Victoria Martin’s Reviews > Great Battles of World War I > Status Update

Just finished learning about the Middle East front in WWI. The Allies made up for Gallipoli with this campaign, at least. Three more chapters to go before I’ve read my way through the major battles of the First World War! All reading motivated by History 20 research papers on the various fronts of WWI.

I have now read my way through the Battle of The Somme and the Battle of Messines. I was not as familiar with this campaign—it was interesting to read about one of the better executed Allied offensives. Gathering some morale before the devastation that is to come next: The Battle of Passchendaele.

I’m halfway through—about to begin reading about the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Gosh WW1 was literally just mass casualties. The other book I’m reading about WW1 contemplated poor leadership because many of the military leaders were an extension of Royal families etc. with status but no experience… but also noted the war technology at the time was trenches, machine guns, etc. so slaughter was the norm 🫣