Catastrophe: Max Hastings

[@davidmaslow2931]

Max is so Special as a Historian!

[@hood3074]

Thanks for posting. I am listening to the book on my ipad. Brilliant writer.

[@carvedouttastone]

Brilliant. Great book. Nice summary, Thanks for posting.

[@seanmoran2743]

Read The Darkest Days it might give you pause to think

[@davidrapalyea7727]

I also recommend Sean McMeekan at Kansas WW1 museum presentation.

[@disoriented1]

+David Jakab but in Kansas City Missouri..not Kansas

[@VersusARCH]

Everyone overestimates the lethality of machine guns. The biggest killer in WW1 by far in BOTH attack and defense in the early part of the war was the quick firing artillery (later as entrenchment improved, heavy artillery took over in attack, but QF was still weapon no 1 in defense). An attacking infantry battalion targeted by a QF 75mm battery that found the range would have the equivalent of 4-6 giant shotgun shells spraying hundreds of lethal shrapnel balls from above every 3-5 seconds against which even lying down would not help very much.

[@user-qp3xe6vn6d]

Its almost impossible to wrap your head around the carnage

[@bookaufman9643]

If somebody had lost their young son going over the top against the machine gun and artillery I think they might see that war as pretty pointless. They might even see it as worse than pointless.

[@abc_13579]

You're right that Germany's “blank check” to Austria was a significant factor in starting the war. Still, Austria was Germany’s only ally, and Berlin couldn't afford to risk losing it. Germany was surrounded by enemies. On one side they had Russia, which everyone expected to become far stronger in two or three years because it was industrializing; and on the other side they had France, their foremost enemy. Most countries in that situation would back their only ally and hope to provoke a war that would block an enemy from getting stronger. Bottom line: I agree that of all the countries, Germany was most to blame for starting the war. Having said that, I think most countries in their situation would've acted the same way.

[@seanmoran2743]

Any mention about the concerns raised by those who wanted neutrality that if Germany lost in the East Czarist Russia would be at the the heart of Europe Any mention about the virtual lack of talking to Russia about war If Max Hastings thinks British involvement was necessary then he should take a good look at the mess our country is in because of that stupidity

[@abc_13579]

12:34 "War; and the sooner, the better." Yes, that was Germany's attitude-they felt that if Russia entered the war to help Serbia, Berlin could fight Russia before Moscow got stronger. And it would also boost Germany domestically, which they sorely needed, as you explained. How, then, can you call it reckless of them to give Serbia a blank check and risk war? They wanted war. They felt it was in their interests. If you had said it was foolish for them to think that war would be in their interest, I would have agreed with you. Germany made a calculated yet foolish decision, not a reckless one.