Rating: 
Summary: A Comprehensive Epic of the New Dark Ages
Review: "Slam" Marshall's epic "World War I" is an expansive and explosive account of the beginning of what we might best think of as the 'Century of War'. His history not only provides lucid, detailed and gripping accounts of the major campaigns of the Western and Eastern fronts, but also gives his readers a sense of the extraordinary human waste of this terrible conflict. Not only is his work a thrilling piece of military history, but also a work with giant insights into social and political currents as well as a novelist's sense of psychology: his portrait of Ludendorff, for instance, makes a convincing case for adding this demonically gifted glory-hound to the canon of the century's great villains. Marshall's eye for detail will fill his reader's heads with indelible images, from the cigarette-case tossed aboard the Kaiser's yacht with the news of the Archduke's assasination to Hoover's troubled walk through Paris after reading the Versailles Treaty's punishing conditions. The book's final illustration-- of the Nazis in one of their Miltonic conferences-- lands a final punch with staggering force: this insane conflict, which destroyed the humane illusions of 19th Century progressivism, was only the beginning of a cycle of almost unremitting horror.
Rating:
Summary: A Comprehensive Epic of the New Dark Ages
Review: "Slam" Marshall's epic "World War I" is an expansive and explosive account of the beginning of what we might best think of as the 'Century of War'. His history not only provides lucid, detailed and gripping accounts of the major campaigns of the Western and Eastern fronts, but also gives his readers a sense of the extraordinary human waste of this terrible conflict. Not only is his work a thrilling piece of military history, but also a work with giant insights into social and political currents as well as a novelist's sense of psychology: his portrait of Ludendorff, for instance, makes a convincing case for adding this demonically gifted glory-hound to the canon of the century's great villains. Marshall's eye for detail will fill his reader's heads with indelible images, from the cigarette-case tossed aboard the Kaiser's yacht with the news of the Archduke's assasination to Hoover's troubled walk through Paris after reading the Versailles Treaty's punishing conditions. The book's final illustration-- of the Nazis in one of their Miltonic conferences-- lands a final punch with staggering force: this insane conflict, which destroyed the humane illusions of 19th Century progressivism, was only the beginning of a cycle of almost unremitting horror.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent account of World War I.
Review: "World War I" is an excellent basic history of "the war to end all wars," written by a former U.S. Army Brigadier General and military historian. Marshall's narrative is crisp and precise, and his descriptions of people and events is reasonably detailed. He is fair and objective, unsparing in his criticism of errors made my military leaders on all sides of the conflict. Perhaps the strongest part of this book is the opening chapters, where Marshall narrates a fascinating account of the underlying causes of the war and the events of conflict's first few months. This book won't take the reader into any deep examination of the war, its causes, or its effects on later events. It is, however, a good basic survey of the war, based upon solid, if not penetrating, research. It certainly makes recommendable reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Content of the book is incomplete.
Review: Although the book contained some very interesting information, I was surprised to read only one paragraph on the Black-Americans that participated in World War 1. There were two black divisions that were not incorporated into the book. The 92nd Division (Buffalo Soldiers) and the 93rd Division (Provisional). The 93rd Division was called provisional because it was not a complete division. The 93rd was composed of two Brigades, 185th and 186th Infantry Brigades. Within the 185th were the 15th New York Regiment, the 8th Illinois, First Separate Battalion of Washington, DC, the 9th Seperate Battalion of Ohio and the guard companies of Tennessee, Masachusetts, Maryland, and Conneticut guard units. Black officers staffed some units, while others had white or black or both. The 15th New York became the 369th Infantry Regiment and was commanded by Colonel William Hayword, white, of New York. In mid-May 1917, the regiment was ordered to training at Camp Whitman near Peekskill, NY. Although the 15th New York National Guard sailed in December 1917 to France, in January of 1918 it became the 369th Infantry Regiment of the 93rd Infantry Division (Provisional). Next, another black regiment, the 8th Illinios National Guard commanded by Colonel Franklin A. Dennison, black, was mobilized in late March of 1917. They trained at Camp Logan, just prior to the Houston Mutiny. On the first December 1917, the 8th officailly