World War I has experienced an increase in interest in recent years, but first-hand accounts from the German side are rare, especially those written by ordinary soldiers. The English edition of With the German Guns has been out of print for many years and high demand among collectors has made it a much sought-after item.Despite being further behind the lines, the artilleryman’s life in World War I was made hazardous by the more accurate counter-battery fire that could be called in by reconnaissance aircraft and specialized artillery spotters on the ground. Herbert Sulzbach nevertheless managed to enliven his often grim account with the flashes of humor and satire that had been traditional among German writers since the Thirty Years War.Herbert Sulzbach was born in 1894 and joined the German Army in 1914. Sulzbach fought with a horse artillery unit during the period of mobile warfare in the early months of the war, then settled in for the long years of stalemate in the trenches. Sulzbach visited various parts of the front and returned home on leave several times. He also rose steadily through the ranks to receive a commission by war’s end, so his diaries cover a considerable breadth of war experiences. Sulzbach also noted in his diary the major events of the war, so the modern reader is kept abreast of the bigger picture. He was twice awarded the Iron Cross and survived the war unscathed. With the German Guns was originally published in 1935 and was an instant success, both in German and in subsequent translations.Despite his distinguished record and decorations, Sulzbach was forced to flee Germany in 1937 because of Jewish ancestry. He settled in England and eventually became involved in the British war effort, serving in the Pioneer Corps and as an officer at a Paw camp. Sulzbach built a strong relationship with many of the POWs, and after the war they founded an Anglo-German friendship organization. ILLUSTRATIONS: 12 pages plates
