A unique look at how Fritz and Tommy survived either side of No Man’s Land and how more brought them together than divided them. ‘Fritz and Tommy’ takes a unique look at the experiences of the German soldier
in direct comparison with those of his British counterpart. While other books plot out the battles and examine the participation of the German divisions on the Westfront, there are no books that discuss the shared experience of both sides. Uniquely, ‘Fritz and Tommy’ examines the commonality of frontline experience. Significantly the book is the result of a close collaboration between a British and a German military historian, both well-placed to draw comparisons and highlight differences. Drawing upon exclusive archives, Peter Doyle and Robin Schafer examine the soldiers’ lives, and examine cultural and military nuances that have so far been left untouched. Mapping out the lives of the men in the trenches, ultimately it concludes that Fritz and Tommy were not that far apart, geographically, physically, or emotionally. The soldiers on both sides went to war with high ideals; they experienced horror and misery, but also comradeship/kameradschaft. And with increasing alienation from the people at home, they drew closer together, the Hun transformed into good old Jerry by the war’s end. AUTHOR: Peter Doyle is a battlefield terrain expert, military historian, and author. He is a Member of the British Commission on Military History and Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary War Heritage Group.
Robin Schafer is a German military historian. He is a member of the German association for military research and runs a genealogical research service, investigating the military careers of soldiers of the German armed forces. SELLING POINTS: . Using a wealth of letters, diaries and original photographs that have never been published before this is the first time the real story of the German soldier and his British counterpart have been told . Leading First World War experts from Britain and Germany collaborate to commemorate the experience of enemies who had more in common than drove them apart 80pp b/w illustrations