A documentary work can be more exciting than the most exciting detective story, because the reality of the story is more interesting than any fiction. Barbara Tuckman's acclaimed book is brilliant proof of this. It is read and reread, republished and sold out, it has been awarded one of the highest literary awards in the world - the Pulitzer Prize. How and why did the First World War begin? What an inexorable logic of events gradually pulled the powers, which, in essence, did not want to fight, into a bloody whirlpool. What secret mechanisms of history, almost accidentally released, gave impetus to the gigantic war machine? Why did the Schlieffen plan, calibrated down to the second, down to the millimeter by the best specialists of the German General Staff, ultimately collapse?

Barbara Tuchman (English: Barbara Wertheim Tuchman; 01/30/1912, New York - 02/06/1989, Greenwich (Connecticut) )) is an American writer and historian. Daughter of banker Maurice Wertheim. Granddaughter of Henry Morgenthau. Graduated from Radcliffe College (BA, 1933). Twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize (1963 - for "The First Blitzkrieg", 1972 - for "Stilwell and the American Experience in China"). She was elected as the reader of the Jefferson Lecture in 1980.

Contents: From the publisherRequired preface. O. Kasimov [7] Funeral [37]

Plans [55] “Let the one on the far right touch the strait with his shoulder” [57] Shadow of Sedan [70] “Every English soldier.” [89]Russian “steam roller” [103]

Beginning [117]First of August, Berlin [121]First of August, Paris and London [135]Ultimatum in Brussels [152]“We will return home before the start falling leaves" [168]

Battle [193] Liege and Alsace [195] The path of the British expeditionary forces to the continent [231] Sambre and Meuse [244] Defeat: Lorraine, Ardennes, Charleroi, Mons. [271]Cossacks! [306]Tannenberg [337]Fires of Louvoie [358]Retreat [373]Paris - a front-line city [405]Kluck has turned [431]We will fight on the Marne [451]Afterword [475]Appendices [481]NotesComments