On 31st July 1917, the small Belgian village of Passchendaele became the focus for one of the most gruelling, bloody and bizarre battles of World War I. By 6th November, when Passchendaele village and its ridge were captured, over half a million British, French, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Germans had become casualties. Philip Warner's account of the battle to capture Passchendale brings together all the elements of this horrific campaign - the historical background, personal accounts, strategies and tactics, the personalities and political movements. He investigates the issues that had a crucial effect on the course of the battle, including the mutinous state of the French army, and the bombardment that destroyed the drainage system.