The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman

I've officially begun my examination of WWI, an event of which I know surprisingly little.  This Pulitzer Prize winning book, the second in a three book series, provides a deep examination of the pivotal first month of the war.

The first month was pivotal because it set the stage for what was to come over the next four years.  Almost no one expected the war to last longer than a period of weeks, perhaps months.  By the end of August, the scene had changed dramatically and everyone realized that this war would last monstrously long, with devastating impact and loss of life.

Germany yearned for war to fulfill its misconceived visions of hegemony over Europe.  It itched for war and the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand provided exactly the excuse it needed.

Germany's plan called for a rapid envelopment of France in a brisk attack lasting 35 days, planned down to every last detail.  This rapid strike was planned down to every detail, requiring perfect precision to conquer France before its Russian ally could mobilize its forces and attack Germany from the East.

Germany made the critical mistake, however, of marching through Belgium on its way to France, triggering England to come to Belgium's rescue due to a long-standing treaty.  Belgium's uprising against the invading Germans, along with Great Britain, slowed down the attack just enough to miss the 35 day deadline.  Russia was able to attack from the East, drawing German divisions from the western front, back to the east.

Instead of rapid victory, the result was a standoff in the form of trench warfare that lasted for years, bringing unending misery.  The month of August, plus Germany's mistakes and miscalculations, truly did determine the course of the war - and the world at large - for the next four years.

A great story told by a terrific historian in Barbara W. Tuchman.