Recommended reading on the First World War

Discussions on all aspects of the First World War not covered in the other sections. Hosted by Terry Duncan.
Post Reply
User avatar
Imad
Member
Posts: 1412
Joined: 21 Nov 2004, 04:15
Location: Toronto

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#76

Post by Imad » 17 Dec 2013, 22:51

I got my copy of Jack Sheldon's "The German Army on the Western Front 1915". So far so good. This author has not let me down.

User avatar
Attrition
Member
Posts: 4006
Joined: 29 Oct 2008, 23:53
Location: England

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#77

Post by Attrition » 17 Dec 2013, 23:29

I've been dipping into it for the Wiki page for the 2nd Battle of Artois.


User avatar
Attrition
Member
Posts: 4006
Joined: 29 Oct 2008, 23:53
Location: England

Re: Early Trench Tactics in the French Army (review)

#78

Post by Attrition » 20 Dec 2013, 00:12

Attrition wrote:Early Trench Tactics in the French Army (Ashgate Studies in First World War History) by Jonathan Krause (28 Jan 2013)

http://historyspot.org.uk/sites/default ... 100525.mp3

The podcast gives a flavour of the book which really ought to be done in paperback.

http://www.canadianmilitaryhistory.ca/r ... june-1915/

Jonathan Krause, Early Trench Tactics in the French Army: The Second Battle of Artois, May-June 1915 (Ashgate, 2013), 180pp.

Reviewed by Allan Lougheed

Early Trench Tactics in the French Army: The Second Battle of Artois, May-June 1915, by Jonathan Krause is a valuable new addition to the series of Ashgate Studies in First World War History. In focusing on the Second Battle of Artois, Krause makes a compelling case that an operation that has often been dismissed as a costly failure deserves a closer look. Consider that on 9 May 1915, the Division Marocaine swept forward four kilometres in a single morning and reached the crest of Vimy Ridge. Yet the French hold on Vimy Ridge proved to be untenable and despite repeated attempts the feat would not be accomplished until Canada captured the same ground nearly 2 years later. Krause puts forward that despite the failure, French operations in 1915 laid the foundation for innovations that had an enduring influence on their conduct of the war. Krause sets two tasks for himself in Early Trench Tactics; first he examines the concerted attempt by the French Grand Quartier Général (GQG) to absorb lessons from the frontline and then disseminate them as a coherent doctrine. In doing so Krause argues that the GQG proved to be more effective than it is normally given credit for. Krause then looks at the experiences of two French divisions, the 34e and the 77e; a useful case study that bridges the gap between theoretical doctrine and the actual experience of fighting soldiers. Ctd....
The introduction is on offer as a free pdf here http://www.ashgate.com/pdf/SamplePages/ ... -Intro.pdf

User avatar
Attrition
Member
Posts: 4006
Joined: 29 Oct 2008, 23:53
Location: England

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#79

Post by Attrition » 13 Mar 2014, 01:03

https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=39508

Jonathan Krause. Early Trench Tactics in the French Army: The second Battle of Artois, May-June 1915. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate, 2013. xiv + 180 pp. Illustrations. $124.95 (cloth), ISBN 978-1-4094-5500-4.

Reviewed by Nicholas Murray (US Army CGSC)
Published on H-War (March, 2014)
Commissioned by Margaret Sankey

User avatar
Natter
Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: 19 Feb 2007, 22:43
Location: Bergen, Norway

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#80

Post by Natter » 13 Mar 2014, 01:57

Not so much reading as looking, but still worth mentioning I think:
"Walter Koessler 1914-1918 - The personal photo journal of a german officer in World War I" (Dean Putney, 2013. 136pg, english text. ISBN 978-0-615-87917-8 )

A large format book. Very nice, both in regard to content and quality of photos/print/binding!
It was enabled through Kickstarter, with several options for backing (I got the physical book, the pdf and high-resolution download of the photos).

Some links worth checking out:
Dean Putney's web-site for "Walter Koessler 1914-1918", and the Kickstarter project for the book.
NB: Note that you can buy the electronic version (pdf) of the book for only $10!


