The First World War began 110 years ago this summer. Though widely expected to last only a few months – and to be ‘over by Christmas’ – the conflict would drag on for four long years, claiming more than 15 million lives.

Today, it is often remembered for the appalling conditions of the trenches, where deadlocked forces sometimes found themselves quite literally stuck in the mud. But as we are reminded in this issue, it began as a war of movement, as the invading German Army smashed its way towards Paris.

In our two-part special feature, Graham Goodlad examines first how Europe slid inexorably towards war, and then looks in detail at the ‘Miracle of the Marne’ – the key early battle which checked the German advance but in doing so paved the way for years of bitter stalemate.

Elsewhere, we travel further back in time to discover what happened when medieval knights went rogue, as Steve Tibble, the author of a new book on the subject, goes in search of Crusader criminals.

Also in this issue, Patrick Mercer reveals why Italy’s Gothic Line saw some of the fiercest fighting of World War II; and William E Welsh explains how Marshal Turenne’s celebrated Winter Campaign of 1674-1675 sealed his reputation as one of France’s great generals.

Finally, in the second part of his fascinating series to mark the 150th birthday of Winston Churchill, Taylor Downing uncovers the wartime PM’s unlikely friendship with the difficult but brilliant scientist who restarted Britain’s controversial WWII bombing campaign.

We hope you enjoy the issue!

LAURENCE EARLE