Publicat: 13 noiembrie 2013, Time Literary Supplement (review) Margaret MacMillan, !"#$%&L '! ( ! P&S '!P!T P!

'%%: Cum a renuntat Europa la pace pentru Primul Razboi Mondial )*iciun ra+boi nu e,te agreat la inceput-, ne ,pune Ma. /a,ting, i, Catastrofa, citan0 0in 0i,cur,ul viitorului Prim Mini,tru al Muncii, am,ay Mac1onal0, a0re,at 'amerei 'omunelor pe 0ata 0e 3 augu,t 1213, inainte cu o +i ca Marea #ritanie ,a intre in ra+boi4 1aca Primul a+boi Mon0ial era popular atunci, ramane ,i in +ilele noa,tre popular ,i mala0iv 0e 5a,cinant, a,a cum vor arata comemorarile centenare nationale ,i proiectele comunitatii4 !nnette #ec6er ,i St7p8ane !u0oin9 ou+eau au recuno,cut, la trecerea a opt+eci 0e ani 0e la ra+boi, ca )pare mai mult ca 0orim ,a intelegem a+boiul Mon0ial mai bine ca nicio0ata 5ara a 5i ,iguri ca am avea vreo0ata motivul ,9o 5acem- (14-18: Intelegand Razboiul Mondial, !! )4 Train0 in capricio,ul ,ecol 0oua+eci pe care ra+boiul l9a generat ne e,te 0i5icil ,a inlaturam preconceptiile4 1ar trebuie ,a mai incercam , iar pe ma,ura ce ,ecolele ,e ,ucce0, vom incerca 0in nou4 $ 0eta,are mai mare 0e eveniment ar putea 5i 0e 5olo,4 1aca in momentul actual Primul a+voi Mon0ial apartine i,toricilor, 0i,tilarea e,entei ,9 ar putea 0ove0i 5acila, 0e,i 0evine controver,a can0 e,te pu,a contra greutatii memoriei culturale, )greutatea celor morti ,i a celor vii- pe care #ec6er ,i !u0oin9 ou+eau au i0enti5icat9o4

Publi,8e0: 13 *ovember 2013, Time, Literary Supplement (review) Margaret MacMillan, "#E $%R "#%" E&'E' PE%CE: #o( Europe abandoned peace for t)e *irst $orld $ar :*o war i, at 5ir,t unpopular-, Ma. /a,ting, tell, u, in Catastrop)e, ;uoting t8e 5uture Labour Prime Mini,ter am,ay Mac1onal0<, a00re,, to t8e /ou,e o5 'ommon, on !ugu,t 3, 1213, t8e 0ay be5ore #ritain went to war4 %5 t8e =ir,t >orl0 >ar wa, popular t8en, nowa0ay, it remain, popular an0 morbi0ly 5a,cinating, a, national centenary commemoration, an0 community pro?ect, will 0emon,trate4 !nnette #ec6er an0 St7p8ane !u0oin9 ou+eau recogni+e0, a, t8e war<, eig8tiet8 anniver,arie, pa,,e0, t8at :%t i, a, t8oug8 we wi,8e0 to un0er,tan0 t8e @reat >ar more t8an ever be5ore wit8out being ,ure o5 ever 8aving t8e mean, to 0o ,o- ( 14+18:,nderstanding t)e -reat $ar, 2002)4 /aving live0 t8roug8 t8e 5ractiou, twentiet8 century t8at t8e war create0, we 5in0

it 8ar0 to ,u,pen0 preconception,4 #ut we mu,t ,till try, an0 a, it, centenarie, go by we ,8all try again4 !n increa,ing 0etac8ment 5rom event, may 8elp4 %5 t8e =ir,t >orl0 >ar now belong, to 8i,torian,, 0i,tilling it, e,,ence may prove ea,ier, t8oug8 controver,ial w8en ,et again,t t8e cultural weig8t o5 memory, :t8e weig8t o5 t8e 0ea0 on t8e livingt8at #ec6er an0 !u0oin9 ou+eau i0enti5ie04 %n Marea #ritanie, ra+boaiele centenare creea+a polemici intre guvern ,i oamenii 0e i,torie, in mare parte 0aca ar trebui ,a mai purtam mantaua patriotica pe care natiunile au imbracat9o in 5ata agre,iunii inamicilor conventionali4 Ma. /a,ting, ,i !llan Mallin,on inca o mai poarta4 Pentru /a,ting, vina @ermaniei e,te ,tabilita clar ,i ii 0e5aimea+a pe cei cei 0in ,ecolul 0oua+eci ,i