This book explores how the Lithuanian state was created and shaped by the Great War from its onset in 1914 to the last waves of violence in 1923. Tomas Balkelis investigates the effects of the war on the evolution of Lithuanian society by telling the stories of war veterans, volunteers, POWs, paramilitary fighters, and refugees.

State Failure, Social Disaster, and Refugee Politics During the Great War -- Breaking from Isolation: War and Nation-Building -- New War, New Mobilizations -- Two Visions of Lithuania: Revolution and the Advance of the Red Army -- Multidirectional War and Paramilitarism -- Home Front -- The Polish-Lithuanian Conflict: "A Dirty War" -- Peace or a Long-Term Crisis?