Remembrance of the First World War (Complete Five Volumes)

Author: (British) Churchill
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Nobel Prize-winning author, former British Prime Minister Churchill's panoramic historical masterpiece! Due to his expertise in the art of history and biography, as well as his brilliant speeches defending the dignity of humanity, he was awarded the Nobel Prize by the Swedish Academy. The publication of this book can be considered a rare event among major historical works. — The New York Times
Insightful, reflective, every word a gem, unparalleled among those in high office. — Vincent Sheean
The imagination hidden behind the language is filled with heroism, and he handles the grand and tumultuous events of the world with ease, a rare feat in historical works to date. — The New Yorker
The early 20th century was an era of restlessness and instability. Since the rise of industrial civilization, represented by machines and major cities, colonial powers and their interest groups have engaged in a new global struggle. Ultimately, a seemingly accidental terrorist incident led to the most brutal war in human history—the World War. This war utilized the full range of technological advancements from physics to chemistry, making people deeply realize the destructive power of civilization. The four years and three months of war involved over 1.5 billion people, resulting in the deaths of more than 30 million military and civilian personnel. Many European monarchs and emperors disappeared, four historically great empires collapsed, and the global political and social order was completely reshaped. To give readers, especially young readers, a more vivid impression of the world a century ago, we have commissioned Guangzhou Jicheng Image Company to select nearly 200 illustrations based on the book's content, allowing Winston Churchill's elegant prose to intertwine with brilliant historical moments.
As a typical Western politician, the author naturally adopts an antagonistic stance toward the Russian Revolution and the Communist movement based on his values. In the Chinese edition, we have omitted passages that merely express the author's hostility and insults. However, when it comes to historical events and correspondence, we have retained their essence, with only minor deletions of irrelevant descriptive words. This is because they are all links in the chain of history, connecting both upward and downward; secondly, they also reflect, from another perspective, how the governments of capitalist countries at the time feared and interfered with the newly born Soviet regime and the Communist movement.
A commander-in-chief's recollection of the most brutal war in human history: Winston Churchill, a renowned British politician, held high-ranking positions in the British government for many years and directly participated in numerous events. Britain was a major power in this war, so the book's detailed and reliable first-hand materials and eyewitness accounts make it an indispensable version for presenting the World War. Whether from the perspective of history, military science, or international politics, it is a treasure of inestimable value. This volume primarily narrates the European history from 1911 to 1914. In analyzing the true causes of World War I, Churchill reveals the historical origins and complex international relations of conflicts between major capitalist countries since 1870, outlines the state of arms race near the outbreak of the war, and introduces the frequent diplomatic activities between the two major groups aimed at forming alliances for dominance and counterdominance. Churchill refers to August–December 1914, after the outbreak of the war, as the stage of the war. He describes how Germany launched a surprise attack on the neutral Belgium and invaded France, followed by Britain's naval support for France. During this phase, France and Britain launched massive battles such as the Marne River, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties and a complete waste of lives with no tangible gains. He also describes the initial phase of the Anglo-German naval war and Germany's bombardment of British coastal cities for harassment. Later, he introduces the relationship between Turkey and the Balkan countries, which would significantly impact the course of the war.
1915 marked the stage of World War I. France and Britain launched campaigns such as the Champagne Offensive, the Artois Offensive, the Battle of Ypres, and the Battle of Loos. In the face of new weapons like machine guns and heavy artillery, the traditional military thinking of frontal assaults and bayonet charges to break enemy lines proved ineffective. The Western Front, apart from the costly, yielded no gains, and the war. Britain's invention of tanks and use of smoke screens achieved only limited progress. The British Navy held naval supremacy, but its commander's conservative mindset led to ineffective naval operations with no significant results. In this volume, Churchill proposes a strategic decision—attacking the Dardanelles, which would decisively influence the composition of international forces and the entire war. However, due to the lack of understanding and support from most military leaders, the opportunity was repeatedly missed, and the operation ultimately failed. The Allies fell into crisis.
This volume narrates the stage of World War I from 1916 to 1918, where the first two years saw a stalemate between the two sides. France and Britain launched battles such as the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Artois, the Battle of Messina, the Battle of Passchendaele, and the Battle of Cambrai. Germany attempted to seize the spiritual and symbolic foundation of France—the Verdun. However, neither side achieved significant success. In naval warfare, the Battle of Jutland saw Britain repeatedly miss opportunities, as Churchill describes in detail, critically analyzing the conservative mindset of the British naval commander. Nevertheless, Britain defeated Germany's submarine warfare at sea. Due to Germany's naval blockade and unrestricted submarine warfare, the United States entered the war, changing the balance of power. Once German morale plummeted, they suffered catastrophic defeats, leading to the collapse and surrender of the German Empire.
The first three volumes primarily narrate the Western Front and naval warfare of World War I, as well as the crucial Dardanelles offensive that determined the war's fate. This volume focuses on the Eastern Front. It begins by discussing the historical origins of the conflict between the two major groups before the war. Then, it details the assassination of the Archduke of Austria and how it became the spark that ignited the war. It also describes Austria's declaration of war on Serbia and the subsequent chain of declarations and the outbreak of war on the Eastern Front. The Russian advance into East Prussia initially relieved pressure on French and British forces on the Western Front, but after the German command changed with Hindenburg and Ludendorff taking over the Eastern Front, the situation shifted. Additionally, Russian military communications were compromised, leading to a devastating encirclement by German forces and subsequent retreats. Eventually, the Russian October Revolution led to their withdrawal from the war.
After the war, millions of soldiers from both sides needed to be demobilized, retrained, and employed, while women who had worked in war industries had to return to their jobs. The military economy had to be transformed, presenting another challenge for Britain in the early stages of the war's end. Russia descended into civil war, with the Allies intervening militarily but ultimately failing. World War I weakened the capitalist world system. To end the war, the Paris Peace Conference was held in France. The major powers attending the conference had their own interests, and contradictions arose over the redrawing of spheres of influence. Although the League of Nations was established, it did not achieve the goals of international security and disarmament.
This volume primarily narrates events outside the Paris Peace Conference and the consequences and reactions to its decisions. It also discusses the deep-seated and persistent issue of Britain and Ireland, as well as the rise of Kemalist Turkey despite its defeat in the war. Greece, although a victor, faced tragedy after the war due to its conflict with Turkey.