Der Weltkrieg, II. Band Vom Kriegsausbruch bis zum uneingeschränkten U-Bootkrieg

A detailed study traces the first years of the Great War, beginning with the mobilisation that sparked the conflict and the early battles that shaped its course. It examines how Germany’s military strategy, the financial pressures on the Reich, and the emerging war economy interacted as the battle lines stretched across Europe. The narrative also follows diplomatic manoeuvres, from the tensions surrounding the Dardanelles to Italy’s shift from neutrality and the Balkan entanglements that followed the Lusitania’s sinking.

Beyond the battlefield, the work explores how the state reorganised its finances, introduced war bonds, and imposed new taxes to sustain the massive expenditures. It reveals the development of a coordinated economic effort—centralising imports, managing raw‑material shortages, and employing technology to keep production flowing. The analysis culminates with the decision to adopt unrestricted submarine warfare, illustrating how military, financial, and political pressures converged in this pivotal escalation.