Sheldon, Jack The German Army at Ypres 1914

This book will be the first complete account of the operations of the German army in the battles north of Lille in the late autumn of 1914. The main emphasis will be placed on the battles around Ypres against the Old Contemptibles of the BEF, but the fighting against the French and Belgian armies will also be featured, thus providing fresh insights into a campaign. There are those who consider that the BEF was all that saved world civilization as the first year of the Great War drew to its end. The book uses the comprehensive histories of the participating German regiments found in the Kriegsarchiv in Munich and the Hauptstaatsarchiv in Stuttgart. Their use adds authority and authenticity to the book. The narrative adopts a chronological approach. The book focuses on some of the most bitterly disputed battles of the first three months of the war, when the Germans strained to achieve a breakthrough and the BEF resisted heroically, at the price of its own destruction. The book employs a similar format to the authors previous works; that is to say the greater part of the text uses the words of the German participants themselves and the primary focus of the book covers the experiences of the fighting troops at regimental level and below. Linking paragraphs provide historical context and commentary and evidence from senior commanders will be introduced as necessary.

Some believe that the BEF was the only thing that saved world civilisation as the first year of the Great War drew to a close. The book draws on the extensive histories of the German regiments involved, which are held in the Kriegsarchiv in Munich and the Hauptstaatsarchiv in Stuttgart. Their use lends the book authority and authenticity. The narrative follows a chronological approach. The book focuses on some of the most fiercely contested battles of the first three months of the war, when the Germans sought a breakthrough and the BEF resisted fiercely, even at the cost of their own destruction. The book follows a similar format to the author's earlier works, i.e. the majority of the text utilises the testimony of the German combatants themselves, and the focus of the book is on the experiences of the fighting troops at regimental level and below. Connecting paragraphs provide historical context and comments and evidence from senior commanders are included where necessary.