became the 370th Infantry Regiment of the 93rd Infantry Division. the 370th sailed on December 10th 1917 for France. The 369th and 370th Regiments became the 185th Brigade of the 93rd Division. Brig. General Albert H. Blanding was the Brigade Commander. In January 1918, the 372nd Infantry Regiment was established at Camp Stuart, Virginia. It was composed of six black National Guard units: Washington, DC-- First Battalion (Companies A-D); Ohio--Second Battalion (Companies E-H); Maryland--Company I; Tennessee--Company K; Massachusetts--Company L; Conneticut--Company M and around 250 draftees from Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. Two whit officers headed the regiment; Colonel Glendie B. Young and Lieutenant Colonel Albert W. Cole. Although the first three regiments were made up of national guardsmen, the fourth regiment, The 371st was organizes from black draftees from the Carolinas, Georga, Florida, and Alabama. Colonel Perry L. Miles and Lt. Col. Robert M. Brambila, both Regular army and white. In October 1917 the new 371st were assigned to Camp Jackson for training and some to Camp Gordon. The 370th and 371st incorporated into the 186th Brigade commanded by Brig. General John H. Harris, white. The Headquarters staff sailed from Hoboken on the 18th of Feburary 1918. In January 1918 the War Department organized these four regiments into the incomplete 93rd Infantry Division (Provisional). The 93rd was attached to French Units and received many French awards. Unfortunately, the U.S. Army never presented the 93rd with American Awards. The principal offensive was Meuse-Argonne (Champagne) offensive from September 26-October 9, 1918. Casualties of the 93rd in this offensive included 2,502 men. In November of 1917, the 92nd Division was organized at Camps Funston, Kansas; Grant, Illinoise; Upton, New York; Dix, New Jersey; Mead, Maryland; Dodge, Iowa; and Sherman, Ohio. The division was brought to full strength in May 1918. This was meant to be an all black-American division, however, The War Department was convinced that black men work best under white leadership. The principal units of the division were the 183rd and 184th Brigades. Incorporated within the 183rd were the 365th, 366th Infantry Regiments, and the 350th Machine-Gun Battalion. The 184th contained the 367th, 368th Infantry Regiments, and the 351st Machine-Gun Battalion. The 167th Field Artillery Brigade contained the 349th and 350th Artillery Brigade.
Rating:
Summary: Content of the book is incomplete.
Review: Although the book contained some very interesting information, I was surprised to read only one paragraph on the Black-Americans that participated in World War 1. There were two black divisions that were not incorporated into the book. The 92nd Division (Buffalo Soldiers) and the 93rd Division (Provisional). The 93rd Division was called provisional because it was not a complete division. The 93rd was composed of two Brigades, 185th and 186th Infantry Brigades. Within the 185th were the 15th New York Regiment, the 8th Illinois, First Separate Battalion of Washington, DC, the 9th Seperate Battalion of Ohio and the guard companies of Tennessee, Masachusetts, Maryland, and Conneticut guard units. Black officers staffed some units, while others had white or black or both. The 15th New York became the 369th Infantry Regiment and was commanded by Colonel William Hayword, white, of New York. In mid-May 1917, the regiment was ordered to training at Camp Whitman near Peekskill, NY. Although the 15th New York National Guard sailed in December 1917 to France, in January of 1918 it became the 369th Infantry Regiment of the 93rd Infantry Division (Provisional). Next, another black regiment, the 8th Illinios National Guard commanded by Colonel Franklin A. Dennison, black, was mobilized in late March of 1917. They trained at Camp Logan, just prior to the Houston Mutiny. On the first December 1917, the 8th officailly became the 370th Infantry Regiment of the 93rd Infantry Division. the 370th sailed on December 10th 1917 for France. The 369th and 370th Regiments became the 185th Brigade of the 93rd Division. Brig. General Albert H. Blanding was the Brigade Commander. In January 1918, the 372nd Infantry Regiment was established at Camp Stuart, Virginia. It was composed of six black National Guard units: Washington, DC-- First Battalion (Companies A-D); Ohio--Second Battalion (Companies E-H); Maryland--Company I; Tennessee--Company K; Massachusetts--Company L; Conneticut--Company M and around 250 draftees from Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. Two whit officers headed the regiment; Colonel Glendie B. Young and Lieutenant Colonel Albert W. Cole. Although the first three regiments were made up of national guardsmen, the fourth regiment, The 371st was organizes from black draftees from the Carolinas, Georga, Florida, and Alabama. Colonel Perry L. Miles and Lt. Col. Robert M. Brambila, both Regular army and white. In October 1917 the new 371st were assigned to Camp Jackson for training and some to Camp Gordon. The 