Duel #85: Zeppelin vs British Home Defence 1915-18

Duel #85: Zeppelin vs British Home Defence 1915-18Zeppelin vs British Home Defence 1915-18 by Jon Guttman, Jim Laurier, Gareth Hector
ISBN: 1472820339
Published by Osprey Publishing on March 20, 2018
Genres: Equipment, Uniforms, Weapons
Pages: 80

 

 

Duel #85: Zeppelin vs British Home Defence 1915-18German Infantryman vs Russian Infantryman – 1914–15 by Robert Forczyk, Adam Hook
ISBN: 1472806549
Published by Osprey Publishing on April 21, 2015
Pages: 80

Editor’s Note: Osprey Publishing’s “versus” books cover many historical eras and weapon systems, from ancient Roman Legionary versus Carthaginian Warrior (Combat #35) to F-15C Eagle vs MiG 23/25 (Duel #72). Each of these splendid studies contain 80 pages, photos, color illustrations and often color maps, a bibliography that sometimes includes foreign language sources, and a useful index despite their small size. The authors include PhD historians to veterans familiar with the weapon systems.

These publications should not be dismissed as something for “specialists” or hobbyists. These excellent books provide a unique view of soldiers, aircraft, or tanks, detailed images and notes on equipment and organization, plus show how tactics actually worked on the battlefield.

For World War One, two of the titles of this series are shown here. They include a study of Zeppelins over England by noted aviation historian and author Jon Guttman, research director for History.net, and U.S. Army veteran and National Security PhD Robert Forczyk’s book on German and Russian infantrymen on the Eastern Front, reviewed below.

Robert Forczyk’s book on combat in East Prussia in the opening months of the war is a thorough and illuminating work on a subject commonly misinterpreted or ignored. The sources reveal never-before-seen photos, detailed battlefield maps, and artist renditions of what the combatants looked like.

Forczyk provides a superb analysis of tactics and combat performance at three battles: Gumbinnen (20 August 1914), Göritten (7 November 1914) and Mahartse (16 February 1915). He examines the evolving nature of infantry warfare on the Eastern Front. Central to the tactical portrayal of the battles fought are Russian- and German language sources rarely seen in the West. The accounts on the battle of Gumbinnen alone make the book worthwhile.

Abridged from review by Terrence Finnegan in RoadstotheGreatWar-ww1.blogspot.com/

Instrument of War: The German Army 1914-18

Instrument of War: The German Army 1914-18Instrument of War: The German Army 1914–18 by Dennis E. Showalter
ISBN: 1472813006
Published by Osprey Publishing on November 22, 2016
Genres: Reference
Pages: 328

Winner of the 2016 Tomlinson Prize Award

This is not a chronological presentation of campaigns and battles with maps and combat statistics, yet it is perhaps one of the most important books written about the German Army in the First World War.

Dennis Showalter, author of Tannenberg: Clash of Empires, 1914 (Brassey’s, 2004), was recently chosen for the Pritzker Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing. He has spent more than 50 years researching and teaching military history. This book represents his fresh perspective on the German Army during WW1. It explores that army’s internal dynamics and operational strategy, showing how both the army and nation were changed by war.

By 1916 the German Army had proved itself as “the Great War’s most comprehensively effective fighting force….” But “Strategic planning was not its forte. Its high command’s record was at best questionable.” And “after eighteen months, without any reasonable doubt fighting a war of attrition … [it] could not win.” Showalter concludes “the kaiser’s army … existed not to serve state and society but to sustain [itself]…. A recipe for defeat and dissolution.” Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Dana Lombardy, publisher of WWOI

The First Blitz: Bombing London in the First World War

The First Blitz: Bombing London in the First World WarThe First Blitz: Bombing London in the First World War by Ian Castle
ISBN: 1472815297
Published by Osprey Publishing on October 20, 2015
Genres: Aviation
Pages: 204

Ian Castle tells the story of the Zeppelin, Gotha, and Giant air raids on London in WW1. It is one of the best overviews in print, devoting a fair amount of attention to the raids’ effects on the populace but also covering well all the other aspects of the topic.

