Uniforms of World War I

John Mollo, Pierre Turner

Uniforms of World War I, John Mollo, Pierre Turner.

When Europe went to war in 1914, it did so in a mood of joyous certainty. Both sides were confident that their cause was just, that their armies were invincible, and that their consequent victories would be glorious, overwhelmingly and practically immediate. So inexhaustible are the springs of human optimism that it was some time before the nations as a whole realised that the war was not progressing in accordance with their first ingenuous suppositions, and that they would be called upon to pay for their days of ardour throughout the years of pain and anguish.

Such optimism as was so clearly manifest in the opposing armies in the late summer and autumn of 1914 was coincidentally reflected in their colourful uniforms; but all too soon, as the "Doctrine of Attrition" of doubtful inspiration entrenched the belligerents on the Western Front, the magnificently decorative military dress of the old world gave way to the muted, coloured "protective clothing" of today. As an example, it was not until one whole year after the commencement of hostilities that France forswore her brightly-coloured, pre-war uniforms and adopted horizon blue.

This volume covers the peace-time and field uniforms of the metropolitan armies and aviation services, which fought in Europe at the heart of the struggle in World War I. This is Andrew Mollo’s twelfth book on military uniforms. When not writing books, he works as a historical consultant and has co-directed two highly-acclaimed feature films, It Happened Here and Winstanley.

Contents

  • Title: Uniforms of World War I
  • Period: World War One, 1914–1918
  • Type: Uniformology
  • Author: John Mollo
  • Illustrator: Pierre Turner
  • Format: 220-page Book with 245 Colour Illustrations
  • Language: English
  • Publisher: Blandford Press Ltd., Poole, Dorset
  • ISBN: 0713715332
  • Published: 1977

Chapters

Preface

  1. Introduction
  2. Plates
  3. Uniform Notes
    • Austria-Hungary
    • Belgium
    • Bulgaria
    • Czechoslovakia
    • France
    • Germany
    • Great Britain
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Montenegro
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Rumania
    • Russia
    • Serbia
    • United States of America
  4. Notes to Plates
  5. Bibliography
  6. Index to Illustrations

Uniforms of World War I is a comprehensive resource for figure painters, diorama builders, and wargamers interested in raising armies for the Great War, 1914–1918. The illustrations are based on actual people like Austrian Archduke Eugène, Archduke Joseph, Lieutenant Godwin von Brumowski, Bulgarian General Jekoff, French General Foch, Lieutenant Charles Nungesser, 2nd Lieutenant René Fonck, Sergeant Aviator James Roger MacConnell, Kaiser Wilhelm II., Field-Marshal von Hindenburg, Lieutenant-General von Watter, Crown Prince William of Prussia, Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria, Leutnant Rudolf von Eschwege, Rittmeister Freiherr Manfred von Richthofen, Brigadier General F. W. Ramsey, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Brigadier General Nesle, Lieutenant Colonel A. E. Cator, Captain W. G. Barker, Capitano-Piloto Natali Palli, Lieutenant General Armando Diaz, King Nicholas of Montenegro, Commandant Jósef Pilsudski, General of Division Jósef Haller, Tsar Nicholas II., Lieutenant General Frederick von Brincken, Podporuchik Alexei Shivkov, Major General Heroys, Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur, General John J. Pershing, 2nd Lieutenant E. Kindley, Captain Eddie V. Rickenbacker, among others.

The descriptions of the colour illustrations are quite short, compared to those found in similar Blandford uniform books, because most of the important detail is covered in the uniform notes sections of the individual armies. Packed with information, John Mollo’s Uniforms of World War I offers good value for money.

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