370th and 371st incorporated into the 186th Brigade commanded by Brig. General John H. Harris, white. The Headquarters staff sailed from Hoboken on the 18th of Feburary 1918. In January 1918 the War Department organized these four regiments into the incomplete 93rd Infantry Division (Provisional). The 93rd was attached to French Units and received many French awards. Unfortunately, the U.S. Army never presented the 93rd with American Awards. The principal offensive was Meuse-Argonne (Champagne) offensive from September 26-October 9, 1918. Casualties of the 93rd in this offensive included 2,502 men. In November of 1917, the 92nd Division was organized at Camps Funston, Kansas; Grant, Illinoise; Upton, New York; Dix, New Jersey; Mead, Maryland; Dodge, Iowa; and Sherman, Ohio. The division was brought to full strength in May 1918. This was meant to be an all black-American division, however, The War Department was convinced that black men work best under white leadership. The principal units of the division were the 183rd and 184th Brigades. Incorporated within the 183rd were the 365th, 366th Infantry Regiments, and the 350th Machine-Gun Battalion. The 184th contained the 367th, 368th Infantry Regiments, and the 351st Machine-Gun Battalion. The 167th Field Artillery Brigade contained the 349th and 350th Artillery Brigade.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but better in the original edition
Review: I agree with earlier reviewers that this is a very readable, if somewhat superficial history of World War I. Marshall has strong opinions about everyone and everything, not always well-backed by scholarship. I suggest looking for earlier editions of this book, originally issued as _The American Heritage History of World War I_, with a number of color illustrations and maps. The illustrations are nothing special, but the maps are better than average--especially the faux aerial views of Tannenberg, the Marne, Gallipoli, Verdun, the Ardennes, etc. I found these the clearest visual presentations of these battlefields I've ever seen. Credit the American Heritage editorial staff. Copies can probably be found from on-line sources.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent overview
Review: Mr. Marshall has written an excellent overview of WWI - an overview is all this book is, though. It is important to keep in mind that any book, which attempts to examine one of the most complex conflicts in human history on less than 500 pages, will have to be brief. Consequently, the book is best used as a study, which offers a sense of structure of the events between 1914 and 1918. As a source of information on particular events, may they be political or military, the book is incomplete. Mr. Marshall's study is a valuable source for establishing a broad sense of the sequence of events. The interlocking of state policies is described with captivating simplicity. The first chapter, which examines the political climate of Europe leading up to the war, manages to present a convincing, if simplistic, narrative about the forces, which chose the path of armed confrontation over diplomacy and negotiation. Subsequent chapters chart the different stages of the conflict, spanning from 1914 to 1918 and shifting between the hills of Verdun and the peaks of Kilimanjaro. The different campaigns are described schematically and their most important themes and considerations are highlighted at the expense of more obscure factors. Given the complexity of the war, Mr. Marshall's ability to impose structure on the events is a rather praiseworthy achievement. Another commendable quality of Mr. Marshall's work is his literary style. Unlike many historical studies, this book is actually very readable. The author has an excellent sense of rhythm and a pleasant ratio of seriousness and irony. A favorite passage dealing with the early stages of the trench war describes how the shell shortage forced the British to "...mark time on the Aisne while Germans fortified. The French followed suit so that they might live longer, and the novelty, while offensive to their doctrine, swiftly became a habit" (page 127) If I have anything critical to say about this book, it will be about the analysis of the conflict as a series of chess moves. Mr. Marshall traces most events back to the intentions of a single individual (may these intentions be correct or erroneous). This desire to rationalize the development of the war in terms of the influence of the individual political and military figures does not capture the chaotic atmosphere of the period. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that Mr. Marshall has compiled an overview of WWI, which affords an excellent structure of the conflict. If you want to understand the basics of this crucial point in world history, this compendium is for you. If you are looking for an in-depth analysis, it probably will not carry the title "World War I" but something more like "The First Marne". As Charles Jenks once wrote: "You cannot blame a donkey for being a bad sort of horse."
