Dan Carlin's "Blueprint for Armageddon" series of his Hardcore History podcast is phenomenal and his best work IMO. Every year of the war he paints a vivid picture of the scale and the horror, like his description of drumfire -- artillery shells that arrived to the front by the trainload and fell at a rate faster than a drum roll. Every year of the war I thought to myself "this is the most horrific thing soldiers must've experienced" and every year it got worse.
I wish to offer as an honorable mention (and especially for those of us with younger children) the excellent and heavy-on-the-visuals Dorling Kindersley "DK Eyewitness World War I" which just released a new edition last month (December 2023 so pass on the 2014 edition) which my 13-year-old son really wanted and received for Christmas.
If you're interested in the naval scene, there are two books by Robert K Massie, the first being Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War. Its a good book on the development of the British and German navies and the naval arms race. The second book is Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea. That one covers naval strategy and combat. It has a larger focus on the British and German navies.
Just a disclaimer about Dreadnought. It is less a description of the buildup of the two major navies in competition with each other during the Great War but instead a political outlook of Great Britain and the German Empire in the twenty years preceeding it.
"Intimate Voices" by Svetlana Palmer & Sarah Wallis. It is a collection of diary entries and covers all aspects/fronts of The Great War. They also have a 2nd book; "A War in Words".
Please read “Africa’s World War” by Gerard Prunier! Absolutely incredible work of history on a conflict that’s almost completely unknown in the West. I’m a historian of the African Great Lakes Region, that book is the most accessible and informative source there is! Thank you for everything you do!
Book: Armenia ,Australia and the Great War by Vicken Babkenian and Peter Stanley. -talks about the Amernian genocide on 24th April 1915,the day before the Gallipoli campagin,and what Australian soliders witnessed and what the humanitarin aid Australian provided the Armenians. *Reverend James Creswell(Australisan Oprhanage) *Aram Okosdionossian(Armenian interpter in ANZAC headquarters in Gallipoli and evacuation 1915-16 *Near East Relief *Australisan Armenian Relief Fund 1922-23. highly recommended for ANZAC history. ❤ VTH.
Peter Stanley is an excellent Australian historian who has tirelessly advocated for accurate depictions of the everyday Australian soldier. He is also not afraid to buck jingoistic "Anzackery". The challenge Chris may face with Australia in the Great War is the sheer volume of myth and romanticism that ex journalists who are great writers but poor historians have propogated regarding the 1st AIF. Far more people know who Peter Fitzgibbon or Les Carylon are/were than who Peter Stanley and Jeff Grey are/were.
Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger and Under Fire by Henri Barbusse are two fantastic biographical novels depicting life as a soldier in the trenches. Both lived and fought through the entire 4 years of the conflict. Fascinating, harrowing and highly recommended for those interested by the Great War.
Glad to see book recommendations. I've been hoping to see something like this for a while. One thing I'm interested in is the air war in WW1. Do you have any particular recommendations for that?
Birdsong, by Sebastian Faulks, published 1993. It's an absolute gem, although fiction. Here, let me quote WikiP: -------- The plot follows two main characters living at different times: the first is Stephen Wraysford, a British soldier on the front line in Amiens during the First World War, and the second is his granddaughter, Elizabeth Benson, whose 1970s plotline follows her attempts to recover an understanding of Stephen's experience of the war. ------------ Believe me, you won't forget it.
Not sure if you've seen them but the History Underground did two videos at the site of the siege. ua-cam.com/video/HKZIyE2loAE/v-deo.htmlsi=1JqkV9kUctbPEngf
@@StoriesoftheGreatWar Love WWI. I find it more complex, less black and white than WWII. I love new takes/views on them. I have seen those videos. And also the Great War's tour of Przemyśl. I find the Eastern Front so much more interesting than the stale, monotonous Western. Have been to Poland numerous times, but have yet to go to Przemyśl. Maybe on my next trip, and, considering its location, maybe in a more stable geopolitical situation
In the Italian front I can recommend The White War by Mark Thompson, Isonzo by John Schindler, and The Italian Army and the First World War by John Gooch.
