This volume analyzes the First World War in light of the concept of “total war,” particularly the systematic erosion of the distinction between the military and civilian spheres. Leading scholars from Europe and North America explore the efforts of soldiers and statesmen, industrialists and financiers, professionals and civilian activists to adjust to the titanic, pervasive pressures that the military stalemate on the western front imposed on belligerent and neutral societies.

The First World War was the first large-scale industrialized military conflict in the world's history, and it gave birth to the concept of total war. The essays in this 2000 volume analyse the experience of the war in light of this concept's implications, in particular the systematic erosion of distinctions between the military and civilian spheres. With an emphasis on developments in Germany, France, Great Britain and the United States, leading scholars from Europe and North America locate the First World War along a trajectory that began in the wars of the middle of the nineteenth century and culminated in worldwide conflict in the middle of the twentieth. The essays explore the efforts of soldiers and statesmen, industrialists and financiers, professionals and civilian activists to adjust to the titanic, pervasive pressures that the military stalemate on the western front imposed on belligerent and neutral societies.

Review
'... a fine collection of essays that students of the Great War should not miss.' The Economic History Review '... this collection can justify its claim to address the 'totality' of war on the Western Front, and the reader can expect a broadening ... of his or her knowledge of the conflict from reading this volume.' War in History 'The volume is made attractive by the extremely high quality of the contributions, and by its discussion of important questions concerning the historical location of the First World War.' Sven Oliver Muller, German Historical Institute Bulletin