The Other Side of the Wire Volume 1 With the German XIV Reserve Corps

[joerookery]

Ralph,

I do not know if this is the correct place to ask but I have a question about some pictures in your book. Such as a picture of Heinrich on page 102. He is listed as a lieutenant d.L. and then in parentheses you also listed Vizefeldwebel/Offiziere Stellvertrater.

I do not quite understand this. Why two different rank sets? Was he commissioned upon death? Was that some sort of AKO that you are aware of? In this case you have him as both fish and fowl and there are other pictures similarly labeled. Please help me to understand this -- how do they go from acting officer to officer?

Again if this is in the wrong place please move it to the correct place. Really enjoying reading your book!

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Hello Joe, I see no reason not to ask this question here. In the cases you mentioned there were conflicting accounts of the rank of some men. It might simply be the timing of their death, in the middle of a promotion or they were killed before the official posting. As another possibility they were considered acting officers and given the full rank in their obituaries.

When researching the book I was unable to confirm one over the other so in these few cases I decided to represent all the details I found. I have come across this in other lists but only a few times. I have men listed as Infanterist in one and Gefreiter in another. Did they die before the promotion went through? Was it an error? Etc.

I appreciate the inquiry and if this does appear in the second volume I will add an explanation section to show how these were arrived at. I also found it interesting to see some say killed in action when instead they died from illness or injury not apparently related to enemy action. Thanks for the question. I am glad you are enjoying the book.

Ralph

[Len Trim]

Hi Ralph,

was the Granathof in the area now usually referred to as 'the glory hole' at La Boiselle?

Len

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Hello Len,

I believe they are not far from one another but without looking at maps from both sides I cannot say they are one in the same. The Granathof was located just outside the village limits, towards Albert and not far from the old village cemetery. I suspect that looking at some recent maps the Glory Hole is further up the side of the village.

Can anyone who does compare maps, etc. venture an opinion? I would be grateful if you could, thanks.

Ralph

[Len Trim]

Hi Ralph,

thanks for the quick reply. I have the Linesman series of maps which show the extensive mining around that edge of La Boiselle, but being British do not of course use the name Granathof.

Excellent book by the way. Strange the coincidences. Last night I read in your book about the chap from Crieff Scotland who was taken prisoner. I teach History in Crieff and am taking 40 pupils from my school to the Somme in less than four weeks. McCorist AKA Nicholson will of course be mentioned in my talks. In fact when I am back at school after the Easter holidays I must see if he is on the local war memorial.

Len

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Hello Len,

I will see what I can find out about the crater locations in the meantime. I am glad that you found such a personal connection with a part of the book and can use it when taking your students to the Somme. I hope that you have a safe, fun and informative tour with the students. I saw a number of these school groups on my visits to the Somme and I think it is great that this is done on such a large scale.

Enjoy the rest of the book and I will get back to you as soon as possible on the crater details.

Ralph

[David Filsell]

Mr Whitehead, I bow before you. My copy arrived yesterday.

I will not repeat what everyone else has said, other than to echo JSs' "awesome". I really do have some small idea of the hard work you put into in the entire thing.

One small cavil, and it is small and directed at your publisher. The dust hjacket shows the sheer quality of at least one original photograph. I understand why, but oh why didnt your publisher use better quality paper to reproduce the amazing collection of illustrations you have found.

Bets regards and thanks

David

[trenchtrotter]

Better paper equals higher price?

Anyhow for those in Central London, Foyles currently has two copies available in the WW1 section. Both signed and numbered as are the rest.

TT

[Dave G]

Better paper equals higher price?

I agree but as someone of limited financial means who regularly chokes up staggering amounts of money on the wonderful books from Verlag Militaria, publishers of superb reference works on the German and Austrian armies in WWI, I'd have happily paid more to have Mr. Whitehead's exceptional work with a bit better production values to enhance the quality of his wonderful photographs. This shouldn't be registered as a criticism - far from it. Rather just my opinion on how Mr. Whitehead's near perfect book could have been made just that much nearer perfect.

