The Battle of Frezenberg Ridge, May 1915. A micro-history using geographical information systems technology as an aid to analysis, interpretation and presentation.

Abstract

This paper uses the Battle of Frezenberg Ridge (4 - 13 May 1915) as a case study to investigate the merit of tactical micro-analysis in rendering comprehensible aspects of the large-scale, and usually amorphous and indecisive, attritional battles of the First World War. Stepping outside the mono-lingual constraints which colour much of the history of the period, it investigates the usefulness of German sources, when integrated with British sources, in understanding this battle. It uses geographical information system (GIS) technology, as an aid to analysis and presentation, and discusses its utility in the context of military history.

British unit war diaries at brigade and battalion level, together with a wide range of regimental histories and original mapping were combined with semi-official regimental histories and other material from German sources. Casualty statistics from both the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the German Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorgung were also consulted. Topographical data and data relating to tactical movement and operations were extracted from these sources and a detailed analysis was performed to identify anomalies or contradictions in this data allowing a coherent narrative to emerge. This analysis was assisted by the careful mapping of tactical movement using high quality cartography generated by GIS. The use of GIS in this context, together with its presentational use generally, was critically analysed. It has been demonstrated that this approach to the study of tactical warfare, even in circumstances where static, non-manoeuvre conditions apply, can lead to a greater understanding of the detail of complex military operations, both on the part of the historian but also his target audience.