War in the East: A Military History of the Russo-Turkish War 1877-78 - Quintin Barry

This review has been submitted to Strategy and Tactics Magazine.

Title: War in the East: A Military History of the Russo-Turkish War 1877-78

Author: Quintin Barry

ISBN: 978-1-911096-69-6

Publisher: Helion

Year: 2016

Softcover

Pages: 534

Photos/ Maps: 100’s/17

Barry has once again focussed his attention on a war of less prominence internationally but one that had very significant implications for the region in which it took place. The Ottoman Empire at the time of the conflict encompassed the European regions of Bulgaria, portions of modern day Romania and areas of Bosnia. The Russians were very much interested in extending their access and influence to encompass not only the Black Sea but also were seeking passage to the Mediterranean via the Dardanelles. The Ottomans were, even at this time, seen as the weak man of Europe, heavily corrupt and vulnerable to collapse; the Russians, following the brutal suppression of a Bulgarian uprising by the Turks, saw an opportunity to break their neighbour to the south and extend their influence regionally.

What looked to be a simple operation that would result in Russian victory and accompanying international prestige turned into a difficult, costly and grinding campaign that was far more challenging than anyone had originally anticipated. While the Russians achieved complete victory in the end, it was as much a result of Turkish incompetence as Russian capability. It also came very close to resulting in war between Russia and Great Britain due to the concerns about Russian interest in the Dardanelles. Barry presents a very accurate and telling view of the international pressure brought to bear upon both protagonists as the European community sought to protect their own interests and limit the reach of Russia.

Barry has done a noteworthy analysis of this war. He succinctly encompasses the international as well as the operational components of the war; he also clearly highlights where opportunities were lost to both sides. For example his discussion of the Turkish Black Sea fleet and the Danube gunboat squadrons are indicative of the lack of operational appreciation shown by the Turkish commanders. The book represents a strategic/operational analysis of the conflict in that he only periodically dips into the tactical stories of the soldiers themselves. It is enough however, to gain a good appreciation of the conditions and environment under which the conflict was fought. Of particular note was Barry’s discussion of the extensive use of fortifications and the power of the defensive war compared to the offensive. The use of trenches and hard points by the Turks gave a hint of the nature of war to come, lessons that were not readily grasped by the observers.

I was very disappointed with the maps provided as I found the actions in the narrative difficult to follow on them. Beyond that the book is very well written and the photo’s/drawings provide very good context to the narrative. Barry closes his book with an excellent synopsis of the forces involved as well as a comprehensive bibliography. An engaging read and study of the last major conflict of the 1800’s.

The Other First World War: The Blood-Soaked Russian Fronts 1914-1922 - Douglas Boyd

This review has been submitted to Military History Monthly for publication.

Title: The Other First World War: The Blood-Soaked Russian Fronts 1914-1922

Author: Douglas Boyd

ISBN: 978-0-7524-9358-9

Publisher: Trafalgar Press

Hardcover

Pages: 256

Photos/Maps: 38/13 

From an international perspective, other than the actual collapse of the Russian Czar, very little is known or understood about the conflict in the East during the Great War years (1914-1918) and the follow-on Russian civil war period (1918-1922). Yet, the impact of those years on the future of both the world and European civilization in particular cannot be understated. Boyd has endeavoured to relate a synopsis of the actual events and the impact of them on the broader international canvas. 

Boyd's rendition of the Brusilov Campaign and the Battle of Tannenberg are highlights of this book and he certainly does a reasonable job of the flow of events in between. He makes some very interesting observations however, that I would have liked to see some additional references made for further study. These include the role that Romanian forces played in the operations on the Eastern Front as well as the operational challenges of the various “Colour” factions and how they came to be. Unfortunately, he also makes regular comments within his narrative without the benefit of endnotes which I feel would have merited reference in order to confirm source. 

He does not provide a comprehensive bibliography but references endnotes at the close of each chapter. I also found that the maps used were of limited value due to the quality of both diagrams and the choice of style of map; certainly, a series of comprehensive 'overview' maps would have been very beneficial in following the myriad of changes and fronts throughout this period. 

In my opinion Boyd has undertaken a very distracting style of writing as he tends to flow off on tangents that would appear to have little to nothing to do with the narrative. A key example of involves a discussion of his (the authors) time in a Stasi prison in 1959 interjected into the middle of his discussion on the Kerensky offensive in 1917. While the intention was good, I found it to be a very frustrating habit.

 

The quality of the publication and the photographs are high and Boyd provides a reasonable overview or start point for those wishing to garner a very high level appreciation of the complexity of the Russian war, revolution and civil war. However, I would suggest that the portion accepted was larger than the diner could effectively consume and that significant aspects of the book will leave the reader more confused than enlightened. Perhaps this in itself best conveys the degree of confusion experienced by all of the players involved in the tragic opera that was the Russian Front 1914-1922.

Lawrence in Arabia - Scott Anderson

Title: Lawrence in Arabia

Author: Scott Anderson

ISBN: 978-0-771-00768-2

Publisher: Signal Books

Softcover

Pages: 577

Photos/maps: 42/5 

Altruism is not a principle of war nor is it a principle of international relations and it is with this pretext that one must approach the machinations and deal-making that typified the Middle East during the years leading up to, during and immediately following the First World War. Anderson’s book presents the reader with a road map of the toing’s and froing’s between the key actors and nation states of the period and the impact that it has had on the long term social and political development of the region. Certainly, the decisions made then have reverberated down through the decades and continue to be felt in the challenges that we are dealing with today. 

Anderson has been able to effectively cut through the Gordian knot of Middle Eastern societies and politics and break down the story into a manageable and traceable narrative. It is truly awe inspiring the degree of naked ambition (both personal and national) that manifested itself at the expense of all else during this period. The example of France refusing to sanction an attack on Alexandretta in 1915 (resulting in the Gallipoli Campaign) because of its fear that it would lose its post war claim to Syria (this despite the fact that militarily it made eminent sense to strike there) boggles the mind with both its hubris and expectation. 

Turk vs Arab, House of Saud vs Hussein, British vs French, Entente vs Central Power, Lawrence vs Sykes, Tribe vs Tribe, Egypt vs India the list is endless of the competitive agendas that were undertaken as the dance of the Middle East carried on. A consistent theme throughout was Lawrence and his role as guide, intermediary, policy maker and manipulator between all of the various parties. The book is not about Lawrence specifically, but the central role that he plays in this drama is key to the long term results. The author does a very credible job of providing the reader a clear understanding of the personalities involved, what drives them, their bias’s, strengths and weaknesses; none more so than Lawrence. Lawrence holds himself aloof from those around him and forges his own path regardless of the intent or direction from his superiors; a true loose cannon. In doing so, he also contributes to the tragedy that unfolds in the region even while he plunges into cynicism and disillusionment with the Great Powers.

 

This book was a finalist for the National Book Critics Award and it is easy to understand why. Anderson has drafted an eminently readable and, more importantly, comprehendible synopsis of the years leading to the collapse of the Ottoman’s, the intricacies of the war years, the betrayal of promises made to the Arabs and the realignment of the Middle East in the vision of the victorious Western Powers. Additionally, Anderson provides an extensive bibliography and notes section for further study. For those seeking an in-depth yet engaging backgrounder for the modern challenges of the Middle East, this is a book to be read.