Rohlo

Hard to say. The national symbol and trim look a little sketchy, plus the shape of the hat looks too big for a legimate overseas cap.

It wasa factor, but maybe not nearly as major a one as some interpretations of the cause of the war play it up to be.

I would have to disagree.

The French and British evolved quite well. I have a number of French small unit manuals from late 1916... they are light years away from 1914 stuff.

I think by 1917 the allies were actually doing OK. Unfortunately German defensive measures evolved as well... so the stalemate remained because, even while offensive tactics changed, defensive plans did as well...but it was not stganation.

I do remember reading that the reason the Marines suffered such heavy losses at Belleau wood was because Pershing totally ignored all the Allies tried to teach him about what they had learned in the preceeding years, and that days later the Army Regiments of the 2nd division had much greater success because they applied what they had learned from the French?

best

Chris

The blackpowder-era "line of battle" was still very much in play early in the war, albeit in open order. By the end of the war, troops were manuevering more independently in squads rather than by company/regiment. The naval blockade was taking its toll by 1917, so it strained the Germans' resources.