The Splintered Empires

The Eastern Front 1917-21

By: Prit Buttar

Narrated by: Roger Clark

Length: 22 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

At the beginning of 1917, the three empires fighting on the Eastern Front were reaching their breaking points, but none was closer than Russia. After the February Revolution, Russia's ability to wage war faltered and her last desperate gamble, the Kerensky Offensive, saw the final collapse of her army. This helped trigger the Bolshevik Revolution and a crippling peace, but the Central Powers had no opportunity to exploit their gains, and a year later, both the German and Austro-Hungarian empires surrendered and disintegrated.

Concluding his acclaimed series on the Eastern Front in World War I, Prit Buttar comprehensively details not only these climactic events, but also the "successor wars" that raged long after the armistice of 1918. New states rose from the ashes of empire and war raged as German forces sought to keep them under the aegis of the Fatherland. These unresolved tensions between the former Great Powers and the new states would ultimately lead to the rise of Hitler and a new, terrible world war only two decades later.

©2017 Prit Buttar (P)2019 Tantor

Wish there were more like it.

Covers a poorly understood time in Europe and is a great introduction to a few aspects of post WW1 history. It’s difficult to locate books on the topic covered and is a much needed addition.

Prit Buttar Is A Master

Prit Buttar's breadth of knowledge on all things the Eastern Front is astounding. The Splintered Empires is a momentous achievement. What happened during the years of 1917-1921, while WWI was still going on and after, truly boggles the mind. This was the most tumultuous period in European and Russian history. However, little is often written about the years after WWI. And what happened during this period all but assured a Second World War would occur. Brilliant work.

Roger Clark's narration is spot on perfection. He perfectly compliments Prit Buttar. It just doesn't get better than this.

Awesome retelling of the end of WWI!

This book tells in amazing detail and eloquence the story of the end of WWI.

Complete overview Prelude to WW I and ramification

Outstanding review. Especially for one who is a novice ant interested in that period of history. Coves the conduct the world war I and sets the tage for world war aiI.

great listen for the end of the first world war

great book for the time period, only wish it was even more dense for the post war republics between Germany and Russia, particularly lacking for Ukraine's post war situation

To understand World War 2 you need to read this.

This book is necessary to understand both the ambitions of the Germans and the Soviets in World War 2 . It also shows the birth of new nations out of the corpses of dead empires.

Informative, in depth

An amazing book which described the conflict and the breakdown of Empires and the formations of new countries that took their place is excellent.

Explains a lot about

This audiobook explains a lot about the history and modern evolution of the countries between Russia and Germany. Because most of the books I have read about WW1 focus on the western front, I had never realized that fighting continued in the eastern front area for several more years after the end of WW1. I found the book to be somewhat confusing which is probably due to my ignorance of the history of this region of the world. The reason I listen to history books is to learn and inform myself as to he possibilities of how and why countries do the things they do. This book certainly met my expectations.

I know now why WW2 was a continuation of WW1

I'm ignorant of WW 1 and the eastern front especially. Absolutely fascinating read/listen about Astro-Hungry, Germany Russian and small countrys in the war and afterwards. In addition I found it interesting that my of the same locations were fought over again in WW2! GET book!!

Detailed History, Last Chapters Most Useful

Though Buttar is a medical doctor and not a professional historian, this work is packed with detail and solid research. As a European historian, the last few chapters were most useful to me, discussing the "pygmy wars" in Poland and the Baltic that followed the end of WW1.