Instrument of War
The German Army 1914–18
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Drawing on more than a half-century of research and teaching, Dennis Showalter presents a fresh perspective on the German Army during World War I.
Showalter surveys an army at the heart of a national identity, driven by – yet also defeated by – warfare in the modern age, which struggled to capitalize on its victories and ultimately forgot the lessons of its defeat.
Exploring the internal dynamics of the German Army and detailing how the soldiers coped with the many new forms of warfare, Showalter shows how the army's institutions responded to, and how Germany itself was changed by war.
Detailing the major campaigns on the Western and Eastern fronts and the forgotten war fought in the Middle East and Africa, this comprehensive volume examines the army's operational strategy, the complexities of campaigns of movement versus static trench warfare, and the effects of changes in warfare.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Showalter (The Wars of German Unification), an expert in German military history at Colorado College, synthesizes the key aspects of the German Imperial Army experience during WWI In this comprehensive single-volume history. He chronologically analyzes the roots of the Imperial German Army, how it planned and prepared for WWI, the major phases of the war, and key battles, and provides conclusions regarding why arguably the most professional army in the world lost the war. The book is very comprehensive given its size. Showalter covers such diverse topics as infantry equipment, defensive and offensive tactics, the failure of the Schlieffen Plan, important personalities, the politics of strategy and high command, and the social and political environment of WWI Germany. The insights are unmatched and intriguing, and in many cases Showalter debunks or explains myths regarding the war. This work may be a challenge to readers not already familiar with the war. Showalter's analysis of all aspects of the German Army experience in WWI is a must-read for anyone with an interest in WWI or German military history.