All the best,

Dave

[keithmroberts]

This thread is running so well that I begin to wonder if GWF members have left any copies free for those not blessed with access to this forum?

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading my copy, and now need to allow a little time to pass before returning to it to try and tie it in with my other reading. Excellent stuff.

Keith

[richardIII]

I echo the sentiments shown above and would also appreciate better quality paper for the reproduction of photos and would willingly pay extra next time.

We have a static caravan at Authuille and we were there over Easter, taking my copy with me. It was particularly poignant reading about the attacks at La Boisselle on Good Friday 1915 about a mile away from the scene on Good Friday this year.

Richard

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Thank you all for the kind comments. I am very pleased that so many have found the book in whole or in part interesting and worth owning. I have also noted the comments regarding the photos, paper, etc.

One point that impressed me with Helion was their cooperation in the size of the volume and the numbers of photos and illustrations they said could be used. Most other publishers that rejected my project had severe restrictions on both items. It would be great to have something like the glossy paper used in some art books, etc. but I wonder just what the overall cost would be with this number of photos and the manner they were used throughout the book and while some would pay a higher price would enough do so to make it financially possible? I do not know.

I have no real control over the production issues but I am reporting all items mentioned to the publishers so they can make use of the information as they need to. I will pass these along as well.

Thank you again,

Ralph

P.S. Volume 2 is well under way and I hope to have it finished before too long. I will post details as they come up in the future. I have also found what I believe to be my third book on a subject not covered well at all, at least from the German side. I just need to see what reqources are available and map out an outline for size, etc.

[peterhogg]

Okay,

Please excuse me if I missed a pertinent post but how do I get this book to my hands in Vancouver, BC? It sounds very interesting but every site I have clicked to leads me to the the UK!

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Connor,

It is also listed in stock at Amazon.Com in the U.S. I am unaware of any Canadian stores that carry it. You might want to check their sites on-line to see if they have any.

Ralph

[David Filsell]

I understand the constraints fully - but so many of the pictures are so good it would have been nice if ....

[joerookery]

I have a major complaint.

This book is simply outstanding in every way I would agree with what David said however having been fooled by my publisher on picture quality I understand. However, I just returned from a major cruise and read this book in detail. Awesome. The best! Now for the complaint -- this is not only well researched but it is written like a murder mystery. I found myself really turning the pages to find out what happens next -- so the complaint is Ralph took us to the dance but stopped short of 1 July 1916. My only complaint is that I needed volume 2. This was not a want this was a need. Bravo on the book but get to work on volume 2!

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Complaint noted Joe. But just think, the information covering the initial phase took up a lot of pages. The second volume will be about the same I suspect once all is done. I just made a few great purchases of new photos including one regiment I never had and three regimentals that I need to complete one section.

Vol. 2 will be primarily on 1 July and September/October 1916 on the Somme as well as what happened to the regiments as they were moved about. Finally, post-war veteran information and events will also be covered. It is my hope that after each chapter on 1 July there will be the appropriate casualty lists for all men who fought on 1 July down to the smallest units I could locate. These will include those killed, wounded, injured, captured and missing. The missing, as far as possible, will be traced through the subsequent Verlustlisten to see what their status became (captured, killed, etc.).

I simply could not put all of this information into 1 volume and needed a good cutoff date. 30 June/1 July seemed to be a good date to use. I expect to have the majority doen by this summer and then the publishing should be smoother than volume 1 and quicker.

I should also mention that while volume 1 was restricted to the 26th and 28th Reserve Divisions I had to expand my coverage on 1 July to include the 52nd Division, 2nd Guard Reserve, 10th Bavarian and 12th Division so the accounts will go from Gommecourt in the north to Curlu in the south. I found this was needed as the events were so intertwined that it would be difficult to exclude any section. I am eager to get it done as well as I have an outline for another book after I finish volume 2. It will be on an entirely different section of the front and one not covered in any detail before.