unu care )nu ,unt convin,i ca a 5o,t nevoie ,a re+i,te alaturi 0e 6ai+erul @ermaniei cu un a,emenea pret-4 Au0ecata lui Margaret Macmillan in Razboiul care a pus capat pacii e,te mai ec8ilibrata, 0e,i intentiile ,i actiunile germanilor raman in centrul originii ra+boiului: )luan0 in ,erio, venirea ,a, ca pe ceva a,teptat, o5erin0 cecul in alb !u,tro9&ngariei, re,pectan0 un plan 0e ra+boi care 5acea inevitabil 5aptul ca @ermania ,a lupte pe 0oua 5ronturi, li0erii germani i9a permi, ,a ,e intample-4 !,emenea controver,e i,torice ,unt bine ,tabilite ,i per,i,ta, iar ace,ti ,criitori ,e tru0e,c cu opreli,tea ace,tor evenimente 0e a 5i 5o,t e.aminate 0e multe ori inainte4 !cum ca Primul a+boi Mon0ial e,te con,emnat in i,toria ra+boaielor, vom continua ,a 0i,putam 0aca a 5o,t o cata,tro5a, o calamitate imen,a, globala, pro,t ge,tionata ,i +a0arnicaB ori 0aca poate 5i e.plicat ca pro0u, al vremii ,ale, al unei perioa0a mo0erne, pe care putem ,i ar trebui ,a o intelegem ,i 0in care ,a invatam4 !ce,te carti un vor pune capat 0e+baterilor9 5ara niciun 5el 0e 0ubiu, realitatea i,torica e,te un0eva la mi?loc9 ,unt ciuruite 0e contra0ictiile inerente 0in 0e+lantuirea ra+boiului ,i impovarate 0e controver,ele ulterioare ala caror parametrii au 5o,t ,tabiliti in 0ecur,ul celei 0e9a cinci+ecea ,arbatorire4 %n #ritain, t8e centenary war, are alrea0y raging between government an0 8i,torian,, largely over w8et8er we ,8oul0 ,till be wearing t8e patriotic cloa6 t8at nation, 0onne0 in t8e 5ace o5 aggre,,ion by tra0itional enemie,4 Ma. /a,ting, an0 !llan Mallin,on ,till wear it4 =or /a,ting, t8e guilt o5 @ermany i, 5irmly e,tabli,8e0, an0 8e 0ecrie, t8o,e in t8e twenty95ir,t century w8o are :unper,ua0e0 t8at it wa, nece,,ary to re,i,t in arm, t8e Cai,er<, @ermany at ,uc8 co,t-4 Margaret Macmillan<, ?u0gement in ")e $ar t)at Ended Peace i, more balance0, alt8oug8 @erman intention, an0 action remain central to t8e war<, origin,: :by ta6ing it, coming 5or grante0, a, ,omet8ing 0e,irable even, by i,,uing t8e blan6 c8e;ue to !u,triaD/ungary, an0 by ,tic6ing to a war plan w8ic8 ma0e it inevitable t8at @ermany woul0 5ig8t on two 5ront,, @ermany<, lea0er, allowe0 it to 8appen-4 Suc8 8i,torical controver,ie, are well e,tabli,8e0 an0 per,i,t, an0 t8e,e aut8or, labour wit8 t8e 8an0icap t8at t8e,e event, 8ave been e.amine0 many time, be5ore4 *ow t8e =ir,t >orl0 >ar i, con,igne0 to t8e 8i,tory war,, we will continue to argue w8et8er it wa, cata,trop8e, a va,t, ill9manage0 an0 5utile global calamityB or w8et8er it can be e.plaine0 a, a pro0uct o5 it, time, o5 mo0ern time,, w8ic8 we can an0 ,8oul0 un0er,tan0, an0 mu,t learn 5rom4 T8e,e boo6, will not ,ettle t8at 0ebate D 8i,torical reality un0oubte0ly lie, ,omew8ere in between D an0 t8ey are, inevitably, ri00le0 wit8 t8e contra0iction, in8erent in t8e war<, outbrea6, an0 weig8e0 0own by later controver,ie, w8o,e parameter, were ,et 0uring t8e war<, 5i5tiet8 anniver,arie,4

%nainte, can0 venea vorba 0e aniver,are, i9am interogat intot0eauna pe veterani, ca ,i cum rolul lor 0e mici 0imeni,iuni in,emna ca ,tiau totul 0e,pre ace,t ra+boi maret, 5ata 0e noi care n9am 5o,t acolo4 !m 0evenit 0in ce in ce mai intere,ati ,a a5lam cum a 5o,t, la,an0 la o parte la ceea ce a 5o,t ,i 0e ce a 5o,t a,a4 =ara veterani in viata care ,a ne clari5ice importanta ra+boiului a,t+i, trebuie ,a punem alt5el 0e intrebari ,i ,a cercetam 0e unii ,nguri4 'eea ce au in comun ace,te trei carti e,te cercetarea variata in numeroa,ele memorii publicate 0upa ra+boi, unele 0e,criptive, 0e,i multe ,e ?u,ti5icau4 !ce,tea ne pot ,pune prin ce au trecut ,i ce au ,imtit oamenii, 0ar e,te greu 0e ,tabilit o imagine mai ampla avan0 in ve0ere valtoarea 0e impre,ii 0i,cor0ante4 >8en anniver,arie, came aroun0 be5ore, we alway, interrogate0 veteran,, a, i5 t8eir playing a very ,mall part meant t8at t8ey 6new t8e w8ole o5 t8i, great war better t8an t8o,e o5 u, w8o were not t8ere4 >e became increa,ingly 0e,perate to 6now w8at it wa, li6e, lo,ing intere,t in w8at it wa, about, an0 w8y it wa, li6e t8at4 >it8 no living veteran, to re9articulate t8e war<, e,,ential, now, we 8ave to a,6 ot8er, 0i55erent ;ue,tion,, an0 inve,tigate our,elve,4 >8at t8e,e t8ree boo6, 8ave in common i, wi0e9ranging re,earc8 in t8e many memoir, publi,8e0 a5ter t8e war, ,ome largely 0e,criptive, alt8oug8 many were ,el59?u,ti5icatory4 T8e,e can tell u, w8at in0ivi0ual, went t8roug8 an0 5elt, but t8e bigger picture i, 8ar0er to e,tabli,8 given t8e welter o5 con5licting impre,,ion,4 >8en anniver,arie, came aroun0 be5ore, we alway, interrogate0 veteran,, increa,ingly 0e,perate to 6now w8at it wa, li6e, lo,ing intere,t in w8at it wa, about, an0 w8y it wa, li6e t8at !utorii veneau 0in me0ii 0i5erite: cartile lor, ,uprapu,e, ,unt 5oarte 0i5erite 0ea,emenea4 Macmillan e,te un aca0emicianB un ucenic al 0iplomatiei, 5aimo, pentru opera ,a 0in timpul aran?amentelor 0e pace po,tbelice4 (l ,e ocupa 0e ,i,temul 0iplomatic european 0e 0inainte 0e 1213, cu per,onalitatile ,i in,titutiile ,ale, cu probleme ,i cri+e care au con0u, inevitabil la ra+boi4 /a,ting, e,te un ?urnali,t ,i un autor celebrat al unei mari ,cale a i,toriei militare, cu toate ca e,te prima ,a carte pe tema Primului a+boi Mon0ial4 1e+bate pe ,curt i+buncnirea ra+boiului, 0ar a0evarata ,a tema e,te legata 0e campaniile militare gran0ioa,e ,i co,ti,itoare 0in partea 0e ve,t ,i 0e e,t 0in 12134 %ntr9un volum 0e mare amploare, ne vorbe,te ,i 0e,pre mare ,i trece in revi,ta prEmele ca,e 0in 5ronturi4 !llan Mallin,on e,te un autor 0e 5ictiune militara T8e aut8or, come 5rom 0i55erent bac6groun0,: t8eir boo6,, w8ile overlapping, are al,o ,igni5icantly 0i55erent4 Macmillan i, an aca0emicB a ,c8olar o5 0iplomacy be,t 6nown 5or 8er wor6 on t8e po,t9war peace ,ettlement,4 S8e engage, wit8 (urope<, pre91213 0iplomatic ,y,tem, it, per,onalitie, an0 in,titution,, i,,ue, an0 cri,e,, lea0ing inevitably to war4 /a,ting, i, a ?ournali,t an0 5ete0 aut8or o5 large9,cale military 8i,torie,, alt8oug8 t8i, i, 8i, 5ir,t boo6 on t8e =ir,t >orl0 >ar4 /e brie5ly review, t8e outbrea6 o5 war, but 8i, real ,ub?ect i, 1213<, 8uge, co,tly military campaign, in we,t an0 ea,t4 %n a volume o5 great ,cope, 8e al,o ta6e, u, to ,ea an0 ,currie, aroun0 t8e early 8ome 5ront,4 !llan Mallin,on i, an aut8or o5 popular military 5iction D be,t 6nown 5or 8i, c8aracter Matt8ew /ervey, a lig8t90ragoon o55icer D but a relative newcomer to writing #riti,8 military 8i,tory, an0 to t8e =ir,t >orl0 >ar4 /e i, al,o a 5ormer army o55icer, an0 onetime

