Europe 1914 was, on the surface, both peaceful and prosperous, but a conflict ready to happen. The continent was bedevilled by a mixture of nationalism, alliances, mutual distrust, militarism and economic rivalry.
The assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, was the spark to ignite an already primed tinderbox. Initially the public was excited at the prospect of some great battles, and the general view was that everything would be concluded by Christmas. It was, by Christmas 1918.
'The Western Front' includes many rare photographs from the Imperial War Museum's unique collection. Historian David Ray conveys the flavour of the times and the massive scale of carnage.
