Customer Reviews

Path to Blitzkrieg: Doctrine and Training in the German Army, 1920-39 (Stackpole Military History Series)

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Most readers and (if you're like me) arm chair historians study WWI and WWII. But we miss the points and this book provides excellent insight into the problems German had in fighting WWI and how these reforms let smaller and less well equipt German units defeat larger Soviet and Allied Forces.

I had ordered this books expecting a "tell all" of German training techniques. It is not that at all. If you want that then you'll have to sort of read a half dozen books, the best by Guy Sajer called "The Forgotten Soldier" The Forgotten Soldier to get an idea of how hard German training actually was on its soldiers.

This book concentrates on the reforms of the German Army during the period after WWI, the Great War. The Germans begin a top down review of how commanders should conduct wars. The actual papers the German generals write are translated to English and examined. The Germans start treating the organization of soldiers and equipment like a science. Also, maneuver is brought back to the battlefield. The Germans saw their folly in the Great War. With the exception of one battle in the east, the Germans were unable to use their forces well at all in the Great War.

This book gives the origins of the need for the German Army reforms of the '20s and '30s. This book tells of the officers and how that information was sent down from the top to the bottom. Additionally, the 100,000 army of post WWI Germany was a blessing. It allowed Germany to select the best and most forward thinking. Anyway, from 1919 to 1934 was the time of the small German Army. Post 1935 the Germans were rearming and it was a large army again.

Can this book be used by the present US military? Sadly no. The Germans stressed speed, verbal orders, and small unit initiative. The US Army did use some lessons of the Germans in its renaissance period of 1980 to 1991. But after Desert Storm (the 1st Persian Gulf War) the US Army instituted a paperwork driven system that has been magnified by computer age. Until the US Army is reformed from its paperwork addiction there is nothing that can fix it.

Still, a typical historian will lean about the basic theory in this book on how the Germans integrated combined arms war fare. I highly recommend it.

A vary interesting book not because it summarizes that most of us know only too well, but the evolution of an new idea which revolutionized the process of warefare. I'd particularly emphasize importance of the book is much more about the evolution of an idea which of altered our actions nearly 70 years after its inception. Most people myself included generally think of the Blitzkrieg as an action of fast moving heavy tanks instead of static defenses. But equally important is the coordination of this activity facilitated by advanced communication. The only thing that has changed that idea in the last 70 or so years communications have been steadily improved.

This is a book that should be included in the reading of any professional military leaders. It explains how Germany rose to military power in such a short time. This book along with Rommel's "Infantry Attacks" would lay an outstanding ground work for young (and old) military officers. As an ex-combat leader I would had wished that my younger and older officers had read these two books.(Both Available at Amazon.com)
Chief Master Sgt. USAF (ret.)
WWII, Korea, Vietnam and a few that went unnoticed.

This scholarly work covers a fascinating accomplishment. To raise an army from the ashes of defeat into one that changes warfare is an effort demanding study by anyone interested in military history. Unfortunately it is not an easy read, but credit where credit is due. A scholarly examination of an effort well worth study.