Somme Battlefields: A Comprehensive Guide from Crecy to the Two World Wars

by Martin Middlebrook

This is a guided tour of the most important battlefields of World War I. Martin Middlebrook's analysis and coverage of the day battles is divided into sections, each containing detailed military accounts, historical background and the memories of writers, poets and soldiers who fought at the Somme. The book also contains descriptions of places to visit on the way from the Channel ports to battlefields of the Somme.

Genres: Military History, War, History, World War I

400 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 1994

About the author

Martin Middlebrook was a British military historian and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Appointed Knight of the Order of the Belgian Crown in 2004.

Reviews

[Martin Rush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good & informative read Explaining the battles around the Somme. The book also goes to great lengths to explain each cemetery & some of the fallen that rest in them.

[Paul W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A visitor to the Somme cannot but be moved by the number of cemeteries and the number of graves - the sheer scale of the human cost of the battles fought here in WW1. This guide provides an overview of the 1916 and 1918 battles (with passing comments on other battles in 1346, 1870 and 1940). It is particularly noteworthy for its comprehensive detail on Commonwealth military cemeteries, with personal insights on those buried in many of them.
For those with an interest in military history, this book will enrich any journey through the Somme.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly detailed account of Somme Dead and their Cemeteries

With over 400,000 dead and over 50% missing/unidentified this highly detailed work ensures they will not be forgotten. Staggering to read and comprehend the scale of lost life.

[Kruip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een uitermate interessant naslagwerk, zeer getailleerd. Voor iedereen die wel eens in deze contreien geweest is krijgt iedere steen, iedere boom, elke straathoek, heuvel, of nog zichtbaar te vinden overblijfsel van een bomkrater, een naam. Een naam van mensen die aldaar geploeterd hebben in de modder, het bloed, de drek, terwijl ze zich ondertussen schoten en beschoten werden. Weinig boeken over de grote oorlog geven zo goed weer hoe nutteloos de bedachte strategieën in feite waren. Slechts enkele meters winnen, onderwijl ettelijke tienduizenden slachtoffers op het slagveld achterlatend. De meest navrante bloedstollende overwinningen, die soms dezelfde dag alweer prijs gegeven worden vanwege volslagen onbegrijpelijke orders. Wat Middlebrook echt goed doet is deze mannen een gezicht geven.

[Shaun Major · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful travel guide written by an historian with a meticulous approach to detail.