Why I Primarily Write from the German (and Sometimes Russian) Perspective — and Why That’s Not the Whole Story

When people read Trench, they often notice right away that it doesn’t follow the usual path. It’s not another Western Front story told from the British or French perspective — though those voices are not ignored. I chose to write from the German point of view as the primary lens, and at times from the Russian side as well, because those fronts offer a rich, often overlooked narrative filled with innovation, struggle, and tragedy. But my intent has never been to exclude others — far from it.

This war was not the property of one empire, one army, or one ideology. It was a global event that dragged in people from every corner of the earth. That’s why I’ve made it a point to include as many voices as I can — whether it’s a Saxon machine gunner, a Russian scout from the Caucasus, or a Fijian rifleman attached to a British unit.

📍 Regional Voices Matter
In Trench, I go out of my way to reflect accents, speech patterns, and cultural nuances from specific regions within these larger nations. A Bavarian doesn’t speak or think like a Prussian. A French soldier from Brittany may not sound like someone from Paris. A Russian peasant from the Volga doesn’t share the same worldview as a Cossack from the south. These details matter. They give the story texture and authenticity — not stereotypes, but character.

🌍 Everyone Gets a Turn
While the German and Russian fronts lead much of the main story, no nation is forgotten. Fijians, for example, appear in Book 1 — not just as historical footnotes, but as characters with agency and depth. Yes, they didn’t see much front-line action in real history, but they were present, and their inclusion reflects that.

Once the main Trench saga is complete, you’ll see more stories told from other perspectives: the French, the British, the Americans, the Italians, the Austro-Hungarians, the Ottomans, the Bulgarians. Each one will get their moment — through spin-offs, short series, or focused side stories — all set within the same Trench universe.

🕯 The War Was No Glorious Adventure
I also don’t shy away from the difficult truths — that many soldiers knew this war was a mistake, or at the very least, a catastrophe. Characters in Trench are not mindless patriots. They are skeptical, conflicted, and human. Many know they are being fed half-truths. Propaganda was everywhere, and so was misinformation — just like in real history.

Some things you read in history books are true. Others are curated to tell a cleaner story. I don’t claim to present an “alternate history” — I present fiction set within real history, shaped by real-world tension, fear, innovation, and doubt. If a character questions the war, it’s because many real soldiers did too.

📚 Breaking the Silence Around the German Perspective
One major reason I chose the German perspective is simple — it’s the one people actively avoid. For decades, the tragedy of the First World War has been clouded by the legacy of what came after — namely, a certain Austrian and his party of fanatics who hijacked German history in the worst way possible. That horror should never be forgotten, but it should never erase what came before it either.

World War I Germany was a complex, tragic, and industrially transformative empire. The amount of innovation, resistance, and unseen conflict on their side of the war — especially after 1915 — is staggering. That’s why I began the series with Trench 1915, and not 1914 like everyone else. It allows me to honor and explore a part of history that’s been distorted or buried under “German guilt.” I have no interest in playing into that guilt. I aim to destroy it — not with excuses, but with stories that tell the full picture.

Whether you agree with me or not, I have my mission.

🎖 The Mission
My goal has always been to make Trench more than just war fiction. I want it to be immersive, educational, and entertaining. Not by rewriting history, but by giving voice to the shadows in between. For those who truly love history — or are just starting to explore it — Trench offers something deeper. Like an appetizer before the full meal, it encourages you to ask questions, to research more, and to discover the forgotten corners of the Great War.

And to those who say “that never happened” — remember: this is fiction. But it’s fiction grounded in reality, written for those who want to imagine what might’ve happened in the cracks between the recorded facts

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