general ,ta55 planner, 5amiliar wit8 t8e intrigue, o5 military politic,4 /i, ,ub?ect i, #ritain<, military an0 political preparation 5or war, an0 t8e 5ir,t campaign o5 t8e #riti,8 (.pe0itionary =orce4 T8e aut8or,< bac6groun0, ,8ow t8roug84 Macmillan trie, to 0evelop a nuance0, ,c8olarly ?u0gementB /a,ting, i, broa09bru,8 an0 ?u0gementalB Mallin,on 0i,,ect, military a55air, (an0 political 0e5iciencie,) wit8 a traine0 ,ol0ierly eye4 >it8 t8e e.ception per8ap, o5 @ermany<, calculate0 ,trategic a0vance t8roug8 #elgium, no country went to war again,t any to w8ic8 it 8a0 not become 8eartily oppo,e0 in t8e prece0ing 0eca0e,4 (urope<, great power, an0 t8e alliance, into w8ic8 t8ey were groupe0 8a0 alrea0y wor6e0 t8em,elve, into a ,tate o5 8eavily arme0 0eterrence be5ore t8e a,,a,,ination o5 !rc80u6e =ran+ =er0inan0 encourage0 one to employ a military ,olution to t8e late,t o5 t8e many international cri,e, t8at Macmillan review, in 0etail4 S8e portray, a worl0 5ar away 5rom mo0ern >e,tern 0emocracy, in w8ic8 monarc8, rule ;ua,i9ab,olutely, ,tate,men govern 5ar 5rom benignly, ,ol0ier, plan war, unc8ec6e0, an0 citi+en, loo6 on an.iou,ly, increa,ingly organi+e0 yet powerle,,4 %t i, a ,low9motion 0i,a,ter un5ol0ing: t8e metap8orical 0riverle,, 5reig8t train pac6e0 wit8 e.plo,ive, accelerating pa,t t8e variou, 8alt, on t8e line be5ore t8e eventual cra,84 %n a worl0 in w8ic8 ol0 value, o5 war an0 ante0iluvian ,y,tem, o5 government rattle over ,ocial a,piration,, t8e popular will 5or reconciliation e.pre,,e0 in a growing peace movement i, powerle,, to 0erail it4 T8i, i, e,,entially a compre8en,ive an0 in5orme0 ,urvey o5 (urope<, court,, 5oreign mini,trie, an0 political ,tructure, be5ore 1213, enlivene0 by pen portrait, o5 t8e many panic6ing train con0uctor,4 T8e volume i, ,o 0en,e in it, 0etail in place,, 8owever, t8at t8o,e w8o 0o not en?oy t8e cut an0 t8ru,t o5 0iplomacy may 5in0 it 8ar0 going4 Macmillan<, t8e,i, t8at t8e ,tate,men o5 (urope con5ine0 t8em,elve, into an increa,ingly narrow c8annel t8at woul0 eventually bring t8em to blow, i, cre0ible4 >8et8er Lor0 Sali,bury<, eccentric 0ining 8abit, an0 t8e 5act t8at 8e wa, bullie0 at ,c8ool 8a0 any bearing on t8at, 8owever, i, 8ar0er to 0i,cern4 Macmillan 0eploy, many contemporary analogie, w8ic8 will 8elp mo0ern rea0er, to un0er,tan0 t8e i,,ue, an0 t8e 0eci,ion9ma6ing proce,,e, o5 a century ago4 $ne ,8e mi,,e, i, t8e ,imilarity between t8e pre91213 peace movement an0 to0ay<, environmental movement4 (ac8 8a, ,ome committe0 activi,t, an0 many pa,,ive ,ympat8i+er,, are pai0 political lip ,ervice, but are un0ermine0 by government,< inability to co9operate internationally an0 unwillingne,, to act unilaterally4 T8e c8ange, in t8e international ,y,tem t8at 5acilitate0 a 0ri5t 5rom 8armony to 8o,tility be5ore 1213 were incremental an0 0i0 not impinge on every0ay li5e until it wa, too