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Disputed Earth Geology Trench Warfare
The geology of the Western Front had an enormous impact on how military operations were carried out, determining the strength of trench walls, whether tunnels could be dug under no manâ€s land, if tanks could proceed without sinking into mud, even the size of craters after shell explosions. This survey examines how the terrain and topography of Flanders, Artois and Picardy, including soil and rock formations, influenced military strategy during the First World War.
208 pages, Paperback
Published August 11, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 22, 2020
At first glance, a serious study of military geology and how it influenced the development of trench warfare on the Western Front could be considered so esoteric as to be only the preserve of those with a serious interest in geological faults and strata. However, Peter Doyle’s fascinating analysis of the importance of both geology and earth materials to the conduct of military operations in Flanders and Northern France between 1914 and 1918 provides a fresh insight into the evolution of trench warfare and how the belligerents used the terrain to establish formidable defensive networks and break out of the deadlock.
In drawing on his knowledge of both geology and extensive contributions to historical journals, the author has given a new perspective to the ways in which the British and German armies prosecuted the war on the Western Front against the obstacles presented by the terrain. Despite the book only being concerned with the geology of Flanders and Northern France, the narrative is very readable and combines detailed geological explanations with perceptive analysis of the significance of terrain to the war on the Western Front. Once into the book itself, the importance of geology and terrain become startlingly obvious, especially when the author starts to explain the development of trench systems, dug-outs and the extensive programme of tunnelling particularly around Ypres, Arras and along the Somme front.
The author begins his study with an overview of the war, linking his analysis to an appreciation of geology and its part in the unfolding conflict. He moves on to consider the role of geology and geologists in warfare, highlighting the work of such luminaries as Walter Kranz, the ‘father’ of modern military geology, and his influence on later German military geologists and the Wehrmacht. A detailed chapter on the geology of Flanders and Northern France follows, which is more comprehensible than might be thought due to the clarity of writing and use of diagrams. The next chapter is the longest, outlining the development of trench warfare across Flanders and Northern France, and is interspersed with numerous first-hand quotations and many of the author’s own photographs from expeditions to the battlefields. A chapter on the means of breaking the siege-like conditions of the Western Front comes next, followed by an examination of the influence of terrain on water supply and aggregates. In his final comments, the author stresses how the lessons of military geology were learnt by the main powers, to varying degrees, as a result of their experiences in the war, and how geology became accepted as a military science by the end of the Second World War. A comprehensive bibliography, glossary and notes completes Peter Doyle’s impressive, if slightly quirky book.Disputed Earth: Geology and Trench Warfare on the Western Front 1914-18
In drawing on his knowledge of both geology and extensive contributions to historical journals, the author has given a new perspective to the ways in which the British and German armies prosecuted the war on the Western Front against the obstacles presented by the terrain. Despite the book only being concerned with the geology of Flanders and Northern France, the narrative is very readable and combines detailed geological explanations with perceptive analysis of the significance of terrain to the war on the Western Front. Once into the book itself, the importance of geology and terrain become startlingly obvious, especially when the author starts to explain the development of trench systems, dug-outs and the extensive programme of tunnelling particularly around Ypres, Arras and along the Somme front.
The author begins his study with an overview of the war, linking his analysis to an appreciation of geology and its part in the unfolding conflict. He moves on to consider the role of geology and geologists in warfare, highlighting the work of such luminaries as Walter Kranz, the ‘father’ of modern military geology, and his influence on later German military geologists and the Wehrmacht. A detailed chapter on the geology of Flanders and Northern France follows, which is more comprehensible than might be thought due to the clarity of writing and use of diagrams. The next chapter is the longest, outlining the development of trench warfare across Flanders and Northern France, and is interspersed with numerous first-hand quotations and many of the author’s own photographs from expeditions to the battlefields. A chapter on the means of breaking the siege-like conditions of the Western Front comes next, followed by an examination of the influence of terrain on water supply and aggregates. In his final comments, the author stresses how the lessons of military geology were learnt by the main powers, to varying degrees, as a result of their experiences in the war, and how geology became accepted as a military science by the end of the Second World War. A comprehensive bibliography, glossary and notes completes Peter Doyle’s impressive, if slightly quirky book.Disputed Earth: Geology and Trench Warfare on the Western Front 1914-18
November 16, 2022
Charity shop find. Enjoyment 3/5 stars. Detail and info 4.5/5. Only read if you are very interested in the WWI Western Front. I'm quite into WWI and I still found it a bit of a struggle.
It isn't that long at 230 pages plus another 50 for notes/sources. There are a lot of photographs, maps, diagrams - some from the time and some more recent and they tend to be pretty high quality (at least in the Uniform edition). There is plenty of info and lots of detail but it is rather dry to read and at times rather hard to read, but I don't know a lot about geology. There is a lot about how the different terrains (clay regions, chalky regions etc) responded to water (drainage, water levels. runoff etc) and how this affected the war, for things like mining, making dugouts and trenches, tanks etc. Even as a WWI nerd it started to get a bit repetitive reading about the different kinds of soil or clay and how wet it was.
It isn't that long at 230 pages plus another 50 for notes/sources. There are a lot of photographs, maps, diagrams - some from the time and some more recent and they tend to be pretty high quality (at least in the Uniform edition). There is plenty of info and lots of detail but it is rather dry to read and at times rather hard to read, but I don't know a lot about geology. There is a lot about how the different terrains (clay regions, chalky regions etc) responded to water (drainage, water levels. runoff etc) and how this affected the war, for things like mining, making dugouts and trenches, tanks etc. Even as a WWI nerd it started to get a bit repetitive reading about the different kinds of soil or clay and how wet it was.
November 10, 2024
I'm going to review this on my BookTube Channel Lokster Reads so my full thoughts will go there and then I'll transfer them here. But - spoiler - this is an excellent book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews