Product Description

Without the advantage of birth or social connections, Horatio Herbert Kitchener rose rapidly in the Army, from obscure subaltern to the most acclaimed soldier in Britain. In August 1914, in the hour of his country's greatest need, he dutifully responded to the call to serve as secretary for war. George Cassar's study focuses on Kitchener's role in recognizing and framing the larger issues of the war facing his countrymen and the Allies. From the beginning he appreciated the complexities and demands of the global conflict, understanding that it would last at least three years and require the deployment of a mass army. His recruiting campaign, highlighted by the famous poster "Your Country Needs You," brought in nearly three million volunteers, a feat that no other belligerent nation came close to matching. Kitchener's strategy was twofold. First, to defeat Germany and preserve Britain's independence, Kitchener understood that the key to victory was to treat the western and eastern fronts as one. Thus he worked closely with, and supplied armaments to, the Russian army, while pursuing careful attrition in France. His second aim was to enhance the security of Britain and its empire in a postwar world, not just against enemies but also against allies. Drawing upon a variety of unpublished sources, ranging from government documents to the private papers of leading generals and politicians, the author sheds new light on Kitchener's controversial role in the Dardanelles campaign and the munitions crisis, his efforts to organize an Arab revolt against Turkey, his supervision of operations in Africa, and his relations with colleagues and Allied leaders. This highly readable book refutes many myths about Kitchener, which his detractors circulated after his death in 1916, and makes a powerful case that without his leadership the Entente would not have won the war.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #931311 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 368 pages

Review
"This superbly written narrative history by a prolific World War I scholar will be of interest to the general reader as well as to the specialist. In addition to his insightful analysis of the many crises faced by the British government during the early years of the Great War, Professor Cassar makes a spirited defense of Lord Kitchener's controversial tenure as Secretary of State for War. Although Kitchener's numerous critics will probably not agree with Cassar's conclusion that Kitchener saved the Entente from defeat, they will almost certainly be impressed with his attempt to rehabilitate the reputation of Britain's most popular soldier at the beginning of the war." --David R. Woodward, professor of history, Marshall University, and author of LLOYD GEORGE AND THE GENERALS

About the Author
George H. Cassar, Ph.D., is a professor of military and modern European history at Eastern Michigan University and a leading authority on Britain at war. He has published numerous books on the subject, including Kitchener: Architect of Victory and Asquith as War Leader. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.