The Rebirth of the Habsburg Army: Friedrich Beck and the Rise of the General Staff (Contributions in Military Studies) [Hardcover]

Scott W. Lackey (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313293619 | ISBN-13: 978-0313293610 | Publication Date: October 30, 1995

Friedrich Beck was the single most important figure in the transformation of the inept Habsburg military into the modern military state that would wage World War I. He correctly perceived that only an elite body of officers responsible for war planning and preparation could provide lasting security for the Austro-Hungarian empire. After firmly establishing the general staff as an institution, Beck led war planning to counter threats from Russia, Italy, and the Balkans; and spearheaded a vast rebuilding of the rail network. While his rise to power marked a return to the "favorite system" of military administration of the early Franz Joseph period, Beck proved himself a man with real military ability that revolutionized an army.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Lackey has done historians of the monarchy a great service in reminding them of Beck's role in the monarchy's military history and in lamenting the failure of Beck's successors to comprehend and follow his strategic thought.”–Austrian History Yearbook

“Lackey has not only written the definitive biography of one of the 19th century's most distinguished soldiers, he describes as well the transformation of the militarily-inept Habsburg Empire of the mid-19th century into a modern military state, ultimately able to sustain four years of world war.”–Dennis E. Showalter The Colorado College

“Institutions change slowly, and military organizations even more incrementally. General Friedrich Beck managed over four decades to reshape the military forces of Austria-Hungary. Scott Lackey analyzes and describes Beck's many successes and infrequent miscues. Utilizing archival records, diary extracts, and a comparative perspective, Lackey puts Beck's achievement into sharp contrast with the spectacular failures of his better known successor. General Conrad von Hotzendorf. Beck stands out as a Habsburg Moltke, yet remains virtually unknown to military historians. Lackey redresses a neglected era and a neglected general.”– Samuel R. Williamson, Jr. The University of the South

About the Author

SCOTT W. LACKEY has a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina. He is Chief of the Combat Training Center/Warrior Information Network Division of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center History Office/Army Knowledge Network, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (October 30, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313293619
• ISBN-13: 978-0313293610
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,940,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rebirth of the Habsburg Army, April 3, 2000

By 

Ryan McMinn "John Q. Public" (Landisville, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rebirth of the Habsburg Army: Friedrich Beck and the Rise of the General Staff (Contributions in Military Studies) (Hardcover)

This in excellent edition on the development of the Austro-Hungarian Army before the First World war. The author's exhaustive research comes through in this thorough and almost faultless study. Highly recommmended for any historian in this field.