I really do appreciate the comments on the book and I am very glad it not only was interesting but it kept your interest in the manner you described. Never having done anything like this before I was not sure how it would all turn out.

Ralph

[David Filsell]

Coincidences, cosmic whatsits and etc have already been mentioned on this thread. But whatever the reasons Joe's book, Ralph's, and now Germany's Western Front (and Jack Sheldon's ongoing series) have all proved rare delights for those of us with svere language handicaps who have an interest in events on the other siede of the wire.

To add to my joy I have just obtained after a five year (yes 5 year) search a copy of "The Fiery Way" by Franz Schauwecker. Virtually mint it is an ex University of Newcasttle Library copy which had been consigned to storage and very, very rare. This last was required for my (ever on-going research on German Great War novels, personal accounts and etc about the Great War for my bibliography and commentary on such works translated into English and published in the the UK and the US.

Then Sandpipe - which offers remaindered books - offered much reduced copies of "War Experiences in Rural Germany 1914-23 by Bejamin Ziemann ( Berg ISBN 184520244-9) and drawn from Bavarian Archives.

Oh what joy. Its been a bit like Christmas but with presents that you really, really, want.

[sjustice]

Hello all,

Ralph, I knew I shouldn't have even opened it. Now, having been turfed unceremoniously out of my studies by it, I can concur with Jack Sheldon's view with one proviso - this is definitely a must-read, must-own volume for students of the War. However...there is no index, and there will not be one for the second volume, either. I know this is a considerable extra workload but, to my mind, such an addition will put it on the shelf of every library, and many homes throughout the countries of the former belligerents. Please do it for the reprint!

Well done on a superb addition to current knowledge.

Cheers,

Simon

[SiegeGunner]

There are practical limitations to what can be included in a printed book, particularly a magisterial work like Ralph's. Personally, I think that the answer is not to make the book even bigger, but to supplement it with digital appendices that might be offered either in the form of a DVD or online via the author's or publisher's website. This could be made available either free to everyone or free to purchasers of the book (via a unique password printed in each copy) and on a payment basis for other users. The content might include a full digital copy of the printed book, searchable in place of an index, and a high-resolution gallery of photographs and maps.

At the author's discretion, photos, maps and text omitted from the printed version could also be offered. This would enable, for instance, the full text of a source document (or in the case of a translated document, an image of the original) to be made accessible.

There would have to be software precautions to prevent copyright abuse, and of course this approach would not suit all authors or all publications, but I think it could be the way ahead for authors of specialist publications who are willing to put in the additional editorial work required.

[David Filsell]

Its now some years since I was involved in print production, however, although cost of paper stock is a factor in publishing, the cost of a good picture reproductive paper used not to add too significantly to publication costs and added little to final costs. Things may have changesd of-course. The use of separate and better paper for pictures does have some disadvantages, but it does offer a lower cost way of ensuring quality reproduction.

As a final thought, the use of in-text pictures seems to have been, and remains, a particularly American practice. I had a quick check yesterday of my collection and with the exception of the Pen and Sword Battlefields series - in which photgraphic reproduction is frequently, and sadly, lamentably bad - the poorest quality books which I have (for picture reproduction) are those from the USA. Whilst poor pictures would not put me off buying a book which I considered important - as reading or reference - I wouldn't mind the extra £ or so.

On a slightly different "rip off Britain" tack. How can Amazon Canada sell the new German OH so much cheaper that Amazon UK? I habitually nowcheck prices of books in the US and Canada now before ordering. Even with postal costs I come out (generally well) ahead. Not only that US delivery on new and used books - both US and UK published, old and new, is generally faster than that from British book dealers. The new German book ordered from Canada on Monday arrived on the following Thursday and that's not an unusual level of service. So guys, shop around.

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Hello Simon,

Thank you for the kind words on the book. I am always very happy to hear that someone is enjoying it.

