Battle tactics of the western front

En savoir plus sur le livre

Historians often depict British involvement in the Great War as a series of tragic failures, marked by heavy losses from machine guns, untested technology, and incompetent leadership. However, Paddy Griffith, a noted military historian, reevaluates this narrative by exploring the evolution of British infantry tactics throughout the war. He contends that while the army's strategies and technologies initially faltered during the war's early, chaotic phase, significant improvements were made over time. By the autumn of 1918, the British army had developed a level of battlefield skill and mobility that was rarely matched even in World War II. Griffith highlights the disparity between military theory and the harsh realities of combat, arguing that many battles were meticulously planned to leverage advanced tactics and minimize casualties, yet breakthroughs remained unattainable under the prevailing conditions. By late 1916, the British had become proficient in 'storm-troop tactics,' often outpacing the Germans in critical areas such as coordinated assaults, predicted artillery fire, trench raiding, and effective machine gun use. While British generals may not have been military visionaries, Griffith asserts they played a crucial role in shaping much of the modern art of warfare.