Additional information
by Alexander Pfeifer (Author), Philipp Cross (Author)
A German officer's firsthand, day-by-day WWI diary - Unedited - Once Forgotten - Now Revealed
As featured by the BBC (TV, Radio & Online)
In 1914, Lt. Alexander Pfeifer left behind his career, family, and future to serve as a company commander in one of the most elite and utilised units of the Imperial German Army - the 11th Kurhessian Jäger Battalion. Over the next four years, he fought in some of World War I's fiercest battles across France, the Carpathians (Eastern Front), and the Italian Alps. But what makes his story different is that he wrote about everything and took his camera with him:
"This diary is not just a recollection of experiences written down after the war... These are literally the experiences I wrote down each day - A genuine reflection of the fight against enemy and nature." - Lt. Pfeifer
Now published for the first time after being hidden for over 100 years, "The Other Trench" presents Pfeifer's full wartime diary - raw, honest, and untouched - alongside more than 300 original photographs and 8 maps. Co-authored by his English great-great-grandson, this book intertwines first-hand testimony with modern research and family discovery, offering a powerful new perspective on the war.
Inside the Book:
- Lt. Pfeifer's translated wartime diary from 1914 to 1918, unedited and fully authentic
- Pfeifer's journey from platoon leader to a respected stormtrooper company commander
- Over 200 rare WWI photos taken by Pfeifer himself
- Eyewitness accounts from the Western, Eastern, and Italian fronts
- Detailed battle coverage: Loos, Neuve Chapelle, Festubert, Caporetto, and many more
- Modern-day connections: stories behind items and the letters from the fallen returned to descendants.
- Narrations, research, and stories that shed light on the Germans and also the opposing sides of the war.
