Passchendaele : The Lost Victory of World War I

The definitive account of Passchendaele, the months-long battle that epitomizes the immense tragedy of the First World War Passchendaele. The name of a small, seemingly insignificant Flemish village echoes across the twentieth century as the ultimate expression of meaningless, industrialized slaughter. In the summer of 1917, upwards of 500,000 men were killed or wounded, maimed, gassed, drowned, or buried in this small corner of Belgium. On the centennial of the battle, military historian Nick Lloyd brings to vivid life this epic encounter along the Western Front. Drawing on both British and German sources, he is the first historian to reveal the astonishing fact that, for the British, Passchendaele was an eminently winnable battle. Yet the advance of British troops was undermined by their own high command, which, blinded by hubris, clung to failed tactics. The result was a familiar one: stalemate. Lloyd forces us to consider that trench warfare was not necessarily a futile endeavor, and that had the British won at Passchendaele, they might have ended the war early, saving hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of lives. A captivating narrative of heroism and folly, Passchendaele is an essential addition to the literature on the Great War. The Definitive Account Of Passchendaele, One Of The Most Influential And Tragic Battles Of The First World War. Passchendaele. The Name Of A Small, Seemingly Insignificant Flemish Village Echoes Across The Twentieth Century As The Ultimate Expression Of Meaningless, Industrialized Slaughter. In The Summer Of 1917, Upwards Of 500,000 Men Were Killed Or Wounded, Maimed, Gassed, Drowned, Or Buried In This Small Corner Of Belgium. On The Centennial Of The Battle, Military Historian Nick Lloyd Brings To Vivid Life This Epic Encounter Along The Western Front. Drawing On Both British And German Sources, He Is The First Historian To Reveal The Astonishing Fact That, For The British, Passchendaele Was An Eminently Winnable Battle. Yet The Advance Of British Troops Was Undermined By Their Own High Command, Which, Blinded By Hubris, Clung To Failed Tactics. The Result Was A Familiar One: Stalemate. Lloyd Forces Us To Consider That Trench Warfare Was Not Necessarily A Futile Endeavor, And That Had The British Won At Passchendaele, They Might Have Ended The War Early, Saving Hundreds Of Thousands, If Not Millions, Of Lives. A Captivating Narrative Of Heroism And Folly, Passchendaele Is An Essential Addition To The Literature On The Great War.--provided By Publisher. Introduction -- Prologue: The Nivelle Offensive -- Manoeuvres Of War -- Haig And The 'northern Operation' -- 'a Great Sea Of Flames' -- 'have We Time To Accomplish?' -- 'under Constant Fire' -- 'a Perfect Bloody Curse' -- 'like The Black Hole Of Calcutta' -- 'a Question Of Concentration' -- 'an Introduction To Hard Work' -- 'a Stunning Pandemonium' -- 'war With A Big W' -- 'an Overwhelming Blow' -- 'the Weakness Of Haste' -- 'not Worth A Drop Of Blood' -- 'against The Iron Wall' -- Epilogue. Nick Lloyd. First Published In 2017 By Penguin Random House Uk--title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 307-390) And Index. The Third Battle of Ypres was a 'lost victory' for the British Army in 1917. Between July and November 1917, in a small corner of Belgium, more than 500,000 men were killed or maimed, gassed or drowned - and many of the bodies were never found. The Ypres offensive represents the modern impression of the First World War: splintered trees, water-filled craters, muddy shell-holes. The climax was one of the worst battles of both world wars: Passchendaele. The village fell eventually, only for the whole offensive to be called off. But, as Nick Lloyd shows, notably through previously overlooked German archive material, it is striking how close the British came to forcing the German Army to make a major retreat in Belgium in October 1917. Far from being a pointless and futile waste of men, the battle was a startling illustration of how effective British tactics and operations had become by 1917 and put the Allies nearer to a major turning point in the war than we have ever imagined. Published for the 100th anniversary of this major conflict, Passchendaele is the most compelling and comprehensive account ever written of the climax of trench warfare on the Western Front.