Osprey Essential Histories 22 : The First World War (3) : The Western Front 1917-1918

In this book covering the war on the Western Front, Peter Simkins describes the last great battles of attrition at Arras, on the Aisne and at Passchendaele in 1917. Then he moves on to relate the successive offensives launched by Germany in the spring and summer of 1918 in an effort to achieve victory or a favourable peace before American manpower proved decisive. Again, questioning and correcting several myths and long-held assumptions about the nature and conduct of war on the Western Front, the author also looks at the aftermath and legacy of the 'war to end wars'. In 1917 the strategic background to the struggle on the Western Front altered significantly with the Russian Revolution and America's entry into the war. The German army - its resources severely strained by the battles of Verdun and the Somme - adopted a new system of defence, while the British Expeditionary Force developed fresh fighting methods which led to outstanding tactical successes. On the respective home fronts, The Allied naval blockade and German U-boat operations brought additional hardships and shortages.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Background to War : Strategic Choices for 1917
• Warring Sides : The Opposing Armies
• The Fighting : War on the Western Front 1917-1918
• Portrait of a Soldier : Private Frederick 'Fen' Noakes
• The World around War : The Home Fronts 1917-1918
• Portrait of a Civilian : Caroline Webb
• How the War Ended : The Final Month