late, but t8ey were a55ecting everyone nonet8ele,,4 !, we pa,, t8roug8 a ,imilar proce,,, it remain, to be ,een w8et8er popular movement, 5or po,itive c8ange are ,tronger in a 0emocratic age t8an t8ey were at t8e beginning o5 t8e twentiet8 century4 /a,ting,<, armc8air general,8ip i, 5amiliar an0 8ugely popular4 /e ,weep, eagle9li6e over va,t battle5iel0,, alig8ting on an inci0ent, commenting on a poor comman0 0eci,ion, ma6ing t8e 8uge comple.ity o5 battle compre8en,ible wit8 a pit8y anec0ote or a 0i,mi,,ive p8ra,e, wit8 t8e ea,e o5 one w8o 8a, reporte0 on but not 5oug8t in a war4 /e e.poun0, a battle con5i0ently, alt8oug8 t8i, i, o5ten at t8e e.pen,e o5 e.plaining it clearly an0 accurately4 Li6e a power5ul general, 8e 8a, mobili+e0 8i, own army o5 re,earc8

a,,i,tant, to range acro,, (urope in ,earc8 o5 contemporary impre,,ion, o5 t8e outbrea6 o5 war an0 it, early battle,4 /a,ting, preten0, to iconocla,m, re?ecting w8at 8e call, t8e :poet,< view- o5 t8e war t8at too6 8ol0 in t8e 12F0, (overloo6ing t8e 5act t8at t8i, emerge0 5rom t8e trenc8e,, an0 t8at t8e poetry o5 1213 wa, patriotic an0 8eroic in it, timbre)4 /e note, Cennet8 Morgan<, ob,ervation t8at in t8e 1220, t8e 8i,tory o5 t8e war wa, 8i?ac6e0 by it, critic,, but 8e ,ee, no incongruity in 0e5aulting e,,entially to a '8urc8illian con0emnation o5 1213<, military manoeuvre,4 /a,ting, pro5e,,e, in 8i, intro0uction to 8aving been 5a,cinate0 by t8e =ir,t >orl0 >ar ,ince 8e wor6e0 a, a very young re,earc8er on t8e ##'<, ,eminal 5i5tiet89anniver,ary televi,ion ,erie,, ")e -reat $ar, an0 regret5ully 8i, narrative i, too rarely nuance0 by t8e 0etaile0 ,tu0ie, o5 military event, t8at 8ave been publi,8e0 ,ince4 T8i, i, 8i,tory a, anec0ote D vivi0, bree+y, occa,ionally 8urrie0 an0 impre,,ioni,tic, 5orce5ul yet 5re;uently ;ue,tionable in it, interpretation,4 T8e central t8e,i, remain, one o5 lac6lu,tre politician, ,wept away by event,, incompetent general, unable to manage t8e comman0 an0 tec8nical c8allenge, o5 mo0ern war5are, an0 brave, naive ,ol0ier, ,ent to t8eir 0eat8, in ma,,e0 c8arge,: :8umble 5ol6 D ,ol0ier,, ,ailor,, civilian, D w8o became it, victim,-, a per,pective 5rom t8e 12F0,4 >e nee0 remin0ing t8e,e 0ay, t8at t8ey were al,o willing e.ecutioner,: ,ol0ier, ma,,acre0 eac8 ot8er in a 5ren+y o5 mutual 8atre0, an0 t8e agency o5 t8eir general,, e55icient or ot8erwi,e, only broug8t t8em to t8e rig8t place to 0o ,o4 %n t8i, re,pect t8e =ir,t >orl0 >ar wa, no 0i55erent 5rom any ot8er war4 Sol0ier, ma,,acre0 eac8 ot8er in a 5ren+y o5 mutual 8atre0, an0 t8eir general, only broug8t t8em to t8e rig8t place to 0o ,o4 %n t8i, re,pect t8e =ir,t >orl0 >ar wa, no 0i55erent 5rom any ot8er war Senior comman0er, are portraye0 a, pantomime villain,, a 5amiliar an0 ea,y 0e5ault po,ition4 Sir Ao8n =renc8, t8e #riti,8 army<, comman0er, i, at be,t out o5 8i, 0ept8 an0 at wor,t a :poltroon-4 T8e =renc8 'omman0er9in9'8ie5, @eneral Ao,ep8 Ao55re, i, a ,toli0 military blun0erer w8o, a5ter :a ,ucce,,ion o5 bloo0bat8,-, got luc6y in t8e 0eci,ive #attle o5 t8e Marne, allowing 8im to :commit 5urt8er mi,?u0gement, an0 pre,i0e over more co,tly 