I had been expecting such a comment regarding the index or lack of one for some time. There are a number of factors that were considered to omit one from this book.

When this book was to come out in 2008 there was a good chance of an index. When the financial disaster resulted in a bankrupt printer and other issues the book was delayed until earlier this year. In this period it went through a major overhaul as new photos had been purchased and new first hand details became available.

I thought it should be fairly easy to integrate these into the manuscript but I was quite wrong and unprepared for the problems. For every additional written section added other sections were thrown off, placement of photos had to be changed, endnote numbering had to be altered and checked and then rechecked. Each addition, each correction, each endnote change was like a ripple effect through the book and took up a great deal of time.

Then there is the factor of ‘8’. This being the number your total book can be divided by so that the large printing sheets can be produced, folded and cut. By adding a large amount of detail I was forced to remove a full page photo from an appendix on Jakob Hönes,

There is the factor of size and since it would not overly increase the paper or price this aspect was not a real issue. I am still working full time and as such this was finished on a part time basis, a few hours here, a few minutes there. I often had ideas or lists of corrections and follow up ideas I jotted down at odd times of day and night and then had to find time to get them done.

Once the final manuscript was done and in my hands as a PDF then an index could be created by hand. I can do an automated one in Word but do not know if it is even possible as a PDF document. The delays were substantial and if an index was to be created it would have been time consuming and delayed it even more. After a long discussion with the publisher we decided to omit one.

I had hoped with the format of the chapters, month by month and then in 3 month sections that any particular period or event could be located somewhat quickly. I have not even approached the publisher about an index in volume 2 or if that is even a consideration. If the book ever does get reprinted I will consider an index be added.

After learning many aspects of publishing the hard way I have no real regret in leaving it out. I found out that this is not a way to strike it rich but then that was never the motive for completing the book. I have only one real regret over the entire issue. My only real regret is that my brother was not alive to see the book.

I have also identified some aspects i wish were a bit different and as such I will be making some changes in book 2. In some cases it is simply to recognize the help of some people who were not added to book one. I suspect that is was a result of writing certain sections years ago and not making the needed additions or corrections. I plan on correcting this oversight in book 2.

One point raised by David about photos in text being a U.S. practice, this was printed in England by Helion. I have never noticed if one country or another has a particular approach to printing, I will have to start looking it seems. Most of mine are German or English with few U.S. books as they are not readily published over here.

I will take a hard look at other projects as well when it comes to an index. There is a smaller one that should be simple to accommodate. As soon as I know more about book 2 I will pass it along.

Thanks again for the kind remarks.

Ralph

[David Filsell]

Ralph

Looking back at my comments, I am left feeling thatthey look a lttle carping. They were not meant as such, and I hope did not read as such! Incidentally was it you that the editors mentioned in the new transaltion of the Western Front official history as having checked the text, orf is there another Imperial German Army expert of the same name out there?

Regards

David

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Hello David,

I took your comments as constructive thoughts for what could be a better product, nothing more, nothing less. I took no offense and did not see it as carping. Using written messages such as these it is impossible to add in voice inflection, humor, etc. so I hope people take my comments also as just thoughts and opinions as well.

I did check a large part of the text for the Western Front translation. For the most part it was spot on but there were a few places where the literal translation did not come across in the right manner. I made a few suggestions and was glad to have helped out.

Ralph

[Charles Fair]

Hello Ralph, the book is terrific as I think I have already noted. I'm really impressed with the selection of maps, some of which I recognise from the green 'Schlachten in der Weltkrieg' series, but also many new ones.

However, as a map buff, one tiny enhancement that I would recommend for Vol 2 would be to have a list of maps in the beginning, just after the list of chapters, which would make the maps easier to find. I often want to compare two maps, or else might find that a map is useful for another part of the book, not just the pages near where it is located. Alternatively one might be reading another book written from the BEF perspective and one might want to dive into yours to find a German map of the same area. Hope this comment is taken in a positive way.

There was only one copy in Foyles last time I was there a few days ago.