Pessimism and British War Policy, 1916-1918 (British Politics and Society) - Hardcover

Millman, Brock

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 071465079X ISBN 13: 9780714650791

Publisher: Routledge, 2001

Synopsis

This analysis of Britains war policy during the last years of the Great War argues that it was strongly affected by a mood of pessimism. The policy was revised after the defeats suffered by the allies in 1917, so much so that Britain almost "tumbled into peace" the following year.

About this title

Synopsis:

This analysis of British war policy considers alterations to the grand strategy during the last years of World War I. The argument is that war policy in this period was strongly affected by pessimism, even defeatism. In the aftermath of the defeats and disappointments of 1917, many could understand how the war could be lost, less how victory could be achieved. By the end of 1917, war policy had been revised so that it aimed less to win the war outright than to bring Germany to the conference table in a less exultant mood, whilst laying the bases for a peripheral war, essentially victorious on the continent, either in the last stages of World War I or during the ancicipated World War II. The major feature of this revised policy was that the focus of the war was to be shifted to the Eastern stage. It was hoped that Britain would be able to gain victories here to off-set Germany's conquests in Europe, and the jump-off points for periperal war. It was not believed that peace could be achieved before 1919. When, therefore, Britain "tumbled into peace" in 1918, policies had been undertaken in the East which were to have profound consequences.

About the Author:

Brock Millman is an assistant professor in the Department of History at Western University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 071465079X
• ISBN 13: 9780714650791
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 336