Culture Clash British and German Military Innovation at War, 1914-18

The Western Front is often considered a theatre of sterile stalemate. In reality, it formed a crucible of violent military transformation, where two sides raced to adapt to the challenges of industrial war. This dynamic drove a measure/counter-measure race which not only helped determine the outcome of the conflict but also spawned a new form of modern warfare which lasts to this day.

This presentation explores how the British and German armies learned and adapted to the changing character of war between 1914 and 1918, arguing that organisational cultures – and deep understanding of those cultures – were critical to battlefield outcomes and so victory and defeat.