The World Crisis, Volume 1 – Winston Churchill
‘The World Crisis’ is Winston Churchill’s narrative of World War I, published in several volumes. Although nominally starting in 1911 when Churchill became head of the Admiralty, the first volume commences in 1870 with the Franco-Prussian War and ends with the events in Turkey and on the Balkan in 1914. Churchill’s account is generally acknowledge as his masterpiece and a valuable contribution to the history of the War.
The World Crisis, Volume 1
Format: eBook.
The World Crisis, Volume 1.
ISBN: 9783849652791.
Only available in the USA.
Summary (from Wikipedia)
Although nominally starting in 1911 when Churchill became head of the Admiralty, the narrative commences in 1870 with the Franco-Prussian War and ends with Turkey and the Balkans. Churchill comments on German “threats of war” over recognition by Serbia of the Austrian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908, which led to talks between the British and French General Staffs over concerted action in the event of war. “Algericas was a milestone on the road to Armageddon.” (pp. 32–33) Again over Agadir and the French in Morocco in 1911 Germany was “prepared to go to the very edge of the precipice”, and was surprised by the British reaction (the Mansion House speech of Lloyd George).
The design and ordering of the British dreadnought fleet has a chapter, given his involvement. The start of the war in France is followed by the Admiralty and Fisher, and the naval battles of Coronel and the Falklands. The last chapter is on the bombardment of the English “open towns” of Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby by the German battle-cruiser squadron when nearly 500 civilians were killed; there was “much indignation at the failure of the Navy” but the Navy could not explain for fear of compromising our secret information”.
Summary from Wikipedia, Wikipedia contributors. (2021, September 15). The World Crisis. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15:10, November 25, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_World_Crisis&oldid=1044496282