HISTORY:
** Covering the Western Front but also the Gallipoli and Italian theatres, this study explores three aspects of World War I below ground: military mining, attack tunnels and dugouts. In 1914–17, the underground war was a product of static trench warfare, essential to survive it and part of both sides' attempts to overcome it. In 1917–18 it was rendered largely obsolete by the development of the all-arms battle as mobility was restored to the battlefield. In the stagnant, troglodyte existence of trench warfare, military mining was a hidden world of heroism and terror in which hours of suspenseful listening were spent monitoring the steady picking of unseen opponents, edging quietly towards the enemy, and judging when to fire a charge. Break-ins to enemy mine galleries resulted in hand-to-hand fighting in the darkness.
The ingenuity, claustrophobia and tactical importance of the underground war are discussed and depicted in this fully illustrated study from an acknowledged expert on the subject. The artwork plates include views of the specialized uniforms, weapons and equipment used below ground, as well as vignettes that vividly convey the many aspects of subterranean warfare during World War I. **
** Quoted from the back cover of the book.
THE BOOK:
Osprey Publications has released The War Underground 1914-18, Tactics and Equipment as Number 256 in the Elite series. It is a 64-page soft cover book and is the standard Osprey Publishing size of 7 1/4 x 9 3/4 inches. Included with the text are color and black and white photographs, color illustrations, detailed captions and more. It has a 2024 copyright, a publication date of May 23, 2024, and the ISBN is 978-1-4728-6105-4.
THE CONTENTS:
Introduction
Underground Warfare before 1914
Military Mining 1914-15
Mining in 1916
Mining in 1917-18
Underground Warfare and Technology
Mining on the Italian Front
Dugouts, Shelters and Attack Tunnels
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
THE TEXT:
Author Simon Jones provides a well written text discussing underground warfare conducted by both the Allied Powers and the Central Powers in Europe during World War I. The text goes into great detail in all areas of the book as outlined on the contents page. Simon Jones provides an excellent text covering the information listed in the contents by providing information on all aspects of underground warfare starting with a brief history of mining’s use in warfare prior to World War I in conflicts such as the Crimean War from 1853 to 1856 and the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865 and through to the end of World War I in 1918. Simon Jones discusses the targets that the opposing forces chose to attack which led to the planning of the tunnels and goes through the planning, construction, size of demolition charged used and the end result of the specific tunnels and the damage to the intended target and the success and failures of the operations. Simon Jones nicely details the techniques and tools used by both sides, the lengths of the various tunnels, the specific names given to the mines, obstacles the miners had to deal with such as the working conditions, natural problems such as ground water and natural gases and as can be expected, counter-mining attacks from the opposing forces and their use of things such as smoke, gas, explosives and firearms to disrupt and attempt to deter the enemies mining operations. As well as the mining operations and combat between the opposing forces, Simon Jones details the manning of listening posts utilized by both sides and what their duties consisted of as well as the listening equipment used and specifics such as how far away digging and walking could be heard though sand and clay as well as chalk. In addition to detailing different tunnels that were constructed, the author also provides information on underground rooms and their uses such as barracks, command bunkers and hospitals. In addition to his own words, Simon Jones has provided quotes from individuals involved such as a British tunneller who was trapped in a collapsed mine shaft for six and a half days before being rescued. The text in the book is nicely written and well detailed. As I read through the text, I didn’t notice any spelling or grammatical errors. Grammar and spelling might not be an important factor to everyone however it is something that I take notice of and pass on my findings. I feel that if the text is well written then it shows that the author has taken the time to be professional with their writing. Anyone wanting to add an excellent reference and history book on the tactics and techniques used by all sides in the underground war during 1914–18 to their personal library will be pleased with this informative and interesting book.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS:
A total of 42 black and white photographs and 11 color photographs are included in this volume. The photographs range from wide angle photographs to close-up detailed photographs. They contain in-action photographs and photographs having been staged for the photographer. The photographs contain many different subjects such as World War I trench systems, uniforms, weapons, miners at work, mine explosions, the after effect of the explosions, the individual mines themselves, explosives being placed, miners and the listening equipment being used at different listening posts, underground barracks, command post and an underground surgical hospital, as well as the mining equipment being used such as pneumatic jackhammers, water pumps, air compressors, blacksmith type bellows, Siemens-Schuckert hammer drill and a Grasern tunnel boring machine. The majority of the photographs are clear and easily viewable; however, a few have an out of focus look to them and some appear to be too dark, and others appear too light. This is typical for the discussed period of history and consideration needs to be given to the fact that the photographs are over 100 years old. The quality of some of the photographs is no fault of the author and do not take anything away from the book. Author Simon Jones stayed true to the title of the book and chose subject specific photographs and did not include photographs that strayed from the main subject of the book. The majority, if not all, of the photographs will prove to be a wealth of information to the scale figure modeler as well as anyone interested in the weapons and equipment, mining and digging tools and machines, uniforms worn by both officers and enlisted men and other such items during the underground war during the World War I years of 1914 through 1918 due to the details they contain.
