Product Description

The years from 1914 to 1918 saw a whole series of complex and very rapid changes in infantry tactics, which fundamentally altered the way wars had been fought for 150 years. This two-part study describes and illustrates the development of infantry equipment and weapons; of support weapons; of field fortifications; and, most importantly, exactly how these items and techniques were all employed in attack and defence. The texts are illustrated with contemporary photos and diagrams, and with new colour plates combining details of uniforms, equipment and weapons with 'bird's-eye views' explaining their use in battle. In short, they offer a detailed but accessible tactical guidebook on 'how to fight a trench war'.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #184565 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

About the Author
Dr Stephen Bull is the Curator of the Museum of Lancashire in Preston, which incorporates the collections of several local regiments. Born in 1960, he graduated from the University of Wales with a BA (Hons) in history in 1981, and obtained his doctorate from University College, Swansea, with a study of English Civil War weapons. For several years from 1984 he worked at the National Army Museum, on a fortifications project and later in the Weapons Department. He has written numerous articles for specialist journals, incuding a number on the weapons and tactics of World War I. Adam Hook studied graphic design at art college and began his illustrating career in 1983. He has worked with a variety of educational publishers covering various subjects within the fields of history and natural history. For Osprey he has illustrated numerous Campaign and Warrior titles. Adam lives and works in Sussex, UK

Customer Reviews

Well illustrated!
Part 1 - 3 stars:
WW I is not my favourite, and this book didn't really spark my interest in spite of the numerous illustrations by photograph and drawing. The drawings are good and it's amazing how many relevant photos are available from a time when cameras were cumbersome and scarce.
There are some very interesting quotes to be found throughout the book from manuals and letters of instruction etc. and even better from soldiers who were actually there.
Dr. Stephen Bull does manage to convey the desperation stemming from the stalemate and horrendous number of casualties.
The Great War - "great" can easily be misinterpreted - didn't end in 1916, so I have to read Book 2, 1916-18.
Part 2 - 4 stars:
Part 1 appears to be a starter to get the reader warmed up for this one. I'd say that the illustrations are even better here in Part 2 - especially the drawings.
I expected the ordinary soldiers, NCOs and subalterns to do whatever was in their power to find other and less "casualty producing" ways to go about their business. But I'm surprised to find how much of their ingenuity-based lessons learned actually reached General Staff level, was accepted and published to all brigades, regiments and battalions in the form of manuals for training and tactics, notes and letters of instruction etc. Some of it even resulted in the formation of special schools.
It turns out that they in many respects had a Research & Development-like approach to the numerous and seemingly insurmountable problems of trench warfare. I knew some of the tactical parts of this from Erwin Rommel's Infantry Attacks, but I'm sure that a lot of people believe it was one mindless human wave attack - preceded by ineffective artillery fire - after the other. Fire followed by manoeuvre - not fire and manoeuvre as it should be.
I appreciated the descriptions of the development of tactics concerning scouting, patrolling, sniping, assaulting and trench clearing but also the technological advances in the fields of light machine guns, hand grenades, tanks - of course one might say - helmets and even body armour.
I've always felt that the bayonet was overrated in the specific role as a weapon. Since I read Forward into Battle by Paddy Griffith, I've been looking for someone who would back his data up, and here it is: "At the same time it was acknowledged that bayonet fighting was rare: Two lines advancing against each other with the bayonet will seldom meet. The one stimulated with the greater fury and confidence, by the force of its determination to conquer, will cause the other line to waver and turn. This was confirmed by statistics: according to the British official history, just one third of one percent of casualties were caused by bayonets."
Again a fairly easy read, that - in sequel to Part 1 - gives a WW I novice a solid and very well illustrated presentation on trench warfare on the western front.