War Classics: ‘The Face of Battle’

In 1947, the journalist turned military historian S L A Marshall published Men Against Fire, a study of the combat experiences of US troops during the Second World War. Drawing on his interviews with combatants, Marshall made a number of extraordinary claims. While emphasising the importance of social cohesion in encouraging soldiers to fight, he stated that no more than 25% of soldiers actually fired their weapons in combat, even when under direct attack. Marshall’s claims received widespread attention and had a significant influence on the training of contemporary military forces, particularly in nurturing aggression in soldiers for battle. Marshall continued to receive recognition an