Passchendaele has became synonymous with the carnage and perceived futility of the first world war. Between 31 July and 10 November 1917, some 500,000 men were killed or maimed. Such a “murderous shambles”, writes Nick Lloyd, was nevertheless hailed by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, commander of the British Expeditionary Force, as a hard-won victory for the allies.
Lloyd, a military historian at King’s College London, has retrieved an abundance of new material from archives, libraries and Red Cross files across western Europe. The German army’s terrible suffering is duly explored, as well as that of Canadian and Anzac infantrymen. Published on the eve of Passchendaele’s 100th anniversary, the book is harrowing but necessary.
• Passchendaele: A New History by Nick Lloyd is published by Viking (£25). To order a copy for £21.25 go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99
