Russ Amott shares with us a review of Home Before the Leaves Fall which is a new look at the German invasion of France in 1914.

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Thanks!

Thanks for helping with this, Darren. Thanks also to Fred for getting me the book.

Excellent review, Russ! I have to admit I have struggled before with accounts of battles when there's just a continual stream of references to this and that Division, this and that Regiment etc. it can get confusing, and it is often down to the author to try to make it understandable without over simplifying. In my experience, some manage it, others do not - though this sounds like it is a bit of both.
And can I just say... well done for getting this review written and up on this site before a single review has appeared on Amazon.co.uk!!

Thank you, Matthew. I have gone back to the book several times and re-read some of the specific actions. He does do a good job describing what a waste it all was. Marching through fields of wheat, trampling it all down, haystacks and barns burning, villages ruined, and the pointless slaughter. I've tried directing tactical operations for with 6 people and bad or no radio communication and it breaks down quickly. To have massive armies that didn't keep in touch was an invitation to failure.