For a long time there has been a gaping hole in Great War Writings. This hole is the story of the German 'Georgette' offensive of April 1918 and Chris Baker's first book has helped immeasurably resolve this

Western Front Association, D. Tattersfield

“A highly recommended gazetteer with information about many of the locations that were attacked.”

Britain at War

“While some readers may be familiar in British attacks at Ypres and on the Somme; the German defeat on Lys perhaps played a more significant role in why Germany failed to win the war.”
“This makes the book a must for anyone that wants to find out more about this relatively unknown, yet highly significant battle, in the war’s final year.”

Nuneaton News

“Baker is a man who certainly knows his stuff about this battle.”
“The German attack on the River Lys had been, until now, an episode of the war which awaited its historian – Baker is now that historian.”
“A must for anyone who wants to find out more than about this relatively unknown, yet highly significant battle, in the war’s final year.”

Burton Mail

This is a good clear account of the battle, supported by a good selection of eyewitness accounts, although these are overwhelmingly from the Allied point of view. Baker also examines the reasons for the initial German strengths, looking at the key strengths of the German army of 1918 and the weaknesses of the initial Allied positions, and the reasons for their eventual failure. Here he suggests that a combination of a number of key defensive successes, combined with the general lack of mobility of the German army played the main part in the eventual British victory on the Lys.
This is an excellent study of a vital but often neglected battle, and should be of great value to anyone interested in the fighting on the Western Front.

History of war website

.. meticulously researched .. wealth of information which vividly portrays the desperation and hardship of the action .. author does this in a highly readable style which holds the reader's attention .. important contribution to the understanding of the battle for Flanders and its events leading up to the final Allied victory later in the year.

WFA Heart of England newsletter

‎"BATTLE FOR FLANDERS, THE: German Defeat on the Lys 1918 by Chris Baker provides an excellent foundation for World War I studies. Chris Baker’s style is excellently suited towards World War I studies, and will teach students the material clearly without overcomplicating the subject.

Books Monthley

The Battle of the Lys was critical for both the Allies and the Germans. Whilst the fierce German onslaught tested Allied co-operation to its limits, the attack also revealed deficiencies in both the organisation and morale of the enemy. Here the author reconstructs the battlefield in vivid detail, using graphic eyewitness accounts to emphasise the importance of the battle and its contribution to Germany's ultimate defeat. An excellent work. 10/10.

Mark Marsay