1918: The Decisive Year in Soldiers' own Words and Photographs

1918 was the Allies' year of victory, but it was a monumental effort. British and Empire troops fought a tenacious and often last-ditch rearguard action, with the Germans gambling with their best, battle-hardened men in one desperate offensive after another. Allied troops were tested as never before, their morale placed under microscopic scrutiny, and their will to win examined and re-examined. When the tables were turned in August, a campaign began that would throw the enemy across the old ruptured battlefields of 1916 and 1917 and beyond, into open untouched countryside in the full bloom of summer.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 384 pages
\n Publication date: 05 November 2018
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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1918 marked a pivotal year for the Allies, as they secured victory amidst a monumental effort. From the outset, Germany launched its all-out Spring offensive with the aim of winning the war. In response, British and Empire troops engaged in a relentless and often last-ditch rearguard action. The Germans relentlessly gambled with their best, battle-hardened men in a series of desperate offensives, desperately seeking a decisive breakthrough that eluded them. During the dark days of March, April, and May 1918, Allied troops were put to the ultimate test, their morale, will to win, and resilience scrutinized under a microscope.

The soldiers, in their own words, share their perceptive thoughts and deeply moving insights, never forgetting the humor that helped them endure the hardships. As the tides turned in August, a campaign unfolded that would take the enemy across the old battlefields of 1916 and 1917, into untouched countryside in the vibrant bloom of summer. It took a hundred days of relentless fighting to reach Mons, the Belgian town where the war had begun four years earlier.

A century later, renowned First World War historian Richard van Emden continues his successful series with this latest volume. Drawing upon an extraordinary collection of soldiers' photographs taken on their illegally-held cameras, van Emden weaves a captivating narrative of 1918. Utilizing an unparalleled collection of memoirs, diaries, and letters written by the men who fought, van Emden paints a vivid picture of the year when decisive victory was grasped from the brink of catastrophe.

The book delves into the experiences of various individuals, from different backgrounds and countries, who played pivotal roles in shaping the course of the war. It sheds light on the bravery, sacrifice, and resilience of the soldiers, as well as the leadership and strategy employed by the Allied forces. The text also provides a historical context, examining the political and social factors that contributed to the outbreak of the war and its devastating impact on Europe.

In conclusion, 1918: The Year of Victory is a testament to the human spirit and the indomitable will to overcome adversity. Through the voices of the soldiers themselves, van Emden brings to life the experiences and emotions of a generation that faced the greatest challenge of their lives. This book is a valuable addition to the literature on the First World War, providing a fresh perspective and deeper understanding of the events that shaped the world we live in today.

\n Weight: 1032g\n
Dimension: 171 x 233 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526752321\n \n