5ailure,- 5or two more year,, ?u,t a, '8urc8ill tol0 u, in t8e 1220,4 =ew rea0er, will pau,e to ;uery ,uc8 out0ate0 but ea,ily acceptable ?u0gement,4 $ne can 0etect in place, t8at /a,ting, 8a, con,ulte0 more recent wor6, o5 military 8i,tory, alt8oug8 a lac6 o5 ,econ0ary ,ource 5ootnote, ma6e, it 8ar0 to ?u0ge e.actly w8o 8i, aut8oritie, are, or i5 interpretation, ,pring 5rom 8i, rea0ing o5 t8e memoir, an0 0iarie, in t8e wor0, o5 w8ic8 8e largely tell, 8i, ,tory4 'ertainly, li6e mo,t military lea0er,, neit8er o5 t8e,e general, got everyt8ing rig8t D but t8ey were le,, overw8elme0 by t8e nature o5 t8e war t8an t8e politician, w8o ,at in ?u0gement on t8em a5terwar0, le0 u, to believe4 /a,ting, e.poun0, t8i, t8e,i, vivi0ly an0 bra+enly, ?u,ti5ie0 by t8e wor0, o5 t8o,e w8o participate0 an0 en0or,e0 wit8 8i, own pit8y pronouncement,4 #ut 8e con,picuou,ly 5ail, to e.plain w8y t8i, wa, ,o, a, i5 t8i, image i, ,o 5amiliar a, not to re;uire e.planation4 T8ere are ec8oe, 8ere o5 #arbara Tuc8man<, groun0brea6ing an0 ,eminal wor6 %ugust 1.14 o5 5i5ty year, ago, w8o,e :0a++ling e,,ay in narrative 8i,tory- /a,ting,

ac6nowle0ge, a, an in,piration4 T8e military 0octrine, t8at 0etermine0 event, once armie, cla,8e0 receive minimal con,i0eration, beyon0 allu,ion, to :t8e cult o5 t8e o55en,ive-, a ,ocio9cultural ,8ort8an0 5or over9ambitiou, battle plan, an0 8uge bloo0bat8,, not a military e.planation 5or w8at actually 8appene0 on t8e battle5iel0 in 12134 Some o5 /a,ting,<, ,nap,8ot, capture an important moment, w8ile mi,,ing t8e point4 /e remar6, in pa,,ing t8at one @erman regiment at t8e #attle o5 Tannenberg ma,,e0 it, mac8ine gun, in a ,ingle battery an0 in5licte0 8eavy lo,,e, on t8e u,,ian,4 /e 0oe,n<t ,ay t8at @erman 0octrine pre,cribe0 ma,,ing mac8ine gun, to ma.imi+e t8eir 5irepower, unli6e t8e !llie,, w8o 0i,per,e0 t8em 5or local 5ire ,upport4 T8i, i, one 5actor (o5 ,everal) t8at 0etermine0 t8at @erman 5orce, woul0 8ave t8e e0ge in t8eir early tactical encounter,, alt8oug8 t8ey o5ten ,u55ere0 8eavily too4 =or /a,ting,, an outmo0e0, military attitu0e repre,ente0 by ;uaint nineteent89century uni5orm,, waving 5lag, an0 marc8ing ban0, lie, at t8e root o5 =renc8 0e5eat on t8e 5rontier, in !ugu,t 1213, rat8er t8an crucial 0i55erence, in tactical 0octrine4 T8ere i, commen0able range in t8i, boo64 /a,ting, ,urvey, t8e w8ole o5 (urope, pa,,ing 5rom Serbia, via @alicia t8roug8 ea,tern Pru,,ia an0 acro,, t8e *ort8 Sea4 T8e,e intere,ting an0 o5ten 0i,regar0e0 a,pect, o5 t8e early p8a,e o5 t8e war are vital to un0er,tan0ing it, cour,e4 ea0er, will get muc8 o5 t8e colour an0 te.ture o5 0i,tant lan0,, i5 limite0 gra,p o5 8ow t8ey organi+e0 5or war4 !ttention revert, ine.orably to t8e embryonic we,tern 5ront w8ere #ritain<, ,mall (an0 in t8i, e.po,ition, very ba0ly le0) (.pe0itionary =orce i, ,wept bac6 an0 5ort8 in t8e turmoil o5 ma,, armie, going to war4 /a,ting, a0mit, t8e ,mall ,cale an0 relative incon,e;uentiality o5 #ritain<, 5amou, early battle, at Mon, an0 Le 'ateau, but inevitably t8ey receive more attention t8an t8e e;uivalent 8uge an0 bloo0y encounter, between t8e =renc8 an0 @erman armie, on