For those looking for a way to finance their own book-project:
Kickstarter
Indiegogo (a similar service)
Attachments
koessler2.jpg
koessler1.jpg

User avatar
Attrition
Member
Posts: 4006
Joined: 29 Oct 2008, 23:53
Location: England

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#81

Post by Attrition » 30 Mar 2014, 01:54

http://www.comroestudios.com/StanHanna/

Translation of the Austro-Hungarian Official History

AmYisroelChai
Member
Posts: 31
Joined: 16 Apr 2014, 02:40

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#82

Post by AmYisroelChai » 06 Jul 2014, 07:11

Since those of us who are literate are commemorating the 100th anniversary of The Great War, here are some obvious titles to consider reading:
The Proud Tower by Barbara Tuchman - an excellent study of pre-WW1 Europe and the underlying reasons for the conflict
August 1914 by Alexander Solzhenitsyn - a great read
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) - the great man's personal account of the Arab Revolt against the Turks
Hitler's First War (sorry can't remember the author) - interesting, detailed info about Hitler's WW1 experiences, but with much info about everyday German soldiers experiences on the Western Front, orders of battle, generalship, etc.
Burning Tigris by Peter Balakia, the Turkish genocide against the Armenians before, during and after WW1
Hero, the Life of T.E. Lawrence by Michael Korda, best biography on Lawrence of Arabia
The War to End All Peace (sorry can't recall he author) about British strategy against the Turks
Enjoy!!!

User avatar
Attrition
Member
Posts: 4006
Joined: 29 Oct 2008, 23:53
Location: England

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#83

Post by Attrition » 15 Aug 2014, 22:52

http://www.lobster-magazine.co.uk/free/ ... alkers.pdf

The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914
Christopher Clark
London: Allen Lane, 2012

There are many things that can be done while one is asleep.
Bellini wrote a delightful opera about somnambulism. However
it is difficult to share the same sense of fascination or repose
even a century after the outbreak of the Great War. Somehow
it defies any standard of human sensitivity to allude to the
acts and omissions leading to the millions of slaughtered men
and boys at the hands of the greediest financial and industrial
elites known to recorded history as the result of
‘sleepwalking’. Ctd....

AJFFM
Member
Posts: 607
Joined: 22 Mar 2013, 21:37

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#84

Post by AJFFM » 16 Aug 2014, 00:22

Can anyone recommend a good English books about both Kaiserschlacht (especially 2nd Marne) and 100 days offensive other than the Osprey books. Those were really disappointing in terms of detail and Anglo-centric to an unbelievable extent (I know that Osprey is an British Publisher)?

deanputney
New member
Posts: 1
Joined: 25 Sep 2014, 00:23

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#85

Post by deanputney » 25 Sep 2014, 00:41

Hi I'm Dean, the author of the book Walter Koessler 1914-1918 Natter mentioned a couple posts above. Thanks for posting about it, I really appreciate the review and I'm so glad you're enjoying it!

I have a few copies left over from the Kickstarter, and I'd like to get this book into the hands of more WWI buffs like you. Do you guys have any suggestions for how to do that?

Sid Guttridge
Member
Posts: 10158
Joined: 12 Jun 2008, 12:19

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#86

Post by Sid Guttridge » 25 Sep 2014, 11:56

For the best introductory overview, I would suggest starting with the old, 1970s, Purnell partwork The History of the First World War (nowadays often available in charity shops quite cheaply). This was far better than Purnell's earlier offering on the Second World War.

Only thereafter, would I suggest reading specialist books.

Cheers,

Sid.

User avatar
Attrition
Member
Posts: 4006
Joined: 29 Oct 2008, 23:53
Location: England

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#87

Post by Attrition » 01 Dec 2014, 12:42

Mitchell, S. B. T. An Inter-Disciplinary Study of Learning in the 32nd Division on the Western Front, 1916–1918 PhD http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/5283/ 2013 Birmingham University oclc=894593861

User avatar
Attrition
Member
Posts: 4006
Joined: 29 Oct 2008, 23:53
Location: England

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#88

Post by Attrition » 26 Jun 2015, 01:53

British Commission for Military History

http://www.bcmh.wildapricot.org/

User avatar
Attrition
Member
Posts: 4006
Joined: 29 Oct 2008, 23:53
Location: England

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#89

Post by Attrition » 09 Jul 2015, 16:39


User avatar
Pz III
Member
Posts: 704
Joined: 19 Jan 2015, 02:35
Location: Maryland

Re: Recommended reading on the First World War

#90

Post by Pz III » 19 Oct 2015, 02:47

I know its been mentioned before but one of my personal favorites....

The Price of Glory: Verdun 1916 by Horne. I read it every few years and never tire of it - well written and fascinating.

Post Reply

Return to “First World War”