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, notable improvements in weaponry and equipment and the first example of tanks being used in battle. This book examines the day-to-day lives of the British Tommy, the German Stormtrooper, the French Poilu and the American Doughboy as they fought and died in the trenches, with details of their recruitment and training and vivid descriptions of combat on the Western Front. It also provides an extensive reassessment of trench warfare, following the development of controversial tactics and new weapons, the first use of poison gas in warfare and the introduction of the tank - initially an accident-prone novelty but later a front-breaking weapon.