I watched several episodes of this series over the weekend. Was very good for me. I had never give WWI much thought. It has always been the prelude if you will to WWII and I had never delved into it much. After seeing this and taking time to think about the conditions and the monumentally stupid tactics, the fall of all the monarchs/empires makes way more sense now. It was interesting to see the birth of mobile warfare in the open.

Anyone have any recommendations for starting reading about the Great War?

First Day on The Somme by Martin Middlebrook.
Required reading!!

All I ever arrive at when thinking about WWI is utter sorrow. Such a completely futile, yet monumental waste of life.

I like John Keegan's history for overall. The American Heritage history is good and has lot's of pictures too.

For a drill down I like The Price of Glory by Horne on the Battle of Verdun, nasty stuff.

This is an ongoing series with a look back at the war week-by-week as it unfolded 100 years later narrated by Houstonian Indy Neidell. Really cool stuff. Tons and tons of episodes and still ongoing...

Intro:


Episode 1 1914:

Martin Gilbert's The First World War: A Complete History is also good overview of the entire war.

Quote:

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I like John Keegan's history for overall.

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I have Keegan's book & like it... but I give the edge to "A World Undone" because it has better illustrations, maps & reads a little easier. Can't go wrong either way though.

The Guns of August is a fantastic read on the lead up to and the first month of the War.

Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger should also be required reading. It's a German veteran's combat memoir

Apache said:

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WWI was at the root of damn near everything of consequence that happened in the 20th century.
IMO it doesn't get near the attention it deserves.

"A World Undone" and "The Guns of August" are two of my favorites.... there are many others.

I also recommend the Hardcore History podcast on the subject.... one of Carlin's better ones.

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yes. Exactly what he said. That should be everyone's basic starter pack for WW1.

Two other notable mentions that deal with events of the era, but off the beaten path of the western front, are Lawrence in Arabia and Nicholas & Alexandra

Apocalypse WWI is a phenomenal series I would recommend this series "The First World War" a 10 part documentary series all of it is on youtube

If you want a book to read I highly recommend Ernset Junger's "Storm of Steel" it is the diary of a officer who was a Stormtrooper and it really highlights German Infantry and later the star power of the Strormtroopers overall it is a great read.

Welp, got a surprise Amazon gift card so now have some presents on the way. Got a lot of reading to do. Out of all the suggestions here, the only one I have read is All Quiet.