Paddy Griffith (1947–2010)

The subtitle for this book is "The Game that Launched Academic Wargaming", and the blurb on the back says that this is the story of that wargame.
Well, it's not really that. There is not much of a narrative to this book, but it is a large collection of source material, handouts and anecdotes - which badly needs a narrative.

In dit boek weerlegt Paddy Griffith vele mythes, legendes en vooroordelen over de Eerste Wereldoorlog. Hij toont aan hoe vanaf het prille begin ervan in het Engelse leger de kiem aanwezig was om tot een organisatie te komen die finaal in staat zou zijn de oorlog in haar voordeel te beëindigen. Alle wapens en technieken die in de Tweede Wereldoorlog ingezet en gebruikt werden, waren al aanwezig in de Eerste Wereldoorlog (met uitzondering van de atoombom, natuurlijk).

Don't bother with the other recent books on American Civil War Tactis until you have absorbed this one. They all derive part of their basic research from this book, which is written in a lively and readable style.

A very provocative reinterpretation of industrial-era (Napoleon onwards) military history, arguing that from the Napoleanic Wars to the present day, technological improvements have always been overrated in both military and popular understanding, and the skills and abilities of infantry underrated. Very much worth reading, particularly as a sort of introduction to H. John Poole.