The maps are beautiful and very helpful in guiding the reader. This reviewer walked the route taken by Heinrich Mathy’s Zeppelin L13 on its devastating September 1915 raid and visited a number of other sites described in the text. The combination of Castle’s descriptions, maps, and Christa Hook’s paintings get the reader quite close to being on the sites themselves.

Osprey reprinted and updated two of Castle’s earlier works to create this single volume. London 1914-17: The Zeppelin Menace and London 1917-18: The Bomber Blitz. If you have neither or only one of them, however, this book is well worth reading. The use of footnotes would have improved this history, but that is a small complaint about this work that is otherwise exceptional.

Reviewed by Steve Suddaby, past president of WW1HA

Soldiers’ Songs and Slang of the Great War

Soldiers’ Songs and Slang of the Great WarSoldiers’ Songs and Slang of the Great War by Martin Pegler
ISBN: 9781472804150
Published by Osprey Publishing on August 20th 2014
Genres: History, Military, General, World War I, Europe, Great Britain, Technology & Engineering, Military Science, Social History
Pages: 408

Balloon-Busting Aces of World War I

Balloon-Busting Aces of World War IBalloon-Busting Aces of World War I by Jon Guttman, Harry Dempsey
ISBN: 1841768774
Published by Osprey Publishing on July 13th 2005
Pages: 96

Len's Summary: WFA members will recall Jon Guttman's talks at Baltimore seminars. Guttman is an editor at Aviation History and Military History magazines for the Primedia Group.

British Artillery 1914-19: Heavy Artillery

British Artillery 1914-19: Heavy ArtilleryBritish Artillery 1914-19: Heavy Artillery by Dale Clarke
ISBN: 1841767883
Published by Osprey Publishing on August 10th 2005
Pages: 48

Len's Summary: Many of the guns used by American Coast Artillery units on the Western Front were ob British design and manufacture.

German Battlecruisers, 1914-1918

German Battlecruisers, 1914-1918German Battlecruisers, 1914-1918 by Gary Staff
ISBN: 9781846030093
Published by Osprey Publishing on June 7th 2006
Genres: Military, Germany, Naval
Pages: 48

Len's Summary: Individual ship histories and brief analysis of their engagements.

British Battlecruisers, 1914-18

British Battlecruisers, 1914-18British Battlecruisers, 1914-18 by Lawrence Burr, Tony Bryan
ISBN: 1846030080
Published by Osprey Publishing on August 29th 2006
Genres: Military, Great Britain, Naval, Pictorial
Pages: 48

Len's Summary: A richly illustrated companion volume to German Battlecruisers.

Invasion 1914: The Schelieffen Plan to the Battle of the Marne: Before the trenches – the first battles of World War I

Invasion 1914: The Schelieffen Plan to the Battle of the Marne: Before the trenches – the first battles of World War IInvasion 1914: The Schelieffen Plan to the Battle of the Marne: Before the trenches - the first battles of World War I by Ian Senior
ISBN: 9781472803351
Published by Osprey Publishing on August 20th 2014
Genres: Germany, Technology & Engineering, Military Science, Military
Pages: 456

Len's Summary: A narrative history. Both Holger Herwig band Michael Neiberg have written better analyses of the First Marne battle.

Armies of the Russo-Polish War 1919-21

Armies of the Russo-Polish War 1919-21Armies of the Russo-Polish War 1919-21 by Nigel Thomas
ISBN: 1472801067
Published by Osprey Publishing on November 18th 2014
Genres: Design, Illustration, Military, Russia & the Former Soviet Union
Pages: 48

Len's Summary: One of the many smaller wars that erupted in the wake of the 1918 Armistice.

Gallipoli: Command Under Fire

Gallipoli: Command Under FireGallipoli: Command Under Fire ISBN: 9781472806697
Published by Osprey Publishing on March 1st 2015
Pages: 288

Len's Summary: Another look at the ever-fascinating Gallipoli campaign from a Turkish-language specialist and professor at the US Marine Corps University.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Mustafa Kemal AtatürkMustafa Kemal Atatürk by Edward Erickson
ISBN: 9781780965901
Published by Osprey Publishing on August 20th 2013
Pages: 64

Len's Summary: Ataturk led the Ottomans to victory at Gallipoli and forged the Turkish Republic from the ashes of WWI.