Mark Thompson's "The White War:Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915 - 1919," is a very good book on the Italian Front (obviously), focusing on the Italian perspective and experience.
I can also recommend several books on Austria-Hungary in WWI. The Ring of Steel by Alexander Watson is a history of the German-Habsburg alliance in WWI and Watson has also written a campaign history of the sieges of Przemysl called The Fortress. Fall of the Double Eagle by John Schindler is an excellent history of the Austria-Hungary’s disastrous campaigns in Galicia and Serbia in 1914, although it has the big problem of lacking any maps. The Habsburg Monarchy 1815-1918 by Steven Beller and The Habsburg Empire by Pieter M. Judson are good, concise books that can give a broader historical background on Austria-Hungary before and during the Great War.
Im not entirely sure if the Gallipoli rememberance ceremony is back now that Covid has backed off, but it'd be amazing to attend one or just visit the peninsula in general. Here in New Zealand, we all leave high school having a quite broad knowledge of the campaign. I think it would be a great experience visiting the original landing beaches, the memorials on the heights and many of the original trench lines have been repaired very well. There are many ANZACS and Turks resting there side by side, which shows how close the opposing trenches typically were.
“Winter Soldier” It’s fiction but focuses on a medical student who finds himself in charge of a field hospital. So well written you can almost smell the gangrene. Dives into “shell shock” victims as well. I appreciate that it wasn’t about the fighting but caring for the casualties. If anyone with extensive knowledge reads it I would love to know that was accurate or not.
The works by Gary Sheffield and John Terraine on Sir Douglas Haig are essential. Give clear context and understanding to a hugely important and much maligned figure of the war
Thank you for the recommendations. A World Undone is the only book I’ve read on the conflict and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As far as reading up on particular events within the wider conflict, do you think The Guns of August is still worth checking out?
I am always fascinated with the East African campaign of WW1, in particular with von Lettow-Vorbeck. Extremely well respected not only by his German soldiers, he had immense respect from the local African soldiers under his command, which he reciprocated. There’s also a great story about him after the war. In the 1930s he was asked by Hitler to become ambassador to the UK. According to a reporter who asked a staffer who was there: Reporter: “I understand that von Lettow-Vorbeck told Hitler to go f*** himself.” Staffer: “That’s right, but I don’t recall him putting it that politely.” 😂
World War 1 book? I think Undone might be great, I watch many of your videos and learn much about Napoleon and its wars. Napoleon Bonaparte more like Napoleon blown apart.
It's very dry and full of various kinds of lists and tables. It's not a narrative type book, more like a research paper. However, I enjoyed it for what it is.
So long as you understand that Zinn does not try to be an objective recorder of history. He absolutely has a bias and admits it in the beginning of the book. However, it’s still worth it to read someone with that 60’s era liberal bent the same as it is to read Churchill.
Dan Carlin's "Blueprint for Armageddon" series of his Hardcore History podcast is phenomenal and his best work IMO. Every year of the war he paints a vivid picture of the scale and the horror, like his description of drumfire -- artillery shells that arrived to the front by the trainload and fell at a rate faster than a drum roll. Every year of the war I thought to myself "this is the most horrific thing soldiers must've experienced" and every year it got worse.
100% agree with this.
Got to agree, A World Undone is a great starting point.
I wish to offer as an honorable mention (and especially for those of us with younger children) the excellent and heavy-on-the-visuals Dorling Kindersley "DK Eyewitness World War I" which just released a new edition last month (December 2023 so pass on the 2014 edition) which my 13-year-old son really wanted and received for Christmas.
The book that started my great interest in World War One was The First Day on the Somme by Martin Middlebrook. Incredible book.
