World War I was the first truly global conflict and had an impact on virtually every country on the face of the planet. The scale of human loss was staggering: some 8 million soldiers and more than 6 million civilians died in four years of fighting, and a further 21 million troops were wounded. It was also the first time that many of the military technologies we now take for granted were first seen, including aircraft, submarines, and tanks. Yet these were over-shadowed by more established weapons like machine guns and artillery: the most lethal weapons of all. The war brought about wide-ranging and profound political changes. It saw the end of the Austro-Hungarian, Russian and Ottoman Empires, and humbled Germany, Europe's greatest land power. It left Britain impoverished and confirmed the economic and financial pre-eminence of the United States. The war also affected women as never before. They were no longer seen as merely wives and mothers but actively supported the fighting in a wide range of roles. They served behind the lines in hospitals and worked in a number of key war industries. This wide-ranging book begins with the state of Europe before the war before embarking on four major chapters, chronicling the course of the war a year at a time. Overviews of the major battles are interspersed with spreads detailing the weapons and tactics that often decided the outcomes. A final chapter looks at the aftermath of war and the newly emerging European states. All aspects of the conflict are covered, from common war illnesses through to espionage, the use of propaganda, and atrocities on all sides. Key fact boxes delve into the lives of the political leaders, generals, and fighters whomade a difference, while also discussing the different political movements which flourished such as pacifism and women's suffrage. The heroic and tragic story of World War I is told here in an accessible style and is supplemented with more than 500 compelling photographs, maps and battle plans. This is the perfect book for both the general and specialist reader.