The Russian Civil War, 1918-22

The Russian Civil War, 1918-22The Russian Civil War, 1918-22 by David Bullock
ISBN: 1846032717
Published by Osprey Publishing on November 18th 2008
Genres: History, Europe, Russia & the Former Soviet Union, Military, General, Other, Revolutionary
Pages: 144

Len's Summary: A new short narrative history.

Sopwith Camel vs Fokker Dr I: Western Front 1917-18

Sopwith Camel vs Fokker Dr I: Western Front 1917-18Sopwith Camel vs Fokker Dr I: Western Front 1917-18 by Jon Guttman
ISBN: 9781846032936
Published by Osprey Publishing on March 18th 2008
Genres: History, Military, Aviation, World War I
Pages: 80

Len's Summary: A comparison of these famous WWI pursuit aircraft by a premier American aviation historian.

Brushes and Bayonets: Cartoons, Sketches and Paintings of World War I

Brushes and Bayonets: Cartoons, Sketches and Paintings of World War IBrushes and Bayonets: Cartoons, Sketches and Paintings of World War I by Lucinda Gosling
ISBN: 9781846030956
Published by Osprey Publishing on April 22nd 2008
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Art, General, Comic Strips & Cartoons
Pages: 200

Len's Summary: Collection of 250 WWI illustrations taken from the archives of the London Daily News.

The Czech Legion, 1914-20

The Czech Legion, 1914-20The Czech Legion 1914-20 by David Bullock
ISBN: 9781846032363
Published by Osprey Publishing on November 17th 2009
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Europe, Eastern
Pages: 48

Len's Summary: Czechs fought on the Western, Eastern and Italian fronts, as well as along the Trans-Siberian Railway.

French Tanks of World War I

French Tanks of World War IFrench Tanks of World War I by Steven J. Zaloga, Tony Bryan
ISBN: 1846035139
Published by Osprey Publishing on December 21st 2010
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Europe, France, Weapons, Illustrated
Pages: 48

Len's Summary: The emergence of the first modern tank, the Renault FT of 1917.

The First Battle of the Marne 1914: The French ‘miracle’ halts the Germans

The First Battle of the Marne 1914: The French ‘miracle’ halts the GermansThe First Battle of the Marne 1914: The French 'miracle' halts the Germans by Ian Sumner, Graham Turner
ISBN: 9781846035029
Published by Osprey Publishing on May 25th 2010
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Europe, France, Germany, Illustrated
Pages: 96

Len's Summary: A brief, illustrated history of the battle.

Messines 1917: The zenith of siege warfare

Messines 1917: The zenith of siege warfareMessines 1917: The zenith of siege warfare by Alexander Turner, Peter Dennis
ISBN: 9781846038457
Published by Osprey Publishing on August 24th 2010
Genres: History, Military, World War I
Pages: 96

Len's Summary: A short history of a key 1917 battle on the Western Front.

British Dreadnought vs German Dreadnought: Jutland 1916

British Dreadnought vs German Dreadnought: Jutland 1916British Dreadnought vs German Dreadnought: Jutland 1916 by Mark Stille, Ian Palmer, Howard Gerrard
ISBN: 1849081670
Published by Osprey Publishing on October 19th 2010
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Naval, Illustrated, Germany
Pages: 80

Len's Summary: Contrasts the differing crew training and weapons systems of the two fleets and details the action at Jutland shot by shot.

The Blocking of Zeebrugge: Operation Z-O 1918

The Blocking of Zeebrugge: Operation Z-O 1918The Blocking of Zeebrugge: Operation Z-O 1918 by Stephen Prince
ISBN: 9781846034534
Published by Osprey Publishing on May 25th 2010
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Europe, Great Britain, Naval
Pages: 64

Len's Summary: The daring raid designed to close the German-controlled ports of Zeebrugge and end submarine attacks in the Dover Straights.

