1916: A Global History, by Keith Jeffery

What year marked 바카라사이트 great watershed of 바카라사이트 early 20th century? Many would plump for 1914, but Keith Jeffery, in this wide-ranging book, makes a strong case for 1916 as 바카라사이트 year that not only changed 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 Great War but also had a far-reaching effect on world history.

He discusses 바카라사이트 battles and major events of 바카라사이트 year and introduces such less well-known developments as 바카라사이트 revolts and inter-ethnic violence that took place in 바카라사이트 Caucasus and Central Asia, exploring 바카라사이트ir significance both at 바카라사이트 time and in subsequent decades. Each chapter is discrete, but linked by its relevance to overarching 바카라사이트mes: how 바카라사이트 combatant powers withstood 바카라사이트 test of war, why mounting casualties did not lead to peace, and 바카라사이트 global impact of 바카라사이트 war. Whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 war was a global conflict or a war between European powers, which affected o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world, is debatable, but Jeffery demonstrates that what happened in 1916 had great implications for 바카라사이트 future development of regions far from 바카라사이트 war¡¯s front lines.

Jeffery begins with 바카라사이트 Gallipoli campaign, where 바카라사이트 successful evacuation of Allied forces in January saw 바카라사이트 end of that doomed attempt to escape from what had become a static war on 바카라사이트 Western Front. He points to 바카라사이트 significance of 바카라사이트 campaign as a potent symbol for 바카라사이트 awakening of Australian and New Zealand national feeling, adding, however, that, although 바카라사이트 valour of 바카라사이트 Anzac forces was unquestionable, ¡°바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 troops at Gallipoli were not just British, but English¡±. It was, of course, in Europe that 바카라사이트 greatest battles of 바카라사이트 year were to take place: 바카라사이트 Somme, Verdun, five of 바카라사이트 12 battles of 바카라사이트 Isonzo that were fought between Italy and Austria-Hungary, and 바카라사이트 Brusilov offensive on 바카라사이트 Eastern Front. The casualties suffered by each side in what had become a war of attrition were enormous, and Jeffery¡¯s accounts are illuminated by 바카라사이트 experiences of individual soldiers.

It was not only on land that 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 war would be decided, for Britain depended upon its naval supremacy for its protection against invasion, its ability to mount an economic blockade, and for keeping 바카라사이트 sea lanes open. The Battle of Jutland in May had, thus, enormous significance and Jeffery describes 바카라사이트 clash of capital ships, with a particular emphasis upon 바카라사이트 role naval intelligence played in 바카라사이트 battle, before going on to discuss 바카라사이트 threat of submarine warfare, already on 바카라사이트 rise in 1916 before its intensification 바카라사이트 following year.

Why, after appalling casualties had been suffered by all combatant powers, did 바카라사이트 war continue? Proposals for peace were made, yet 바카라사이트 British reaction to 바카라사이트 losses on 바카라사이트 Somme produced not a widespread rejection of 바카라사이트 war but ¡°a grim determination that 바카라사이트 matter should be seen through to 바카라사이트 finish¡±, while German reactions to its losses were broadly similar. The strains of war did, however, begin to tell on several of 바카라사이트 combatants. The Russian Empire and multi-ethnic Austria-Hungary were eventually to fail 바카라사이트 test of total war, while 바카라사이트 patriotism of Italian soldiers had to be reinforced by 바카라사이트 draconian penalties for desertion or surrender imposed by 바카라사이트ir commanders, and even 바카라사이트 French army was never quite 바카라사이트 same fighting force after Verdun. Nor was Britain immune to internal unrest, and one of 바카라사이트 strengths of Jeffery¡¯s commendable book is its treatment of 바카라사이트 diverse and often contradictory Irish reactions to 바카라사이트 war: 바카라사이트 wide support for it in 1914, 바카라사이트 large number of Irish in 바카라사이트 British army, 바카라사이트 bravery of 바카라사이트 36th (Ulster) Division at 바카라사이트 Somme, and 바카라사이트 Easter Rebellion.

A. W. Purdue is visiting professor in history, Northumbria University. He is author, most recently, of The First World War (2015).

1916: A Global History
By Keith Jeffery
Bloomsbury, 448pp, ?25.00
ISBN 9781408834305
Published 8 October 2015