Probably one of the most static wars ever fought by man was World War One. Why it was like this has been and will be a topic that is discussed back and forth for years. But for most of us, the iconic structure of these four years of killing was the trench.

The trench isn't a new feature to war, as it is and will be a staple of defensive positions for years to come. What was new was the size and complexity of the trench systems used by both the Alliance and the Entente on the Western Front. This feature was oddly absent or greatly reduced in both the war with Russia and that in the Alps against the Italians. However on the Western Front, it became almost a living thing, growing and spreading from the English Channel to Switzerland.

So why were trenches so ubiquitous? Simply to allow the defending soldiers an opportunity to survive. Nothing more complex than that. They also served as a way to move around in hostile territory, where just showing one's head could mean its removal by enemy bullets. To overcome the trenches of the enemy, huge siege guns, tunneling to set gigantic mines and the development of other weapons (gas, machine gun, tank) was undertaken by both sides to some extent or the other. Eventually, the trench was overcome and in the end it was freedom of movement that helped to determine the victor.

In this book on the trench, author Stephen Bull relies on four previous Osprey editions to help provide not only some material, but also images and artwork to help illustrate this volume. But this isn't just a rehash of those previous works as most of what is written is new to this volume.

Starting with the first trenches in late 1914 to prevent the Germans from making an 'end run' through Belgium, there are sections on what the trenches were like, how they were built, their function in attack and defense as well as the new weapons and tactics required when fighting this type of war. This also includes sections on gas, snipers, mining, the use of concrete and the development and use of the tank.

All of this is superbly illustrated with period photos and maps of various battles that are featured throughout the book.

It is a truly engrossing book that pulls in the reader with its narrative and personal stories. It is a book I can most highly recommend to you and once you start to read it, you'll find out why.  

December  2010

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