t8e =rontier, an0 at @ui,e4 !lt8oug8 8e ?u0ge, t8e =renc8 army to be :one o5 t8e mo,t 5ormi0able 5ig8ting 5orce, in (urope-, li6e '8urc8ill be5ore 8im /a,ting, ma6e, no great e55ort to un0er,tan0 it: 5or e.ample, 8e con5late, it, 'olonial 'orp,, an elite ,emi9 pro5e,,ional w8ite 5orce rai,e0 5or ,ervice in t8e colonie,, wit8 t8e *ort8 an0 >e,t !5rican levie, =rance woul0 later 0eploy to t8e trenc8e,4 T8e #attle o5 t8e !r0enne,, va,tly bigger t8an Mon, an0 t8e 0eci,ive encounter o5 !ugu,t 1213, i, 0i,mi,,e0 in a 5ew impre,,ioni,tic page, li,ting ,ome locali+e0 =renc8 tactical 0i,a,ter,4 %n t8e !r0enne,, 8ig8er comman0 0e5iciencie, rat8er t8an tactical mi,ta6e, meant t8at t8e =renc8 5aile0 to e.ploit 8uge gap, in t8e ragge0 @erman line t8at blun0ere0 8ea0long into t8e a0vancing =renc8 5ollowing intelligence 5ailure, on bot8 ,i0e,4 T8e @erman, prove0 ,wi5ter in a cri,i,, but t8e gran0 ,c8eme o5 Ao55re<, :Plan GH%%- counter9o55en,ive to ,ma,8 t8e @erman centre w8ic8 /a,ting, critici+e, robu,tly came clo,er to ,ucce,, t8an i, generally reali+e04 Ao55re gra,pe0 t8e ,ituation an0 began ,ac6ing ine55icient peacetime comman0er, an0 promoting t8o,e w8o 8a0 prove0 t8em,elve, in t8e 5iel0, re,toring 8i, grip on 8i, army be5ore t8e ,ucce,,5ul Marne counterattac6: :a moment o5 greatne,,- in an ot8erwi,e lac6lu,tre per5ormance in /a,ting,<, ?u0gement, a rare ac6nowle0gement t8at war5are i, generally grey, not blac6 an0 w8ite4 /a,ting,<, war reporting i, vivi0 an0 in5ormative: 8e 5lit, roun0 (urope watc8ing people 0oing t8ing, an0 li,tening to t8eir conver,ation,4 Iet 8i, 0i,patc8 contain, t8e ,ort o5 inaccuracie, an0 omi,,ion, t8at c8aracteri+e0 new, 5rom t8e 5ront in 12134 /e 0oe,

an,wer 8i, ;ue,tion :>8at 8appene0 to (urope in 1213J-, in 8i, own term,4 ! 5ull e.planation o5 w8y military event, 0evelope0 a, t8ey 0i0 in !ugu,t 1213 await, anot8er 8i,torian4 Mallin,on e.plain, military a55air, rat8er better t8an /a,ting, an0 0iplomatic event, le,, well t8an Macmillan4 $ne woul0 e.pect t8e 5ormer 5rom a ,ol0ier, an0 t8i, boo6<, value lie, in t8e in,ig8t ,omeone w8o 8a, 8im,el5 le0 troop, an0 8a0 to plan military operation, bring, to t8e early battle, o5 t8e #riti,8 (.pe0itionary =orce4 Mallin,on cover, muc8 o5 t8e ,ame groun0 a, /a,ting,, o5ten 0own to t8e ,ame primary ,ource ;uotation,, but o55er, more valuable in,ig8t, into 8ow an army actually wor6,4 T8i, i, e,,entially 0rum an0 trumpet 8i,tory, t8e tale o5 men in battle, o5 8ar0,8ip, an0 8eroic,4 Mallin,on certainly a0mire, t8e #riti,8 army t8en (an0 now)B it, political lea0er, ,omew8at le,,4 &n5ortunately, 8e i, not one to let t8e 5act, get in t8e way o5 a goo0 tale, an0 li6e /a,ting, 8e cannot entirely t8row o55 interpretation, 5rom t8e 1220,4 /e repeat, ,everal 0i,cre0ite0 i0ea,: 5or e.ample, t8at t8e #riti,8 1irector o5 Military $peration,, Sir /enry >il,on, an0 @eneral =er0inan0 =oc8 e55ectively planne0 t8e 0eployment o5 t8e #(= to =rance between t8em, an0 t8at t8e =renc8 =i5t8 !rmy 'omman0er, @eneral '8arle, Lanre+ac, in,ulte0 Sir Ao8n =renc8 t8e 5ir,t time t8ey met4 'uriou,ly, Mallin,on t8en ac6nowle0ge, in e.ten,ive