Ernest Junger's "Storm of Steel" is a good memoir
If you're interested in the naval scene, there are two books by Robert K Massie, the first being Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War. Its a good book on the development of the British and German navies and the naval arms race.
The second book is Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea. That one covers naval strategy and combat. It has a larger focus on the British and German navies.
Just a disclaimer about Dreadnought. It is less a description of the buildup of the two major navies in competition with each other during the Great War but instead a political outlook of Great Britain and the German Empire in the twenty years preceeding it.
"Intimate Voices" by Svetlana Palmer & Sarah Wallis. It is a collection of diary entries and covers all aspects/fronts of The Great War. They also have a 2nd book; "A War in Words".
Please read “Africa’s World War” by Gerard Prunier! Absolutely incredible work of history on a conflict that’s almost completely unknown in the West. I’m a historian of the African Great Lakes Region, that book is the most accessible and informative source there is! Thank you for everything you do!
Also “Tip and Run” by Edward Paice is a good read on the Great War in Africa
Book: Armenia ,Australia and the Great War by Vicken Babkenian and Peter Stanley.
-talks about the Amernian genocide on 24th April 1915,the day before the Gallipoli campagin,and what Australian soliders witnessed and what the humanitarin aid Australian provided the Armenians.
*Reverend James Creswell(Australisan Oprhanage)
*Aram Okosdionossian(Armenian interpter in ANZAC headquarters in Gallipoli and evacuation 1915-16
*Near East Relief
*Australisan Armenian Relief Fund 1922-23.
highly recommended for ANZAC history.
❤ VTH.
Peter Stanley is an excellent Australian historian who has tirelessly advocated for accurate depictions of the everyday Australian soldier. He is also not afraid to buck jingoistic "Anzackery".
The challenge Chris may face with Australia in the Great War is the sheer volume of myth and romanticism that ex journalists who are great writers but poor historians have propogated regarding the 1st AIF.
Far more people know who Peter Fitzgibbon or Les Carylon are/were than who Peter Stanley and Jeff Grey are/were.
Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger and Under Fire by Henri Barbusse are two fantastic biographical novels depicting life as a soldier in the trenches. Both lived and fought through the entire 4 years of the conflict. Fascinating, harrowing and highly recommended for those interested by the Great War.
Glad to see book recommendations. I've been hoping to see something like this for a while. One thing I'm interested in is the air war in WW1. Do you have any particular recommendations for that?
Not yet but when I find some good books specific to that topic I'll be sure to pass them along.
A World Undone and The Guns of August are the 2 books on the Great War I've read so far. Both are excellent. Thanks for doing this Chris!
Birdsong, by Sebastian Faulks, published 1993. It's an absolute gem, although fiction. Here, let me quote WikiP:
--------
The plot follows two main characters living at different times: the first is Stephen Wraysford, a British soldier on the front line in Amiens during the First World War, and the second is his granddaughter, Elizabeth Benson, whose 1970s plotline follows her attempts to recover an understanding of Stephen's experience of the war.
------------
Believe me, you won't forget it.
Omg this is awesome, thank you chris keep up the good work
Currently reading and enjoying "The Fortress" by Alexander Watson about the "great" fortress and siege of Przemyśl
Not sure if you've seen them but the History Underground did two videos at the site of the siege. ua-cam.com/video/HKZIyE2loAE/v-deo.htmlsi=1JqkV9kUctbPEngf
@@StoriesoftheGreatWar Love WWI. I find it more complex, less black and white than WWII. I love new takes/views on them. I have seen those videos. And also the Great War's tour of Przemyśl. I find the Eastern Front so much more interesting than the stale, monotonous Western. Have been to Poland numerous times, but have yet to go to Przemyśl. Maybe on my next trip, and, considering its location, maybe in a more stable geopolitical situation
I definitely hope to visit Poland when things calm down in that part of the world.
In the Italian front I can recommend The White War by Mark Thompson, Isonzo by John Schindler, and The Italian Army and the First World War by John Gooch.
