The First World War was the world's first 'total war'. Although large-scale wars like the Napoleonic wars had ranged across many territories, the scale of the First World War was unprecedented. It was also the first war between modern, industrialised nations and mechanised warfare saw new and terrifying weapons deployed for the first time, including airplanes, tanks, zeppelins, giant warships and poison gas. Now, on the verge of the centenary of the start of the First World War, this fact-packed information book relates the unfolding events and the human stories in a way that brings history vividly to life.

Introduction -- Europe divided -- Gearing up for war -- The peace is shattered -- Europe goes to war -- The British Army -- The fighting begins -- The Eastern Front -- The Western Front -- The French Army -- Digging in -- Trench warfare -- The great guns -- The German Army -- The Gallipoli Campaign -- The war at sea -- War in Africa -- Chemical warfare -- Italy enters the war -- War in the air -- 1916: a year of battles -- The first tanks -- America joins the war -- 1917: no end in sight -- War in the desert -- Women at war -- 1918: the last great battles -- 1918: the war ends -- Animals at war -- Legacy of war -- The art of war.