The First World War (Vintage): Amazon.de: John Keegan: Englische Bücher

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Dieser Titel ist in englischer Sprache.
Trotz der Lawine von Büchern, die in den letzten Jahren über den Ersten Weltkrieg geschrieben wurden, hat es vergleichsweise wenige gegeben, die eine umfassende Schilderung des Krieges und dessen Feldzüge vom Anfang bis zum Ende lieferten. The First World War füllt diese Lücke ganz vorzüglich.

Wie die Leser wissen, die mit Keegans früheren Büchern (darunter The Second World War und Six Armies in Normandy) vertraut sind, ist er ein Historiker der alten Schule. Er bietet keine welterschütternden Theorien, um den Status Quo herauszufordern; keine Erlebnisberichte aus erster Hand, die mit unseren Gefühlen spielen. Was er allerdings zu bieten hat, ist eine Begabung, den Leser in der Sprache des Laien auf eine Art durch die Biegungen und Windungen einer komplexen Schilderung zu führen, die stets zugänglich und einnehmend ist.

Keegan versucht nie, dem Leser seine Gelehrtheit gewaltsam einzutrichtern. Während andere Autoren damit gekämpft haben, zu erklären, warum Großbritannien jemals zulassen konnte, daß es 1914 in diesen Krieg mit hineingezogen wurde, bleibt Keegan in seiner Schilderung praktisch. Der Stand der Kommunikation, den wir heute genießen, existierte damals einfach nicht -- und demnach war es viel schwerer, sich über das, was geschah, auf dem Laufenden zu halten. In der Zeit, die eine Information brauchte, um ihren Adressaten zu erreichen, konnte sich die Situation bis zur Unkenntlichkeit verändert haben. Keegan wendet diese gleiche "Schlamassel"-Theorie der Geschichte auch auf den Rest des Krieges an -- im Grunde die Katastrophen in Gallipoli, an der Somme, und in Passchendaele. Keegan vertritt die Meinung, daß die Generäle all diese Truppen nicht absichtlich in den Tod geschickt haben; sie taten es aus Inkompetenz und Ungeschicktheit -- und weil sie keine Ahnung davon hatten, was an der Front tatsächlich los war.

Während The First World War sich nicht davor scheut, mit dem Finger auf diejenigen Generäle zu zeigen, die es verdient haben, muß sogar Keegan zugeben, daß er nicht alle Antworten kennt. Wenn es heute alles so sinnlos und als massive Verschwendung von Menschenleben erscheint, fragt er, wie konnte es damals als sinnvoll und rentabel betrachtet werden? Warum haben soviele Leute weitergemacht, obwohl sie wußten, daß sie sterben würden? Eine gute Frage... --John Crace -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verf�gbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.

Amazon.co.uk

Despite the avalanche of books written about the First World War in recent years, there have been comparatively few books that have concentrated on delivering the big picture--a comprehensive account of the war and its campaigns from start to finish--and this book fills the gap superbly. As readers familiar with John Keegan's previous books, such as the The Face Battle, Six Armies in Normandy, and The Second World War, will know, Keegan is a historian of the old school. He has no earth-shattering new theories to challenge the status quo, no first-person accounts to tug on the emotions; what he does have, though, is the gift for talking the lay person through the twists and turns of a complex narrative in a way that is never less than accessible or engaging. Keegan never tries to ram his learning down your throat. Where other authors have struggled to explain how Britain could ever allow itself to be dragged into such a war in 1914, Keegan keeps it practical. The level of communications that we enjoy today just didn't exist then, and so it was much harder to keep track of what was going on. By the time a message had finally reached the person in question, the situation may have changed out of all recognition. Keegan applies this same "cock-up" theory of history to the rest of the war, principally the three great disasters at Gallipoli, the Somme, and Passchendaele. The generals didn't send all those troops to their death deliberately; they did so out of incompetence, ineptitude, and because they had no idea of what was actually going on at the front. Whether deliberate or not, though, the end result was nearly one million dead British and Commonwealth soldiers. The First World War is not afraid to point the finger at those generals who deserve it, but even Keegan has to admit he doesn't have all the answers. If it all seems so obviously futile and such a massive waste of life now, he asks, how could it have seemed worthwhile back then? Why did so many people carry on, knowing they would die? Why indeed. --John Crace -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine andere Ausgabe: Taschenbuch .

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Good Comprehensive History 27. M�rz 2000

Von Prauge Traveler

Format:Gebundene Ausgabe

Keegan does a fine job of illustrating the conflict of WW1 with strokes that are wide enough to give 'the big picture' clarity while also delving into several campaigns and stories that will give the reader some intimate knowledge of the subject. His book was used as a text in a college level history course, which is where I read it, and helped a great deal.

The accounts of lesser know theaters of conflict are certainly some of the book's high points. My favorite section was a the German, Paul Lettow von Vorbeck, who was in charge of the German forces in German East Africa. Keegan describes how Vorbeck waged a guerrilla war against English forces for the duration of the war. It is great reading. There are other chapters equally insightfull.

Overall, the Keegan rarely becomes traped in the minutia of detail, though at times the various armies, regiments, battalions, and dates can become a bit thick. This is a book that needs about one or two days inbetween chapters for thought fermentation. You need to let it all sink in before moving on, otherwise the details slip away.

I highly recomend this book to anyone who knows little about WW1 and wishes to learn more- or, like myself, someone who thought that they knew most of what there was to know (and was wrong).

Professors everywhere: get books like this one for classes, they are better than texts, cheaper, and more enjoyable to read! Plus, we students will learn more in return.

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Disappointing, but ultimately worthwhile 5. Oktober 1999

Von Tom Cleaveland

I share many of the complaints that previous reviewers have mentioned:

1) This book needs more maps. The description of the opening battles in 1914 is difficult to follow if one is not familiar with European geography.

2) The writing is turgid in places. Keegan's description of the Battle of the Somme repeats the phrase "The Germans were fighting for their lives" at least twice in close succession. Well, of course they were!

3) The analysis is thin in critical areas, particularly in analyzing pre-war events. Lack of communication was a problem, but it appears that the political systems of the European powers placed control of events in the hands of the people who had no incentive to practice restraint, and who had clearly performed no serious thought as to how new weaponry (particularly the machine gun!) would affect the conduct of war: the military commanders.

Despite the problems, I didn't have much trouble finishing the book. This book was my first comprehensive history of WWI, and has stimulated my curiousity about that war. I think Mr. Keegan is to be complimented on releasing this book. For Americans, WWI is a forgotten war, and I thank him for a sobering and thought-provoking look at this conflict that destroyed men, nations, and ideals without mercy.

Data vs. Information 5. Juli 2000

Von Jeffrey Davenport

Format:Taschenbuch

There is a difference between data and information. Data concerns itself with details, where information concerns itself with meaningful patterns or conclusions. This book clearly presents a great deal of data and expects the reader to derive meaningful information from it. If you enjoy military history in the purest sense of the term, I recommend this book highly. If, however, you believe (as I did) that this book is a one-volume history of all aspects of the war: politics, social impact, economic forces, ethnic conflicts, etc., you will be disappointed. Do make sure that you know what sort of book this is before you invest the time to read it.