World War I: The Great War

World War I was the first conflict fought around the entire world by virtually all the world's most powerful nations. Until 1939, it was called simply "The Great War" by everyone. However, it was "great" for reasons beyond the battlefield. It resulted in massive political and diplomatic realignments, many of which caused the next Great War as well as the subsequent Cold War. While the horrendous battlefield losses amounted to a "lost generation" of young men in many European countries, the war's social, economic, medical, scientific and artistic impacts transformed the lives and lifestyles of everyone on the planet.

The seminar will discuss the causes of WWI, followed by a ‘visit’ to a number of its battles on both land and sea.

Tom Fedyszyn, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College following 18 years on its teaching faculty. A retired Navy captain, he commanded a cruiser and a destroyer. His shore assignments included being the U.S. Naval attaché in Russia as well as the Russia branch chief for the international military staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. He is published widely on the Russian Navy and foreign affairs. He holds a Ph.D. in political science and international relations from Johns Hopkins University.