Haig’s joke | Flora Sandes | 12 Aug 1916
Battle of Romani Time to close up shop in Egypt for the forseeable future. The Ottomans have lost just about two-thirds of their force. General Continue reading Haig’s joke | Flora Sandes | 12 Aug 1916
Battle of Romani Time to close up shop in Egypt for the forseeable future. The Ottomans have lost just about two-thirds of their force. General Continue reading Haig’s joke | Flora Sandes | 12 Aug 1916
Battle of Jutland The High Seas Fleet continues concentrating in preparation to sortie immediately after midnight. The water seethes with activity as ship after ship Continue reading The fleets leave port | Jutland | 30 May 1916
Siege of Kut The siege continues. The garrison, and Edward Mousley, has just had bad news. Two paramount budgets of especial interest and importance reached Continue reading Rations at Kut | SS Sussex | 11 Apr 1916
Edward Mousley Hey, is there anyone out there who’s got a pet? Yeah, me too. Um, this might be a bit difficult to read. You Continue reading On les aura! | Mousley’s horse | 10 Apr 1916
Aristide Briand Time for some lovely crunchy French politics. Rene Viviani’s last, desperate play to save himself as Prime Minister was to select a new Continue reading Aristide Briand | 29 Oct 1915
Today we have a little French strategy, a lot of Italian failure, and another dose of the horrors of war from Kenneth Best. First Isonzo Continue reading First Isonzo | Jun 24 1915
There’s a lot of stuff today carrying over into tomorrow. We’re on the eve of First Isonzo, it’s the first day of the Battle of Continue reading Battle of Bukoba | 22 Jun 1915
After yesterday’s day of final preparation, there’s an awful lot of attacks going off, and awfully little being achieved by them. To France! Second Artois Continue reading Battle of Bellewaarde | 16 Jun 1915
General Joffre is called to a meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss French strategy, and two old friends meet again. Watch the Birdie Continue reading French strategy | 21 Mar 1915
General Joffre formally suspends First Champagne today. Time for some official French navel-gazing. There’s also business afoot in Africa and Egypt. First Champagne Don’t worry, Continue reading Jasin | 13 Jan 1915
No, not the Cosa Nostra. The Mafia we’re interested in is a small island off the coast of German East Africa. Mafia More specifically, it’s Continue reading Mafia | 08 Jan 1915
The new year is a natural time to re-evaluate strategic possibilities; there’ll be plenty of that in the coming days. First, to the Channel, and Continue reading Formidable | 01 Jan 1915
Spot the Difference: The hour of attack has sounded. After having contained the attack of the Germans, it is necessary now to smash them and Continue reading First Artois | 17 Dec 1914
The first phase of the Battle of Kolubara is coming to an end; but before we go to Serbia, let’s spend a moment in the Continue reading Bulwark | 26 Nov 1914
There’s nowhere else to start the day but St Petersburg, where partial mobilisation orders are sent out at midnight. Russian mobilisation However, Sergey Sazonov isn’t Continue reading General mobilisation | 30 July 1914
The downward spiral continues. SMS Bodrog The Austro-Hungarian monitor (a naval ship with large guns designed to operate in rivers rather than at sea) Bodrog Continue reading Belgrade | 29 Jul 1914
Diplomacy has failed. The July Crisis is coming to its head. These are melodramatic times, and it’s hard to talk about them without sounding somewhat Continue reading Austria-Hungary declares war | 28 July 1914
Serbia As the Army continues to mobilise, telegrams continue arriving from Russia. The latest report is that Russia plans “immediately to commence an energetic offensive Continue reading War becomes inevitable | 27 July 1914
The July Crisis is turned on its head today as the Russian government commits itself to supporting Serbia with military force if necessary. I’ve also Continue reading Russia supports Serbia | 25 July 1914
With the ultimatum in hand, the situation for Serbia looks extremely grim. They need help, and they need it now. Before we consider their position Continue reading Serbia against the wall | 24 July 1914
The gathering storm is about to break. Today is the day of the ultimatum, the day when the July Crisis changes from being any old Continue reading Ultimatum to Serbia | 23 July 1914
President Poincare continues with his helpful contributions to peace and diplomacy, and Count Berchtold finally gets round to showing his German allies the content of Continue reading France and Serbia | 22 July 1914
The German government singularly fails at acting like a mass of brutally efficient Teutons, bent on war at all costs. Meanwhile, President Poincare does his Continue reading Franco-Russian summit | 21 July
Today we are mostly looking at the position of the British government, and in particular, the Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey. Henriette Caillaux France’s attention Continue reading Sir Edward Grey | 20 July 1914
A look at the personality and role of Sergey Sazonov, the Russian foreign minister, who’s been pushing support for Serbia hardest of all. Poincare and Continue reading Sergey Sazonov | 18 July 1914
As Count Lutzow continues to leak freely in Vienna, we’ve still got time to consider a few underlying issues. Today, it’s financial diplomacy. Poincare visits Continue reading Financial diplomacy | 16 July 1914
On a quiet day, we’re investigating the precise position of the President of France, Raymond Poincare, one of the few heads of state to take Continue reading President Poincare | 15 July 1914
Today is a day of men sitting behind desks or around tables, considering the situation. The German Army is reassured that the French are in Continue reading Leaking from the top | 14 July 1914
Lots of varying arguments today over the complicity, or otherwise, of the Serbian government. Which, incidentally, is an impossible question to answer because you can Continue reading Wiesner report | Humbert’s speech | 13 July 1914
On a relatively quiet day, let’s take a moment to examine the sensational events that are occupying the French media cycle almost entirely. Now, even Continue reading Henriette Caillaux | 12 July 1914