British Cavalryman vs German Cavalryman

Belgium and France 1914

British Cavalryman vs German Cavalryman cover

Description

Fully illustrated, this study casts light on the utility and role of the German and British cavalry in the early stages of World War I on the Western Front.

In the early months of World War I, before the fighting degenerated into static trench warfare, there was a brief period of mobile warfare, as the German Army advanced through Belgium and northern France, forcing the French and British forces facing them to retreat. The British cavalry had the difficult task of covering the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force and the German cavalry, the equally demanding task, after weeks of combat and forced marches, of maintaining contact with a rapidly retiring enemy.

In this study a comparative assessment is made of each side's doctrine, organization, equipment, and training, followed by a detailed analysis of their actual performance in three key encounter actions: Casteau/Soignies (August 22), Cérizy/Moy (August 28), and Le Montcel/Frétoy (September 7). Finally, a brief conclusion highlights that both sides made very successful use of cavalry in other theaters of operations and, indeed, during the final phase of the war on the Western Front, when British and Commonwealth cavalry were once again able to demonstrate the soundness of their doctrine and training in the mobile warfare that preceded the final German collapse in 1918.

Table of Contents

Introduction
The Opposing Sides
Casteau, 22 August 1914
Cérizy-Moÿ, 28 August 1914
Le Montcel, 7 September 1914
Analysis
Aftermath
Unit Organizations
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published Aug 16 2022
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 80
ISBN 9781472848826
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Colour artwork plates and maps; black & white and colour photographs and illustrations.
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Combat
Short code CBT 66
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Alan Steele

Alan Steele joined the British Army in 1998 and se…

Illustrator

Raffaele Ruggeri

Raffaele Ruggeri was born in Bologna where he stil…

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