War on the Western Front

World War I stands as a watershed in the evolution of modern warfare, with the development of sophisticated trench systems forming a battlefield over 400 miles long, innovations in weaponry and equipment and the introduction of tanks in battle. Without the ordinary soldier, however, there could have been no war: the Great War was very much a conflict of infantrymen - the largely forgotten masses of Tommies, Fritzes, Poilus and Doughboys. With a foreword by renowned World War I historian Gary Sheffield, "War on the Western Front" examines the day-to-day lives of these men as they fought and died in the trenches, from their recruitment and training to combat experience, vividly recounting the shock of life on 'the front'.It also provides an extensive re-assessment of trench warfare, a revolutionary tactic that challenged the very idea of war, and details developments in weaponry and armoured vehicles, including terrifying innovations in the use of poison gas, flamethrowers and tanks. This book contains material from previously published books: "War", number 12, 16, 79 and Elite, number 78 & 84. Overall, an excellent reference with a useful bibliography containing 50 titles from each combatant nation. "Barrett Tillman, amazon.com (July 2007)" War on the Western Front: In the Trenches of World War I is a narrowed focus on the Western Front of the first world war and is a pick for any college-level military library strong in the era's history. Its focus is on the daily lives of soldiers: as such it provides both first-person history and survey of trench warfare and tactics which changed the strategies and nature of warfare. An excellent, well-detailed analysis. "California Bookwatch (August 2007)" Throughout the book are superb photographs and illustrations to give the reader a real sense of not only what went on during these times, but how things changed over the course of the conflict... Overall it is an outstanding compilation and at a price that makes it a real bargain to the reader. I found it a fascinating read and can highly recommend this one to you. "Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (July 2007)" Provides a fine day-by-day survey of the daily lives of common soldiers who died in the trenches ... an invaluable guide for any military library. "California Bookwatch (November 2008)" Often times, Osprey will combine a number of out of print books that are on a similar subject into a single hardbound edition and that is what we have with War on the Western Front. This edition combines materials from Elite 78 and 84 along with Warrior 12, 16 and 79 into a concise volume covering the ground war during WWI ... an outstanding compilation and at a price that makes it a real bargain to the reader, especially this edition, which is softbound. I found it a fascinating read. "Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (October 2008)" A remarkable collection of photographs and commentary from a variety of authors allows readers to learn about the complexities of trench design (and the theories behind construction) as well as such innovations as flame-throwers, poison gas, and tanks. Readers will also get a sense of how men managed to endue the war's unprecedented change. "Nicholas Wood, Military History Quarterly (Spring 2008)""