The First World War saw the birth of the modern tank, the fighting machine that has fascinated generations and become an icon in its own right. And yet their crews are often overlooked. In fact their contribution to the wars was immeasurable, and their lives were often extraordinary. The history of the tank was a race to improve the technology of these metal leviathans, and the results weren't always to the benefit of the crews -- daily they risked death and injury not only at the hands of the enemy but also from their own tank. Now for the first time Robert Kershaw brings to life the grime, the grease and the fury of a pitched tank battle, as well as the camaraderie and the fascinating detail of everyday life living and fighting in these fearsome machines. Drawing on newly researched eyewitness accounts of the hidden stories behind crucial battles of the twentieth century, TANK MEN is vivid history at its very best.