Mark Thompson's "The White War:Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915 - 1919," is a very good book on the Italian Front (obviously), focusing on the Italian perspective and experience.
Good to know. I need to read a good book on that front.
I can also recommend several books on Austria-Hungary in WWI. The Ring of Steel by Alexander Watson is a history of the German-Habsburg alliance in WWI and Watson has also written a campaign history of the sieges of Przemysl called The Fortress. Fall of the Double Eagle by John Schindler is an excellent history of the Austria-Hungary’s disastrous campaigns in Galicia and Serbia in 1914, although it has the big problem of lacking any maps. The Habsburg Monarchy 1815-1918 by Steven Beller and The Habsburg Empire by Pieter M. Judson are good, concise books that can give a broader historical background on Austria-Hungary before and during the Great War.
A great book about the politics before the war starts is 'The sleepwalkers' it is a gem
Would love to see more Anzac content here or on VTH!
Im not entirely sure if the Gallipoli rememberance ceremony is back now that Covid has backed off, but it'd be amazing to attend one or just visit the peninsula in general. Here in New Zealand, we all leave high school having a quite broad knowledge of the campaign. I think it would be a great experience visiting the original landing beaches, the memorials on the heights and many of the original trench lines have been repaired very well. There are many ANZACS and Turks resting there side by side, which shows how close the opposing trenches typically were.
Agree! Definitely a place I hope to get to.
“Winter Soldier” It’s fiction but focuses on a medical student who finds himself in charge of a field hospital. So well written you can almost smell the gangrene. Dives into “shell shock” victims as well. I appreciate that it wasn’t about the fighting but caring for the casualties. If anyone with extensive knowledge reads it I would love to know that was accurate or not.
The works by Gary Sheffield and John Terraine on Sir Douglas Haig are essential. Give clear context and understanding to a hugely important and much maligned figure of the war
Thank you for the recommendations. A World Undone is the only book I’ve read on the conflict and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As far as reading up on particular events within the wider conflict, do you think The Guns of August is still worth checking out?
I do. It's been quite a while since I read it, but those i've spoken to who have read it more recently do feel it holds up well.
I am always fascinated with the East African campaign of WW1, in particular with von Lettow-Vorbeck. Extremely well respected not only by his German soldiers, he had immense respect from the local African soldiers under his command, which he reciprocated.
There’s also a great story about him after the war. In the 1930s he was asked by Hitler to become ambassador to the UK. According to a reporter who asked a staffer who was there:
Reporter: “I understand that von Lettow-Vorbeck told Hitler to go f*** himself.”
Staffer: “That’s right, but I don’t recall him putting it that politely.” 😂
As per Goodreads: "G. J. Meyer is a former Woodrow Wilson Fellow with an M.A. in English literature from the University of Minnesota"
If you’re interested in Naval warfare Ron Massie books, Dreadnought, and Castles of Steel and Andrew Gordon’s the Rules of the Game are very good.
One last thought “A peace to end all peace” by David Fromkin is a good history of the conflict in the Middle East.
Hi from Australia😊 I recommend The Great War by Les Carlyon.
The literary digest: the history of the world War is great… written in 1920 right after the war when all first hand accounts were fresh
Winds of war and war and remembrance are both great
Have you read Poilu?
World War 1 book? I think Undone might be great, I watch many of your videos and learn much about Napoleon and its wars. Napoleon Bonaparte more like Napoleon blown apart.
guns of august
Do you recommend A People's History of the United States?
Couldn't say. Never read it.
It's very dry and full of various kinds of lists and tables. It's not a narrative type book, more like a research paper. However, I enjoyed it for what it is.
@@StoriesoftheGreatWar What do you recommend? about the history of the USA
So long as you understand that Zinn does not try to be an objective recorder of history. He absolutely has a bias and admits it in the beginning of the book. However, it’s still worth it to read someone with that 60’s era liberal bent the same as it is to read Churchill.