Military History of Western World (From the American Civil War to the End of World War II) [Paperback]

J. F. C. Fuller (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Major General J.F.C. Fuller (1878-1966) was one of the most important and original military thinkers of this century. He served as lieutenant in the Boer War, organized the first British tank corps in World War I, and developed the strategy and tactics of tank warfare which were later put to such effective use by the Nazis for their World War II blitzkriegs. His many books include A Military History of the Western World (3 volumes), The Generalship of Ulysses S. Grant, Julius Caesar: Man, Soldier, and Tyrant, and The Generalship of Alexander the Great, all of which are available from Da Capo Press/Perseus Book Group.

Product Details

• Paperback: 666 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 22, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306803062
• ISBN-13: 978-0306803062
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #911,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Whirlwind Tour Through History, February 27, 2009

By 

Keith D. Hansen "Keith the Neoplatonist" (In the Eternal Now) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Military History of Western World (From the American Civil War to the End of World War II) (Paperback)

I have just completed reading all three volumes of this eminently readable and enjoyable tome so I preface this review by asserting that the remarks apply to all three volumes.

First of all, this is essentially one large "Decisive Battles of the West" type of study. Even at three large volumes, it is impossible for a "military history" to even approach comprehensiveness, but virtually every consensus "decisive battle" of history is present and fleshed out with prelude, narrative, and analysis. Fuller never loses sight of the context and meaning of the battle in the war in which it took place or in the greater history of the West. The battle narratives are generally thrilling and well discussed with ample geographical and battle maps to aid the reader.

The massive nature of the study allows for Fuller to slowly unveil the evolution of military weaponry and its effect on both strategy and tactics (as well as political and social organization) but it would have been more helpful to the reader to have some pictures of the weapons. I had a hard time understanding terminology like "matchlock" and "flintlock."

Fuller, a general himself, does get bogged down in the minutiae of the military narrative at times, with too much detail about formations and military organization and the marching chronology from town A to town B. Unless one is intimately familiar with the local geography or is an expert in a particular war, such details are pretty much useless. Nevertheless, the narrative is generally fluid and is punctuated by 'between battle" chronicles which are a nice refresher course in general Western political history. When Fuller is not speaking like a general talking to his officers about battle chronology, he is an enjoyable read. Either way, such portions can be easily skipped over without missing much of the story.

Regarding the choices of battles for discussion, one wonders how a monumental battle like Milvian Bridge (where Constantine won while using the sign of the Cross) is omitted. The battle is never even mentioned. Yarmouk (636 AD) is another one that Fuller missed but deserves mention since, if the battle was lost, it could have made the Muslim ArabConquests stillborn. If Manzikert is decisive, why not Yarmouk? Caesar was almost defeated at the siege of Alesia by Vercengetorix, but incredibly survived by his brilliant double circumvallation. Yet Alesia is never mentioned. It is debatable whether Watling Street should have been omitted. Had the outnumbered Romans not annihilated the Boudica-led Iceni, could Britain have been lost to Rome and a Celtic stronghold been established? I think it deserves merit but Watling Street is never mentioned. If memory serves me correctly, the Siege of Vienna was likewise omitted from discussion.

One can also criticize Fuller for his inclusion of the Russo-Japanese War, which took place in Asia, and the decision to discuss Chattanooga instead of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. To be fair, this is a military history and not a "decisive battles" collection and some of these battles are rarely considered decisive in other volumes (except Gettysburg of course).

Where Fuller shines and where the volumes are most contributory is the heavy anti-PC discussion in the third volume. Here, Fuller (who was also an occultist) does not mince words and is refreshingly non-orthodox in his analysis and conclusions about the two world wars, on both the political and military levels. Wilson, Churchill, Roosevelt, and Truman are skewered by Fuller for being foolish and hypocritical ideologues that were more interested in ideology than pragmatism and chose to oppose one dictator by befriending another. Roosevelt particularly does not fare well under Fuller's brush and almost seems to have been prostrate before Stalin's feet.

Fuller convincingly shows how Roosevelt forced America into war by compelling the Japanese into attacking Pearl Harbor. Further, he condemns the unnecessary atrocities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These views remain controversial but I wholeheartedly concur with Fuller on his conclusions. Of course, Hitler does not escape Fuller's critical eye and Hitler is shown clearly for having been much of the direct cause for Germany's failure due to Adolph's arrogant and persistent interference in military strategy. He faults Hitler for not taking all of North Africa when he had a chance, but also criticizes the Allies for attacking neutral French North Africa.

Some of the WW2 analysis is now dated because we are in a post Soviet Empire era, but Fuller makes a strong case and, if the Soviet Empire did not collapse as it did, would still be pertinent today. It is simply inexcusable how the Allies could have allowed all of Eastern Europe to fall to Soviet hegemony. Nevertheless, Fuller does seem to be something of a Russophobe at times.

Despite all of this focus here and in other reviews on 20th century warfare, the 20th century is only a small percentage of the three volumes. Terrific discussions of critical battles in the Persian Wars, Peloponnesian War, Punic Wars, Mithradatic Wars, Roman Civil Wars, Hunnish invasion, Justinian Wars, Muslim Conquests, Crusades, Hundred Years War, English Civil Wars, Thirty Years War, War of Spanish Succession, Great Northern War, Seven Years War, French and Indian War, American Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, American Civil War, and Franco-Prussian War are discussed at length.

Some reviewers here could not handle the non-orthodoxy of Fuller's trenchant analysis and have resorted to inane epithets. This is to be expected by a heavily propagandized generation. The value of reading an impartial, erudite and accomplished general who writes well and who is not "owned" by any one side is worth the price of admission and the time required to absorb.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much more than a Military History, March 3, 2002

By 

Wolfgang P. May (Dallas, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Military History of Western World (From the American Civil War to the End of World War II) (Paperback)

Those who wish to understand not only the military history but also the underreported political undercurrents of those times will love this book and read it over and over again. By examining the failures by both military leaders and politicians in understanding the obvious lessons of their relatively recent past, they will gain valuable insights into our current condition.

5.0 out of 5 stars The finest set of Military History by an Expert, November 18, 2011

By 

Traveler (USA, EUROPE) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Military History of Western World (From the American Civil War to the End of World War II) (Paperback)

The trio of books on Military History of the Western World, written by one of the very top Military Historians of our time, is indeed a "must have" in a library of the same genre. It is lucid, well-paced, and filled with historical information with insides and critiques on the issues of the time(s) and pulls no punches relating errors and bad decisions made, avoiding taking sides for the most part. A superb effort, highly recommended without reservations.