During World War I the Netherlands was situated squarely between two warring great powers, Britain and Germany, and on the edge of the war zone itself. Isolationism was impossible; strict neutrality was inadequate. The Netherlands nevertheless escaped the war, mainly because of its own actions.
This book is the story of the people who managed this escape.
The first part of the book examines the pre-war situation, espionage against Germany, and the mobilization of 1914. Succeeding chapters cover the military-diplomatic balancing act during the war, the attempted revolution of 1918, and the near-disaster at Versailles. The book concludes with a consideration of major issues.
This work is intended to appeal to a broad audience, including students of World War I, modern European history, diplomatic history, military history, and peace studies.