1918 ― The First World War in Photographs

At the start of 1918, the fighting was entering its fifth year, and the Germans planned what they hoped would be decisive offensives at Lys and Aisne in their favor. But at the Battle of Amiens, the British struck back. The final Allied offensive broke the Hindenburg Line and Germany was pushed into inevitable defeat.

The German High Command sought terms for a peace settlement, and the Armistice was signed on 11 November 1918.

In defeat, Germany was humiliated and economically paralyzed by the draconian war reparations imposed by the victorious Allies. But for both sides the real cost had been in terms of human life and its widespread impact upon society. Twenty million people had been killed, the participating nations in Europe had been left all but bankrupt, and the political map had been irrevocably changed. But few could have imagined that the so-called ‘war to end all wars’ was the harbinger of an even greater world war yet to come.

REVIEWS

"...authors John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon present readers with a pictorial depiction of the fifth and final year of World War I and the immediate post-war period using many rare and unpublished photographs. The authors cover the action of the war on all fronts, including the home fronts of multiple participating nations, month by month throughout the course of 1918. They also include a postscript summation of ongoing diplomatic actions and reconstruction efforts throughout Europe in during the following year of 1919. "
Protoview

John Christopher has written and edited a number of books on Engineering, Military History and Railway and Road Transport, specializing in the life and works of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and being the series editor for Amberley’s Bradshaw’s Guides series. He has also appeared in Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys television series. In between writing books, he is a balloon pilot and Land Rover fan. He lives in Gloucestershire. Campbell McCutcheon has had a life-long interest in the Olympic-class vessels and naval shipping. He has written extensively on the subject along with some Military History and Bradshaw’s Railway titles for Amberley. He lives in Gloucestershire, but he was born within sight and sound of the water and has been interested in ships from a young age.