Ottoman Infantryman 1914-18

Ottoman Infantryman 1914-18Ottoman Infantryman 1914-18 by David Nicolle
ISBN: 9781846035067
Published by Osprey Publishing on February 23rd 2010
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Middle East, Turkey & Ottoman Empire
Pages: 64

Len's Summary: Uniforms, equipment, training and combat experience of the tough Anatolian foot soldier.

London 1917-18: The Bomber Blitz

London 1917-18: The Bomber BlitzLondon 1917-18: The Bomber Blitz by Ian Castle
ISBN: 9781846036828
Published by Osprey Publishing on October 19th 2010
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Europe, Great Britain, Aviation
Pages: 96

Len's Summary: The story of Gotha and Staaken raids against London, the first blitz that prepared the RAF for the German onslaught of 1940.

Trench: A History of Trench Warfare on the Western Front

Trench: A History of Trench Warfare on the Western FrontTrench: A History of Trench Warfare on the Western Front by Stephen Bull
ISBN: 9781472801326
Published by Osprey Publishing on May 1st 2014
Genres: History, Military, World War I, General, Pictorial, Illustrated
Pages: 272

Len's Summary: A profusely illustrated primer on trench warfare.

Royal Naval Air Service Pilot, 1914-1918

Royal Naval Air Service Pilot, 1914-1918Royal Naval Air Service Pilot, 1914-1918 by Mark Barber, Adam Hook
ISBN: 9781846039492
Published by Osprey Publishing on November 23rd 2010
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Europe, Great Britain, Aviation, Illustrated
Pages: 64

Len's Summary: Operations of the RNAS in against zeppelins over England, in Flanders and over Gallipoli.

Home Before the Leaves Fall: A New History of the German Invasion of 1914

Home Before the Leaves Fall: A New History of the German Invasion of 1914Home Before the Leaves Fall: A New History of the German Invasion of 1914 by Ian Senior
ISBN: 9781849088435
Published by Osprey Publishing on July 24th 2012
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Europe, France, Germany
Pages: 392

Len's Summary: Germany’s near victory in World War One reexamined in detail. A History Book Club selection.

The Rolls-Royce Armoured Car

The Rolls-Royce Armoured CarThe Rolls-Royce Armoured Car by David Fletcher
ISBN: 9781849085809
Published by Osprey Publishing on April 17th 2012
Genres: History, Military, Weapons
Pages: 48

Len's Summary: First used by a squadron of the Royal Navy Air Service in Flanders in 1914, these cars were eventually deployed to Africa, the Middle East and Russia. The author is historian at the Royal Tank Museum, Bovington.

The Vickers-Maxim Machine Gun

The Vickers-Maxim Machine GunThe Vickers-Maxim Machine Gun by Martin Pegler
ISBN: 9781780963822
Published by Osprey Publishing on May 20th 2013
Genres: History, Military, Weapons, World War I, World War II
Pages: 80

Len's Summary: One of a number of brief studies in the Osprey Weapons Series looks at the standard British heavy machine gun of WWI & II.

The First World War: The War to End All Wars

The First World War: The War to End All WarsThe First World War: The War to End All Wars by Geoffrey Jukes
ISBN: 9781782002802
Published by Osprey Publishing on June 18th 2013
Genres: History, Military, General, World War I, Pictorial
Pages: 364

Len's Summary: A narrative survey history of the conflict summarizing action on all fronts including Italy and Palestine.

Browning .30 Caliber Machine Guns

Browning .30 Caliber Machine GunsBrowning .30 Caliber Machine Guns by Gordon L. Rottman
ISBN: 9781780969213
Published by Osprey Publishing on February 20th 2014
Genres: Technology & Engineering, Military Science, History, Military, United States, World War II, General, Weapons, Antiques & Collectibles
Pages: 80

Len's Summary: The water-cooled Browning .30 caliber came into service in 1917 and remained in service for 50 years.

