As the mountain of books on the Great War continues to grow, a new genre has emerged, where a small distinct group or subculture is essayed against the backdrop of the larger conflict. Such studies range from academic articles and monographs to popular paperbacks, covering topics such as Australian Rules footballers in the AIF, Victoria Cross laureates, or Aboriginal Australians who served in the ranks.

German Anzacs, as the rather arresting title suggests, concerns those members of the First AIF (Australian Imperial Force) who were of German birth or descent. While the book itself demurs on exact figures, it appears possible that up to 18,000 ‘German Australians’ fought for their country of domicile against their country of cultural antecedence. Specifically, this book traces the experiences of 100 men, via their letters and service records. We are privy to their enlistment, their wartime experiences and, all too often, their deaths.