"If the imperative of the ruling classes had been to avoid the huge suffering of the people they were sending to fight, rather than territory and ego, then those compromises could have been found. As it was they were happier, on both sides, to send more of their working classes to die."

And IF my Aunt had Balls she'd be my Uncle - What is being discussed is History versus Mythology - you have signed up to the mythology which has led you to come out with what you have said above.

The First World War (HINT: Take a look at the title) was a fairly classless affair - and it wasn't only the working class who died - another of your more dearly held MYTHS.

Tell me GUEST Dave these compromises you prattle on about - as a Frenchman, or a Belgian, just exactly how much of your sovereignty would you have been willing to compromise away, and what would you have said to your former citizens who you were throwing on the mercy of their new rulers?

British Army - Great Britain's first citizen army, roughly half were volunteers whereas the armies of France, Belgium and Germany were all conscripts raised through a system of universal conscription - they had no choice or say in the matter whatsoever.

What territory and ego are you talking about from Great Britain's perspective? Both Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were fighting in the hope of territorial gain - Great Britain certainly wasn't.