In this episode of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 09, Episode 02, we explore Chapter 2 of Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe, focusing on the First World War and its far-reaching aftermath. We begin by examining the initial expectations of a short war and how the reality of trench warfare on the Western Front quickly dashed those hopes. The episode covers the opposing sides, key campaigns like the Battle of the Marne and the brutal battles of Verdun and the Somme, and the significant role of naval warfare, including the impact of unrestricted submarine warfare and the decisive convoy system. We discuss the pivotal entry of the USA into the war and Russia's withdrawal, leading to the final defeat of the Central Powers. The main concept explored is the complex and controversial 1919 Peace Settlement, particularly the Treaty of Versailles, detailing its terms, the objections raised by Germany, and the differing war aims and views of the Allied powers. We also touch upon the devastating effects of the war, including the immense human cost, the collapse of empires, and the redrawing of the European map, setting the stage for future global challenges.