British Infantryman vs German Infantryman

Somme 1916

By: Stephen Bull, Peter Dennis (Illustrator)

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Paperback | 20 January 2014 | Edition Number 1

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This engaging study pits the volunteers of Kitchener's 'New Armies' against the German veterans who defended the Somme sector in the bloody battles of July-November 1916. The mighty struggle for the Somme sector of the Western Front in the second half of 1916 has come to be remembered for the dreadful toll of casualties inflicted on Britain's 'New Armies' by the German defenders on the first day of the offensive, 1 July. The battle continued, however, throughout the autumn and only came to a close in the bitter cold of mid-November. The British plan relied on the power of artillery to suppress and destroy the German defences; the infantry were tasked with taking and holding the German trenches, but minimal resistance was anticipated. In the event the defences were damaged but not destroyed, and small numbers of defenders, many of whom had garrisoned the Somme sector for many months and knew the ground well, inflicted appalling casualties on the British attackers. Both sides incurred major losses, however; German doctrine emphasised that the first line had to be held or retaken at all costs, a rigid defensive policy that led to very high casualties as the Germans threw survivors into ad hoc, piecemeal counterattacks all along the line.

Featuring specially commissioned full-color artwork and based on meticulous reassessment of the sources.

Industry Reviews

"The book is superbly written and has some very compelling period photos and superb art work that only enhance what is a pretty gruesome story that was so typical of the First World War. It is a book that draws in the reader and gives him a sense of what it was like [to experience war]. A book I fully enjoyed reading and can quite easily recommend to you." --Scott Van Aken, www.modelingmadness.com

"A nice primer for anyone interested in the makeup of British and German units on the Western Front during this period. The opening pages cover the origins and recruitment of the British and German units, along with training, weapons, and tactics. There are some nice period photos that compliment equally nice drawings and paintings showing standard uniforms, weapons, etc. The leadership characteristics of the opposing officers are covered, as well as a section on Morale, Motivation and Logistics. I recommend it highly for anyone wishing to understand what soldiers on both sides had to endure during World War I." --IPM/USA Reviews

"[this book] pits the volunteers of Kitchener's 'New Armies' against the German veterans who defended the Somme sector in the battles of July to November 1916. The book features innovative split-screen artwork, expert analysis combined with firsthand accounts and strategic and tactical maps." --Model Retailer

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