The Truth of the First World War

Groundbreaking new evidence that will change our understanding of the First World War

Uncovering never before published materials from the German National Archive, this groundbreaking book provides new evidence that will change our understanding of the First World War.

Common wisdom has it that the German records of the First World War were mostly destroyed by Allied bombing during the Second World War. In this revelatory work, the result of 15 years of primary research, Peter Barton uncovers the letters, diaries, prisoner testimony, intercepted conversations, and myriad other intelligence reports still stored in the German national archives.

The enormous cache of unseen material is housed in archives all over Germany, parts of it covered in dust. For the astonishing fact is almost nobody has looked for them.

The discoveries force us to question what we know about the war, including the German experience. Most extraordinary are stories that can be linked directly to contrasting Allied records. Peter Barton’s painstaking researches now reveal: identified spies at the heart of the Entente leadership; intelligence coups by the German high command prior to key battles, which led to the war lasting so long; prisoner testimony, captured letters and diaries from captured Allied soldiers contradicting what they told folks back home; records of war crimes performed by Allied soldiers; and much more.

The Truth of the First World War is set to change our understanding of the First World War, arguably still the most influential event of modern history.