Fritz and Tommy: Across the Barbed Wire

The narration gives a surprisingly complete yet brief summary of the war. The soldiers come alive through their letters and stories. And to think, all of them have now made the last roll call together.

This book compares & contrasts the experience of both British & German soldiers during World War 1. I found it very informative & at times, deeply moving. The authors draw from letters & disries of the soldiers which greatly enhances the subject matter. Highly recommended.

A transformational book on the combatants from BEF and the German Army...an eye-opening look at the similarities between two groups of men at war, on opposite sides of the Barbed Wire!

Sometimes a book comes along that seems to be such a simple idea you can't believe that it hasn't been written before, Fritz and Tommy certainly falls into this category. This book tells the story of the First World War through the letters and diaries of the men who fought it. What's new about that you may ask? What sets this book apart is that the stories come from both sides of the trenches.This isn't a book of grand strategies or international politics, instead it breaks the conflict down into what affected the men everyday in the trenches and behind the lines. Subjects covered include In the Field, Morale and wounds and deaths to name but three and because we hear how these things affected both sides at the same time it gives such a rounded understanding of the events these men endured and suffered.It is such a moving book because as the same names crop up you start to like them and they endear themselves to you with their simple wants while suffering terrible events and then you see the sentence..."Lt.....was killed the day after writing this" and it brings home the slaughter and death these men faced daily.It has a stunning selection of photographs throughout the book that bring the stories to life and also make for a beautiful looking book. 100 years after the war this book brings former antagonists together and shows that deep down under all the rhetoric and nationalism the men who fought the war were basically the same scared young men who wanted to make it back home in one piece.In my opinion an important book!

Sometimes a book comes along that seems to be such a simple idea you can't believe that it hasn't been written before, Fritz and Tommy certainly falls into this category. This book tells the story of the First World War through the letters and diaries of the men who fought it. What's new about that you may ask? What sets this book apart is that the stories come from both sides of the trenches.This isn't a book of grand strategies or international politics, instead it breaks the conflict down into what affected the men everyday in the trenches and behind the lines. Subjects covered include In the Field, Morale and wounds and deaths to name but three and because we hear how these things affected both sides at the same time it gives such a rounded understanding of the events these men endured and suffered.It is such a moving book because as the same names crop up you start to like them and they endear themselves to you with their simple wants while suffering terrible events and then you see the sentence..."Lt.....was killed the day after writing this" and it brings home the slaughter and death these men faced daily.It has a stunning selection of photographs throughout the book that bring the stories to life and also make for a beautiful looking book. 100 years after the war this book brings former antagonists together and shows that deep down under all the rhetoric and nationalism the men who fought the war were basically the same scared young men who wanted to make it back home in one piece.In my opinion an important book!

It is perhaps surprising that this hasn't been attempted for, a comparative study of British and German perspectives on the war, using original written material - diaries and letters.A worthy addition to the steadily increasing English language literature on the German perspectives to the war, lead by Jack Sheldon and Christopher Duffy. Whereas those authors focus solely on the German perspective, here Peter Doyle and Robin Schafer combine the two.There is perhaps no new narrative to the war here, but there are certainly new witness statements. The takeaway from this book is just how similar the war was experienced from both sides of the wire, certain foibles of language aside, if it was not for the references many would be indistinguishable from national perspectives.My only niggle is that there is no indication as to what happened to the men quoted, though to be fair the authors note and explain this is due to the difficulty of ascertaining this information from German records, and that out of respect all men have been listed in alphabetical order with no reference to what happened. This certainly aligns with the equitable experiences demonstrated throughout the book, and so is just a personal curiosity.Well recommended to serious scholars and those with just a passing interest in the experience of ordinary men on the western front.

‘Fritz & Tommy: Across the Barbed Wire’ by Peter Doyle and Robin Schäfer is an excellent and unique volume that shows the lives of the British and German soldiers during World War One through letters, testimonies and a wide selection of personal accounts from both sides which placed in juxtaposition reveals the differences and similarities of their existence on the Western Front. It will appeal to persons who have an extensive knowledge of the subject and to those who want an introduction into what life was like during the war. I highly recommend this informative perspective of the conflict through the words of ‘Fritz & Tommy’.

Bought as a present for my Dad's birthday with it being the Somme Centenary this year. He loved it!This book basically tells the story of the First World War by printing letters originally sent by both British and German troops from the front back to their loved ones at home. It brings the war to life in a way other history books cannot, by using the human element to back up the facts. This makes the book unique as it will appeal to both history nuts and the casual reader alike.

Fascinating insight into the WW1 experience of soldiers from both sides on the Western Front. I liked the way it was broken down into sections relating to different aspects of life for the men, even though this led to some jumps in chronology.The main lesson was that it was hell for both sides and courage, endurance and suffering was universal!

The book entertains you from the first to the last chapter. The way the personal stories of the soldiers are sewn together to take you on a journey through the book is brilliant. You'll learn something about the personal side of life from both sides in the Trenches from this brilliant book.

A well thoughtout collection of letter through the war. You get to know the writers through their experiences and thoughts at that time. Letters and notes such as these are now the closet we can get to first hand accounts.

I am only halfway through but so far Find it interesting, maily because of the similar theme between the opposing forces, unusual.

This is a must read for anyone interested in the human aspect of the Great War. Inspiring, thought provoking & moving in equal measure this well crafted book shows what I've long thought that for Fritz & Tommy all they wanted to was get home safe to their loved ones. Some of the letters were heartbreaking, others laugh out loud in front line humour.

Excellent look at many aspects of the War, from both sides.

great buy

A good read couldn't put it down

Book in great condition a fantastic value buy.

Brilliant informative view. Packed with lots of original material. A recommended read!

This is an excellent and engaging view of the Great War written by two gifted historians. The book looks at the common themes and experiences of the war on the Western Front but explains them from the point of view of both sides in a single volume: unique in the historiography of WW1. The book is easy to read and dip in and out of, is supported by some superb and never before seen illustrations, and is one of the most important to be published on the subject in recent times. I cannot recommend it enough; everyone with an interest in the Great War should read this.