A
welcome reprint in paperback of Martin Middlebrook's
1978 classic. Following the same format of
his earlier and even more successful "The first
day on the Somme", Martin reconstructs the
opening of the March 1918 Operation Michael
offensive by the German Army. He does so by
lacing together quotations from numerous interviews
with veterans from both sides that he sought
out by advertising in newspapers around the
world. The testimony of individuals is brought
into the lucid structure of this immense affair
by reference to official and regimental histories
and the war diaries of the British units .
An easy read, well constructed
and sympathetic to the plight of the men, the
book covers the events of 21 March 1918 in considerable
depth and does not attempt to continue beyond
the opening phase. Martin attempts to summarise
and answer the question " who won" and, largely
on the basis of failure to reach their objectives,
concludes that the attacking German army lost.
It is perhaps a pity that the work did not extend
to 28 March, when British Third Army inflicted
as heavy a defeat on their assailants as the
German army did north of Fricourt on 1 July 1916.
For anyone interested in this
action or even just seeking a well written, pacy,
book on a major action of the Great War, you
can not go wrong. Pen & Sword have reprinted
the book in a rather large 9 inch by 6 inch (235
x 155mm) format: it is certainly a little easier
to read than my original paperback - or is it
just that my eyes are nearly 30 years older?
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