Myths & Legends Of The First World War
The truth behind many curious and unexplained wartime talesReissue of popular companion to bestselling Myths and Legends of the Second World War, asking: "Were lions really led by donkeys? "Was there really an Angel of the Mons? "Did the Germans really create poisoned sweets for British children? During the First World War, a rich crop of legends sprouted from the battlefields and grew with such ferocity that many still excite controversy today. This book examines the roots of these stories and reveals the truth. Some myths remain well-known. Did an entire battalion of the Norfolk Regiment vanish without a trace at Gallipoli in 1915? Did thousands of Russian troops actually pass through England with snow on their boots? In 1914, an acute spy mania gripped the British public, who imagined that the country was brimming with German spies. Xenophobia, denunciations and attacks on dachshunds were rampant. With no radio or television, rumours of disaster were rife, and the apparition of mystical guardian spirits gave hope to the civilian population at home. This is a refreshingly different perspective on the common mud and trenches view of the First World War. The Authour James Hayward is an editor and historian with particular interest in twentieth-century military and art history. He has also written Myths and Legends of the Second World War (The History Press). He lives in Norfolk. Published: November 2010 Extent: Paperback Reprint 216 pages plus 16pp mono, 40 black and white illustrations