First World War

How the Spanish flu spread—and why the second wave was worse

What lay behind the horror of a past pandemic?

Field Music—Making a New World

Sunderland band Field Music, headed by brothers David and Peter Brewis, has made an album about the social impact of the First World War.

Heavy on cliches, 1917 war film is no one-shot wonder

Sam Mendes’s latest effort is impressive but it relies too much on its unique cinematographic approach rather than original storytelling, argues?Nick Clark

Rosa Luxemburg - a fighter for revolution

One hundred years ago this week right wing paramilitaries killed the revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg—on the orders of a reformist, social democratic party.

Reviews round-up—All We Wanted Was Everything

One hundred years on - remember that revolutions ended the First World War

This week marks 100 years since the end of the First World War. The bloody conflict caused appalling suffering and loss of life.

Days of hope - the 1918 German Revolution

04 November 2018
A revolution in Germany that erupted 100 years ago this month rocked Europe’s rulers and put a socialist world on the agenda. Tomáš Tengely-Evans looks at how the revolt showed the power of workers to liberate themselves—and to end bloody war.

Too much farming in The Guardians, a story of changing women’s lives

20 August 2018
The Guardians is an interesting exploration— in the last 20 minutes— of how the First World War changed the role of women in the workplace and the family

LETTERS: Universal Credit nightmare has made me more political

02 January 2018
My mother sadly passed away last May and the tenancy of our flat was transferred to me. I was told to move onto Universal Credit.

Bloody Balfour’s century of oppression in Palestine

28 October 2017
One hundred years ago Tory foreign secretary Arthur Balfour's declaration laid the basis for Palestinian oppression. Nick Clark looks at its legacy today

Mutiny at the heart of empire—how soldiers rebelled at Etaples

09 September 2017
Ripples of revolution spread across Europe and beyond in the wake of the February revolt in Russia in 1917—and the British Army was no exception

The horror of Passchendaele couldn’t stop rebellion

26 July 2017
The Battle of Passchendaele, which began 100 years ago this week, could be seen as just another bloody episode in the slaughter of the First World War.

Mutiny and rebellion in the shadow of a world war

18 January 2017
The brutality of the First World War and shortages at home meant Russian soldiers were ready to rise up in 1917

Slaughter at the Somme—100 years on

28 June 2016
One of the most horrific battles of the First World War began 100 years ago this week. Michael Bradley looks back at the causes of the carnage

Kienthal - the small beginnings of the anti-war tradition

26 April 2016
In 1916 socialists arguing against war were a minority, but change was coming. Alistair Farrow looks at how it started

Slaughter of Verdun haunted France

09 February 2016
The First World War’s longest battle began 100 years ago this month in Verdun, northern France. By the time it ended in December more than 300,000 had died and many more were missing or wounded.

How does revolt end war?

10 November 2015
Imperialism and international competition lies behind wars the world over. But if capitalism causes war, what ends it? Dave Sewell looks at the revolts that stopped the slaughter

The Sensory War: Powerful exhibition showing there’s no glory in war

04 November 2014
This exhibition depicts the horrific and brutal history of warfare during the last 100 years.

'Remember war resisters, not generals,' says campaigning author Adam Hochschild

04 November 2014
Millions around the world will remember the war dead on Sunday of this week, with special focus on the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

The soldiers that Empire forgot

30 September 2014
Troops from Europe’s empires who fought in the First World War were quickly erased from official histories. They are remembered by John Siblon