Rating:
Summary: An excellent overview
Review: Mr. Marshall has written an excellent overview of WWI - an overview is all this book is, though. It is important to keep in mind that any book, which attempts to examine one of the most complex conflicts in human history on less than 500 pages, will have to be brief. Consequently, the book is best used as a study, which offers a sense of structure of the events between 1914 and 1918. As a source of information on particular events, may they be political or military, the book is incomplete. Mr. Marshall's study is a valuable source for establishing a broad sense of the sequence of events. The interlocking of state policies is described with captivating simplicity. The first chapter, which examines the political climate of Europe leading up to the war, manages to present a convincing, if simplistic, narrative about the forces, which chose the path of armed confrontation over diplomacy and negotiation. Subsequent chapters chart the different stages of the conflict, spanning from 1914 to 1918 and shifting between the hills of Verdun and the peaks of Kilimanjaro. The different campaigns are described schematically and their most important themes and considerations are highlighted at the expense of more obscure factors. Given the complexity of the war, Mr. Marshall's ability to impose structure on the events is a rather praiseworthy achievement. Another commendable quality of Mr. Marshall's work is his literary style. Unlike many historical studies, this book is actually very readable. The author has an excellent sense of rhythm and a pleasant ratio of seriousness and irony. A favorite passage dealing with the early stages of the trench war describes how the shell shortage forced the British to "...mark time on the Aisne while Germans fortified. The French followed suit so that they might live longer, and the novelty, while offensive to their doctrine, swiftly became a habit" (page 127) If I have anything critical to say about this book, it will be about the analysis of the conflict as a series of chess moves. Mr. Marshall traces most events back to the intentions of a single individual (may these intentions be correct or erroneous). This desire to rationalize the development of the war in terms of the influence of the individual political and military figures does not capture the chaotic atmosphere of the period. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that Mr. Marshall has compiled an overview of WWI, which affords an excellent structure of the conflict. If you want to understand the basics of this crucial point in world history, this compendium is for you. If you are looking for an in-depth analysis, it probably will not carry the title "World War I" but something more like "The First Marne". As Charles Jenks once wrote: "You cannot blame a donkey for being a bad sort of horse."
Rating:
Summary: Several groups that died in France were excluded.
Review: S.L.A. Marshall completely omitted the 92nd Division of the American Expeditionary Forces, 2nd Army. This was a Black-American Division that was made up of almost all White officers, some Black officers and almost all Black troops. The 92nd Division (Buffalo Soldiers) was given the Buffalo patch which was in memory of the first Buffalo Soldiers from the and Tenth United States Calvary. During the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, September 26-October 5, 1918, there were 322 casualties. The 93rd Division was incomplete. It only contailed four regiments: 369th. 370th, 371st, and 372. France was in such need for replacements, General Pershing attached them to the French Army as soon as they arrived from the America. During the Meuse-Argonne (Champagne) Offensive from September 26-October 9, 1918, there included 2,502 casualties from the 369th, 371st, and 372. These brave men received several awards from the French but The America Expeditionayr Forces never submitted these men for any awards. Although these men were assembled in 1917 and used during 1918, there were many lives lost for freedom. Both Divisions were reactivated for World War 2.
Rating:
Summary: Thorough overview of the entire war.
Review: SLA Marshall, a former one-star general in the US Army, has written a meticulously researched yet readable book covering virtually all of the major operations of WW1. He combats the concept that all generals of the war were incompetent "donkeys" by analyzing every offensive's goals and planning. He considers each commander on his own merits. I would recommend this book to those who don't mind a relatively lengthy introduction to the war, and those who would like to learn of campaigns they haven't looked at yet. The books only drawback is that it appears to be primarily drawn from English-language sources, and therefore the American and British portions of the war are described in more detail than the other nationalities'.
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