2CM “Big Bertha” and German Siege Artillery of World War I

2CM “Big Bertha” and German Siege Artillery of World War I2CM “Big Bertha” and German Siege Artillery of World War I by Marc Romanych
ISBN: 9781780960173
Published by Osprey Publishing on January 20th 2014
Genres: History, General, Europe, Germany, Military, Weapons, Technology & Engineering, Military Science, World War I
Pages: 48

Len's Summary: Describes all German siege artillery from 28 to 42 centimeters and its role in WWI, particularly the destruction of the Liege and Namur forts in 1914.

Nieuport 11/16 Bébé vs Fokker Eindecker

Nieuport 11/16 Bébé vs Fokker EindeckerNieuport 11/16 Bébé vs Fokker Eindecker by Jon Guttman
ISBN: 9781782003533
Published by Osprey Publishing on April 20th 2014
Genres: History, General, Military, World War I, Technology & Engineering, Military Science, Aviation
Pages: 80

Len's Summary: The design, development, statistics and combat records of two iconic pursuit aircraft.

Q Ship vs U-boat

Q Ship vs U-boatQ Ship vs U-boat by David Greentree
ISBN: 9781782002840
Published by Osprey Publishing on February 20th 2014
Genres: History, General, Military, Technology & Engineering, Military Science, Naval, World War I, Biography & Autobiography
Pages: 80

Len's Summary: Q ships came in all sizes in merchant freighter and fishing types. All were well armed designed to lure and sink surfaced U-boats.

The Lewis Gun

The Lewis GunThe Lewis Gun by Neil Grant
ISBN: 9781782007913
Published by Osprey Publishing on March 20th 2014
Genres: Technology & Engineering, Military Science, History, Military, World War I, World War II, General, Weapons, Antiques & Collectibles
Pages: 80

Len's Summary: Invented by an American and adopted by the British, the Lewis was the best light machine gun of WWI.

The Challenge of Battle: The Real Story of the British Army in 1914

The Challenge of Battle: The Real Story of the British Army in 1914The Challenge of Battle: The Real Story of the British Army in 1914 by Adrian Gilbert
ISBN: 9781849088596
Published by Osprey Publishing on February 20th 2014
Pages: 312

Len's Summary: Assesses the performance of the “Old Contemptables” in the opening battles.

Medium Mark A Whippet

Medium Mark A WhippetMedium Mark A Whippet by David Fletcher
ISBN: 9781782003984
Published by Osprey Publishing on May 20th 2014
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Europe, Great Britain, Weapons
Pages: 48

Len's Summary: Details on the relatively fast British tank that entered service in 1918 by the curator of the Bovington Tank Museum in the UK.

Collision of Empires: The War on the Eastern Front in 1914

Collision of Empires: The War on the Eastern Front in 1914Collision of Empires: The War on the Eastern Front in 1914 by Prit Buttar
ISBN: 9781782006480
Published by Osprey Publishing on June 20th 2014
Genres: History, General, Europe, Eastern, Technology & Engineering, Military Science, Military, Modern, 20th Century, World War I
Pages: 488

Len's Summary: A survey history of early Eastern Front battles, one of a growing list of new studies of there neglected campaigns.

British Infantryman vs. German Infantryman Somme, 1916

British Infantryman vs. German Infantryman Somme, 1916British Infantryman vs German Infantryman by Stephen Bull
ISBN: 9781782009146
Published by Osprey Publishing on January 20th 2014
Genres: History, General, Military, Other, Technology & Engineering, Military Science, World War I, Strategy, Biography & Autobiography
Pages: 80

Len's Summary: A study of British and German tactics.

DH2 vs Albatross DI-DII Western Front 1916

DH2 vs Albatross DI-DII Western Front 1916Dh 2 Vs Albatros D I/D II by James Miller
ISBN: 9781849087049
Published by Osprey Publishing on 2012
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Europe, Great Britain, Aviation
Pages: 80

Len's Summary: Technical details of two successful German pursuit aircraft. Like all Osprey books, this one is profusely illustrated in color and black and white.