Battle of Ypres-WW1

Mushy

Does anyone know anybooks with much info on this battle? Im pretty certain im doin it for my LC! It was also called Passchendale(think thats the spelling). Any info would be appreciated

Mark

There were several, though the third one is referred to as Passchendaele. Is it being asked specifically in the LC or are you doing it as a special topic, seems a tad specific for a question. Links to the max.

First battle
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres1.htm
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres1st.htm

Second
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres2.htm

Third
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres3.htm
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres3davidson.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Ypres

Mushy

Whoah thanks. Its for my special topic. Im startin over the next few days. They should help. Thanks again

Victor

I've been to Ypres / Ieper and Messines / Mesen - a little further south. There is an Irish monument in Messines.

Ypres was reduced to shoulder-high rubble and has been completely rebuilt in the original style. Such was the scale of devastion, not just from artillery, but also from "landmines" - tunnels dug beneath enemy lines, filled with vast quanties of explosives (hundreds of tonnes) and detonated - that the area had to be remapped.

Snickers Man

Victor wrote:

Such was the scale of devastion, not just from artillery, but also from "landmines" - tunnels dug beneath enemy lines, filled with vast quanties of explosives (hundreds of tonnes) and detonated - that the area had to be remapped.

That's especially true for Messines which had loads of mines dug underneath it. Apparently the explosion from the first of those which went off could be heard in London. It was a massive bomb.

Actually, I believe one of those unexploded tunnel mines is still there and they don't know exactly where it is. Just fancy. If you're a homeowner in Messines you could be sitting on top of a few tons of high explosive which didn't go off in 1917.

If those dodgy radio ads for overseas properties ever get to mention Messines/Mesen, think twice before buying your bijoux apartment.

Victor

Much more of a hazard is the (mostly) artillery shells that farmers systematicly find when ploughing their fields.

Mushy

All good info, but now iv been told i cant do it cos its brought up in our textbooks. What a load of crap. Thanks anyway lads.

pork99

Victor wrote:

Ypres was reduced to shoulder-high rubble and has been completely rebuilt in the original style. Such was the scale of devastion, not just from artillery, but also from "landmines" - tunnels dug beneath enemy lines, filled with vast quanties of explosives (hundreds of tonnes) and detonated - that the area had to be remapped.

Before and after arial photo (of Passchendaele)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Passchendaele_aerial_view.jpg

Hermione*

If it's for your special topic, be careful taking information from wikipedia. If you search Wporld War I into the catalogue of your local library, you should find a number of books to consult. And always reference you materialwhen you quote stuff!