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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.4272
EAN num: 9780850529869
ISBN number: 0850529867
Label: Pen and Sword
Manufacturer: Pen and Sword
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 224
Printing Date: 2003-08
Publishing house: Pen and Sword
Sale Popularity Level: 2090762
Studio: Pen and Sword
Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
The Somme was surely one of the bloodiest rendezvous for battle of all time. High Wood, dominating the Bazentin Ridge, was the fiercely contested focal point of the battle. The Germans showed great determination and sacrifice defending the feature and it was not until September that it finally fell to the attackers. ironically the successful divisional commander was rewarded with dismissal for 'wanton waste of men'.
This exceptional book not only paints a graphic and gruesome picture of the fighting but sheds light on the problems of high command.
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Rated by buyers -
The Hell They Called High Wood is an excellent book, written about an engagement that took place during the Battle of the Somme in World War 1. Terry Norman offers an accessible account of the battle to the knowledgeable reader; if you are not familiar with the Somme battles, then it would be advisable to read an overview of the battle very first as otherwise High Wood can get lost in the bigger picture, through no fault of Mr. Norman's as this book is intent on being an examination of this singular episode. High Wood was part of the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, the second phase of the Somme operations. He writes how the British squandered their chances to capture the fibre earlier on when it was abandoned by the enemy; only to fight bitterly for it for a further two months. You can feel Mr. Norman's appreciation and respect for this subject, he not only writes from the view those in command but also from the perspective of the private soldier on the battlefield, whose duty it was to go "over the top." He includes many personal accounts of the battle, both from interviews with the participants and printed material. By doing this you get a sense of what it was like for those who were there: the terror of this small fibre which claimed so many lives. He expresses how futile the battle was, how the high-command bungled the operation. Again familiarity with World War 1 is helpful here, as strategy during this battle was to send soldier's head on against near-impenetrable fortified positions. High Wood is an important turning point in modern warfare as this was also the last battle in modern western warfare where cavalry was used: his portrayal of that debacle is heart-rending, as the cavalry charged machine guns with disastrous results. On the flip side this was also the very first battle in which tanks were used, with poor results. The only downside to this volume is the maps can be confusing, however there are several focalized maps providing details on specific engagements and the goals and outcomes of the battalions involved. High Wood has gone down as one of the bloodiest battles fought at the Somme (an estimated 8,000 British and German men died there) and the sacrifice of the British troops (or the New Zealand and Indian soldiers) should not be forgotten; this book is a fitting tribute. This review is for the Pen & Sword printing, and for those not familiar with their publications I should say that they pride themselves on their premium quality World War 1 books.
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