Customer Reviews

After Clausewitz: German Military Thinkers Before the Great War

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Being a text of the Modern War Studies by the University Press of Kansas already indicates this is a great book. Actually, I bought it for that reason and because the subject attracts my attention. After reading it, I can only say this book is fantastic. After Prussian defeat at Jena in 1806 on the hands of Napoleon, it took several years for the German peoples to again have a respectfull army. This books deals with this process. This book reveals why the Germans succeded on creating a new and powerfull army, while its neighbors (France and Russia, although Great Britain is also treated) decreased in power. The creation of a High Command and a General Staff are decisive factors on such evolution. Wargaming, modernization (this means, using all technological advantages on railroads, rifle making, artillery and machine guns, while demobilizing or transforming cavalry units) and professionalization (with always increasing quality levels of the reserve units) are the keys of German capability shown against Denmark (1864), Austria (1866) and France (1870). One thing I really liked of this book is the extraordinary quantity and quality of the research sources (actually, thanks to this book I've been able to get some other texts on the subject), many of which are not in English. An extraordinary work.

This Book explains and compares the theories of Germany's military writers before the First World War. Dr. Echevarria dispels myths and provides fresh and clear insight of the historical understanding and the idea's and theories that were debated.

This book is a must read for any serious student of Military History and Military Studies. Dr. Echevarria's exploration of the "tactical crisis", "initial solutions" through the "struggle for resolution" to "tactical synthesis" culminating in the present is a brilliant tour de force. This book will also help provide some clarity in understanding the American amalgamation of doctrine and warfighting.

Dr. Terry Tucker, Adjunct Prof Military Studies/Military Science and Doctrine Developer for the Afghan National Army