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Osprey Campaign #225
Messines 1917: The zenith of siege warfare
At 0310 hours on 7 June 1917, the pre-dawn gloom on the Western Front was shattered by the 'pillars of fire' - the rapid detonation of 19 huge mines, secreted in tunnels under the German lines and containing 450 tonnes of explosives. Admitted by the Germans to be a 'masterstroke', the devastating blasts caused 10,000 soldiers to later be posted simply as 'missing'. Launching a pre-planned attack into the carnage, supported by tanks and a devastating artillery barrage, the British took the strategic objective of Messines Ridge within hours. A rare example of innovation and success in the First World War (1914-1918), this book is a fresh and timely examination of a fascinating campaign.
96 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 28, 2024
A Succinct Excellent Overview of the Campaign
Any review of this book would have to start out by stating that it Is part of Osprey Publishing's "Campaign" series. As such it is relatively short, at only 96 pages. Of these, a very rough third or so consist of illustrations of one type or another (i.e., maps, contemporaneous photographs, etc.). Hence if one is looking for an academic tome on the subject this Is not it.
Having gotten that out of the way, the book is an excellent succinct survey of the battle that can bring the reader up to speed on the subject in only the two or so hours it takes to read. It follows the standard “campaign" format and does a very good job in every respect in this regard. For example, in the introductory chapter setting up the strategic setting of the campaign, the book covers very well the geographic importance not only of the ridge of Messines but also how, tactically, it was important to the nearby area and, just as importantly, how this general area fitted into the strategic picture of both the Germans and Allies (i.e., to unhinge the Germans from nearby ports on the channel).
The book then goes on to cover the Allied and German tactics to advance (and exploit) or protect their positions, the commanders Involved, the state of the armies and a narrative of how the battle played out. The only real weakness is a lack of discussion or analysis of lower-level leadership (i.e., NCOs, etc.) below the high-level commanders discussed in the "commanders" section.
The book also does an excellent job at discussing mining operations in some depth (at least for a •campaign• series book).These include not only mining operations in this particular battle, but mining in the war in general, as well as experiences of both armies in mining and organizational structure re of mining in both armies. In addition, there Is an excellent set of Illustrations (and photographs) that capture well how Messines was mined and mining warfare during WWl in general. All of great relevance considering the great importance mining played in this battle.
Lastly the book concludes on the so-called •failure" to exploit the British success (ironically despite the fact that it probably would not have been feasible to do so). All and all an excellent survey of this battle. Five stars.
Any review of this book would have to start out by stating that it Is part of Osprey Publishing's "Campaign" series. As such it is relatively short, at only 96 pages. Of these, a very rough third or so consist of illustrations of one type or another (i.e., maps, contemporaneous photographs, etc.). Hence if one is looking for an academic tome on the subject this Is not it.
Having gotten that out of the way, the book is an excellent succinct survey of the battle that can bring the reader up to speed on the subject in only the two or so hours it takes to read. It follows the standard “campaign" format and does a very good job in every respect in this regard. For example, in the introductory chapter setting up the strategic setting of the campaign, the book covers very well the geographic importance not only of the ridge of Messines but also how, tactically, it was important to the nearby area and, just as importantly, how this general area fitted into the strategic picture of both the Germans and Allies (i.e., to unhinge the Germans from nearby ports on the channel).
The book then goes on to cover the Allied and German tactics to advance (and exploit) or protect their positions, the commanders Involved, the state of the armies and a narrative of how the battle played out. The only real weakness is a lack of discussion or analysis of lower-level leadership (i.e., NCOs, etc.) below the high-level commanders discussed in the "commanders" section.
The book also does an excellent job at discussing mining operations in some depth (at least for a •campaign• series book).These include not only mining operations in this particular battle, but mining in the war in general, as well as experiences of both armies in mining and organizational structure re of mining in both armies. In addition, there Is an excellent set of Illustrations (and photographs) that capture well how Messines was mined and mining warfare during WWl in general. All of great relevance considering the great importance mining played in this battle.
Lastly the book concludes on the so-called •failure" to exploit the British success (ironically despite the fact that it probably would not have been feasible to do so). All and all an excellent survey of this battle. Five stars.
November 18, 2010
In June, 1917, the British blew up 19 different mines that had been dug under German lines and filled with explosives. The result was devastating to German positions. With tanks and artillery support, British troops were able to secure an advanced position within a short period of time. This slender Osprey volume provides a chronology, a description of opposing commanders, differing plans by the combatants, and a description of the battle itself.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews