{"product_id":"9780786166909","title":"World War I, Part II","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn Europe, power was poised in balance. \u003cb\u003eGermany\u003c\/b\u003e longed to become a weltmacht - a world power. Britain struggled to preserve her empire. Both France and \u003cb\u003eRussia\u003c\/b\u003e expanded, and the Balkan states agitated for independence from Austria. Treaties were signed; alliances were consummated. Now the actions of any one power would determine the foreign policy of the others. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBy early August, 1914, the world was convulsed by war - the first world war. As Europe's nation-states battled, they awaited the response of the greatest of the neutral powers - The United States.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWorld War I\u003c\/b\u003e engulfed Europe. On the western front, there was constant carnage, but little movement. Soldiers bled and died to win a stretch of dirt, which was quickly lost again. Europe seemed to be deadlocked in a bloodletting frenzy. Halfway across the world, an officially neutral American was being drawn into the conflict. On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank a British ship named \u003cb\u003ethe Lusitania\u003c\/b\u003e. 1200 people died, including 128 Americans. Diplomatic relations between Germany and America slowly decayed until, finally, President Wilson ordered American merchant ships to be armed. Within days, U-boats opened fire on American streamers. On April 6, 1917, America declared war on Germany. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the 11th hour of the 11th day of November, 1918, the guns fell silent. Germany had surrendered. At the peace conference of Versailles, the victors constructed a treaty filled with revenge and retribution. It was a treaty that Germany would not honor. The dark clouds over Europe had not been dispelled; they were now gathering for a second global conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Knowledge Products, Inc.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47094241198320,"sku":"9780786166909","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780786166909_p0.jpg?v=1763665378","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780786166909","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}