Part 2, Chapter 9 Summary

What everyone expected to be a short war in 1914 turned into a lengthy stalemate that killed 11 million people, destroyed the political systems of much of Europe, and devastated all economies. Many of the industrial innovations of the preceding decades were militarized, most of which depended on oil products to run. When German forces closed in on Paris, French General Gallieni enlisted all 3,000 Parisian taxicabs, and in two days his ragtag armada rushed thousands of troops to critical points on the battle front. Tanks, introduced by the Allies in 1916, proved decisive in 1918. Technological innovations made possible the use of fighter planes and tactical bombers. In the East, the Ottoman Empire, who was allied with Germany, threatened the Abadan refinery. The British repulsed them and captured Basra to secure the strategic approaches to oil and ensure the safety of the Amir of Kuwait...