THE ILLUSTRATIONS:
There are 8 color illustration plates, accompanied by detailed captions, included in this volume by illustrator Adam Hook. The illustrations are very well done, nicely detailed and are of:
Plate A:
Underground Fighting
1. Ypres Encounter – British and German soldiers encountering each other in a tunnel.
2. French carbine and tear-gas cartridge
3. French ‘Couteau Boucher’ fighting knife
4. French grenade suffocante modèle 1914
5. German Luger Pistole 08
6. German Stielhandgranate15
7. British steel knuckleduster dagger
8. British cut-down SMLE rifle
Plate B:
Mining Tools and Methods
1. German tools
2. French tools
3. British and Commonwealth tools
4. 1st Australian Tunneling Company in action, Ypres Salient, April 1917
Plate C:
Miners’ Working Dress and Insignia
1. German working dress and insignia
2. French working dress and insignia
3. British working dress and insignia
Plate D:
La Boisselle Mine System. 1 July 1916
Plate E:
Firing the Mines at Messines
Plate F:
Listening and Deception Devices
1. The German Knieriem apparatus, 1915-17
2. The French Geophone Système Perrin, 1915-18
3. German device for simulating picking and shoveling
Plate G:
Mine Rescue Breathing Apparatuses
1. German Dräger M1910/11 breathing apparatus.
2. German Leipziger Atem-Schutz-Apparat (Leipzig breathing apparatus)
3. German Heeres-Sauerstoff-Schutzgeräte (Army Oxygen Breathing Apparatus), 1916-18
4. French Draeger breathing apparatus, 1915-18.
5. British Proto apparatus in use, 1916-18
Plate H:
Mining on the Italian Front
1. Italian miners at Castelletto, March-June 1916
2. Italian insignia
3. Austro-Hungarian insignia
THE CAPTIONS:
The captions are well written and explain the accompanying photographs and illustrations in great detail eliminating any doubt as to what is shown. The captions go into very specific detail as to the names of specific individuals shown, their military rank and which countries military they are in, the military unit they are serving in, types of uniforms worn, weapons, type of equipment carried and used, type of explosive shown, names of individual tunnels, dates and locations and other such pertinent information. As I read through the captions, I didn’t notice any spelling or grammatical errors. I was impressed with the captions as they are very helpful to the reader due to their detailed content as opposed to other captions that I have seen that are very brief and lacking in detail.
CONCLUSION:
As with the other Osprey Publishing titles I was impressed with this book. This is a very nice reference book that contains a well written informative text, many subject specific photographs and illustrations, well detailed captions and more, all detailing the tactics and techniques used by all sides in the underground war during 1914–18. As with the other Osprey Publishing titles, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to others as it will be a welcome addition to one’s personal reference library.
Osprey Publishing also offers The War Underground 1914-18, Tactics and Equipment as:
eBook (Epub & Mobi) ISBN: 978-1-4728- 6106-1
and
eBook (PDF) ISBN: 978-1-4728- 6107-8
Osprey Publishing’s, The War Underground 1914-18, Tactics and Equipment is also available as an electronic Kindle version through Amazon.com.
PRICE:
UK £14.99 / US $21.00 / CAN $28.00
This book was provided to me by Osprey Publishing. Please mention that you saw the book reviewed here on the KitMaker Network when you make your purchase. Thank you.