Status Updates From The Kaiser's Battle

Now a chapter of analysis of the March 21 fighting as the Germans began this offensive in 1918. And yet more great material to come in the final two chapters plus appendices!!

Nearing the end of the first day, March 21, 1918, of the Kaiser's Battle - continuing to provide great detail and first hand accounts. Would be interesting to go back to France and Flanders and visit the sites discussed here.

German attack has cleared what they thought was the first line of trenches but were generally lightly held by the British with the deliberate intention of falling back slowly to the battle zone line of trenches to their rear and mounting a stronger defense there. Didn't work out as planned and a lot of British prisoners taken.

The German barrage of mixed high explosive and gas filled shells has begun and we're reading through the first hand accounts of British survivors who had a surprisingly varied experience.

German troops are moving into the frontline trenches the day before the attack. The British know something is coming but are not certain where or when and are underestimating the size and extent of the attack. Again, lots of great details and personal observations from memoirs war diaries, and from Middlebrook's interviews.

Middlebrook continuing his study of the first day of this battle in great, fascinating detail - such that I will have to explore his other similar books for additions to my library. Right now I'm reading about what British intelligence and the high command knew about German intentions and plans - some fascinating details.

Plucked off of the shelves because I'm lecturing on Germany's war in 1918, especially the last months, later this year. The author focuses here upon the single, first day of the German 1918 Spring Offensive - including the developments and decisions leading up to it. Bonus of an order of battle I'll be drawing on for the SPI 1918 game.