Trench: A History of Trench Warfare on the Western Front

by Stephen Bull

Overview

A complete guide to trench warfare on the Western Front from an authority on the subject.

Even now, 100 years on from the conflict, the image of trenches stretching across Western Europe – packed with young men clinging to life in horrendous conditions – remains a powerful reminder of one of the darkest moments in human history.

In this excellent study of trench warfare on the Western Front, expert Dr Stephen Bull reveals the experience of life in the trenches, from length of service and coping with death and disease, to the uniforms and equipment given to soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

He reveals how the trenches were constructed, the weaponry which was developed specifically for this new form of warfare, the tactics employed in mass attacks and the increasingly adept defensive methods designed to hold ground at all cost.

Packed with photographs, illustrations, annotated trench maps, documents and first-hand accounts, this compelling narrative provides a richly detailed account of World War I, providing a soldier's-eye-view of life in the ominous trenches that scarred the land.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472808622
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	05/20/2014
Series:	General Military
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	785,702
File size:	65 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr Stephen Bull is Curator of Military History and Archaeology for Lancashire Museums, with particular responsibility for local regimental collections. Currently he is engaged in the redisplay of the Museum of Lancashire, including a new gallery on World War I. He has previously worked at the National Army Museum and BBC in London. A Member of the Institute of Archaeologists, he has also appeared in the TV series Battlefield Detectives. He has written numerous articles for specialist journals, including a number on the weapons and tactics of World War I. His other books include six Osprey titles, two on World War I, and four on World War II.
Dr Stephen Bull worked for the National Army Museum and BBC in London before taking up his current post as Curator of Military History and Archaeology with Lancashire Museums. A consultant to the University of Oxford he is also a Member of the Institute for Archaeologists, and has made TV appearances that include the series Battlefield Detectives, news and archaeology features. Published on both sides of the Atlantic and in several languages, he is the author of a number of works for Osprey including titles on tactics in World War II. Dr Bull has been one of the key contributors to the accompanying television series screened in the United Kingdom and North America.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Western Front Chronology

The Armies of 1914 and the Problem of Attack
The Beginning of the Trenches
'Trenchtown'
New Weapons and Tactics
Gas
Raiding and Sniping
Mining
Concrete and Stellungsbau
The Tank
'Over the Top'
Conclusion

Notes
Select Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Military collections will find this specific and key.” —The Midwest Book Review

“In this book on the trench, author Stephen Bull relies on four previous Osprey editions to help provide not only some material, but also images and artwork to help illustrate this volume. But this isn't just a rehash of those previous works as most of what is written is new to this volume ... It is a truly engrossing book that pulls in the reader with its narrative and personal stories.” —Scott Van Aken, Modeling Madness

“If the Great War centenary inspires new projects by any TS&MF readers, I highly recommend Dr. Stephen Bull's new book as a great reference. Trench: A History of Trench Warfare on the Western Front is a 272-page paperback packed with well-written information, photos in both color and black and white, and maps. Bull lays out the big picture while providing telling insights from the individual soldier's-eye-view of the scarred landscape. This terrific book is a moving reminder of why WWI was one of the most apocalyptic chapters in the history of mankind.” —Toy Soldier and Model Figure

From the Publisher