e.planatory 5ootnote, t8at t8i, may not 8ave been t8e ca,e4 :T8ere i, not an0 never will be a K0e5initive< interpretation o5 t8e coming o5 war: eac8 writer can only o55er a per,onal view-, /a,ting, conten0,4 T8e t8ree un0er review 0e,cribe in ever more 0etail w8at it wa, li6e, but only con,i0er in t8e mo,t broa0 term, w8at t8e war wa, about an0 w8y (urope<, people engage0 ,o w8ole8earte0ly in it4 !5ter rea0ing t8em, one 0e,pair, o5 ever being able to brea6 t8e 0i,torting len, o5 t8e Secon0 >orl0 >ar t8at prevent, our un0er,tan0ing t8e =ir,t4 '8urc8ill<, legacy in particular, bot8 a, #ritain<, ,ucce,,5ul later war lea0er an0 a, a contentiou, popular 8i,torian o5 t8e war in w8ic8 8e 0i0 con,picuou,ly le,, well, remain, perniciou,4 T8e war<, cour,e an0 outcome, were roote0 in t8e event, o5 1213 D t8e =renc8 victory on t8e Marne, Serbia<, repul,e o5 !u,tria<, inva,ion, u,,ia<, 0e5eat at Tannenberg, t8e oyal *avy<, 8ol0 on t8e *ort8 Sea an0 t8e 0eci,ion to e.pan0 t8e #riti,8 army4 T8ere i, muc8 more to be ,ai0, alt8oug8 it remain, to be ,een w8at impact e.ten,ive 8i,torical revi,ioni,m on popular motivation an0 t8e military con0uct o5 t8e war, w8ic8 8a, been 0eveloping 5or ,everal 0eca0e,, will 8ave on t8e 8i,tory war,4 %t 0oe, not ,eem to be ri0ing t8e cre,t o5 t8e 5ir,t wave, an0 per8ap, it will not be until t8e centenarie, 8ave pa,,e0 t8at a more nuance0 un0er,tan0ing o5 t8e war will be e,tabli,8e04 S8oul0 @reat >ar 8i,torian, 0e,pairJ #ore0om may ,et in, an0 publi,8er, may 5eel t8ey 8ave 0one enoug8 by 121L4 &ntil t8en, t8e revi,ioni,t view will certainly vie 5or cre0ibility an0 acceptance wit8 t8e over95amiliar ,tory vivi0ly retol0 8ere4 /a,ting, an0 Mallin,on bot8 ac6nowle0ge it, e.i,tence an0 0abble wit8 it, but t8ere i, an obviou, reluctance to waver 5rom 5amiliar pat8,4 T8e =ir,t >orl0 >ar remain, a living war, 5re,8 an0 vivi0 in our memorie,4 !, it, centenarie, pa,, we will inevitably relive, but a, 5ar a, we can we ,8oul0 al,o recon,i0er, t8at global cata,trop8e4 1e,cribing it i, ,traig8t5orwar0, but e.plaining it i, 0i55icult,

un0er,tan0ing it, even more ,o4 %n t8e centenary 5ree95or9all t8ere will be re8a,8ing along,i0e reinterpretation, an0 e.perti,e or originality may not count 5or muc84 T8e,e t8ree early volume,, con,i0ering 8ow t8e war began 5rom ,lig8tly 0i55erent per,pective,, are merely t8e 5ir,t ,alvo a, ,ocietie, re9engage wit8 an0 battle again over t8e legacy o5 mo0ern (urope<, 0e5ining con5lict, a, it pa,,e, 5rom living memory4 To ,tretc8 t8e military analogy 5urt8er (t8ere will be plenty more o5 t8i, over t8e ne.t 5ew year,), t8e big gun, 8ave been 0eploye0 at t8e ,tart: t8ey ma6e a lot o5 noi,e an0 t8row up a lot o5 0u,t, but t8eir 0e,tructive 5orce i, 0ebatable4 T8ey will 8it t8eir target no 0oubt D t8e,e boo6, will be all over by '8ri,tma,4 #ut it will be a long war, an0 t8e real 8i,tory war, are only beginning4 William Philpott i, Pro5e,,or o5 t8e /i,tory o5 >ar5are in t8e 1epartment o5 >ar Stu0ie, at Cing<, 'ollege Lon0on4 /i, boo6, inclu0e /lood0 1ictor0: ")e sacrifice on t)e 2omme and t)e ma3ing of t)e t(entiet) centur0, w8ic8 appeare0 in 20024