Based Upon International Coalitions, Particularly Her Partnership With France. This Drew Britain Into War Since French Defeat Would Fatally Upset The European Balance Of Power. The Allies' Relationship Was Often Stormy, But Britain's Primary Goal Was Its Preservation. Ironically, It Was An Operation Which Had Little Effect On The Outcome Of The War That Posed The Greatest Threat—the Salonica Campaign, Showing The Allies' Conduct At Its Worst. Here The Anglo-french Forces Achieved Little, But The Diversion Seriously Weakened The Armies On The Western Front. The Author Draws On Much Previously Unopened Archive Material Which Shows The Campaign As Central To The War-time Alliance. The Issues Revealed Far Transcend The Importance Of The Balkan Campaign Itself. "Britain's conduct for World War I was based upon international coalitions, paritcularly her partnership with France. This drew Britain into war, since French defeat would fatally upset the European balance of power. The allies' relationship was, however, often stormy, but Britain's primary goal was its preservation. Ironically, it was an operation which had little effect on the outcome of the war that posed the greatest threat - the "Salonika campaign", showing the allies' conduct at its worst. Here the Anglo-French sources achived little, but the diversion seriously weakened the armies on the Western Front. Drawing on previously unopened archive material, this work shows the campaign as central to the war-time alliance, and the issues revealed transcend the importance of the Balkan campaign itself."--Bloomsbury Publishing Britain's conduct for World War I was based upon international coalitions, particularly her partnership with France, and her primary goal was its preservation. Drawing on archive material, this work shows how the "Salonika campaign" seriously threatened this relationship. Drawing on previously unopened archive material, this book examines the Salonika Campaign, an Anglo-French operation in WW1. The campaign had little effect on the outcome of the war, but highlighted serious differences between Britain and France The uncertain alliance; the origins of the campaign; the pattern set; soldiers and statesmen; generals and politicians; the troubled year; underlying motives; the end of the campaign. Appendix: chronology of the Balkan campaign