Imperial Germany and War, 1871-1918 (Modern War Studies)

This is a really excellent book and I do not write that very often. Beginning with a look at the Leaders and high level planning from 1871 it then goes more deeply into the ideas and plans of the three major Chiefs of Staff prior to WW1. There is also an analysis Prussian (defacto German) combat philosophy and training practices. The bulk of the book focuses on the three WW1 Chiefs of Staff and their handling of the war. Moltke the Younger, as always is found wanting, but the book leaves open to interpretation whether or not there really was a Schlieffen Plan or whether the opening battles were fought more or less in line with Prussian mobile war ideas while using the 1905 plan as a guide. The second and third parts of the book concerns itself with the tenure of Falkenhayn and then Lundendorff. The book points out that many of the “innovations” during Ludendorff’s tenure were begun during Falkenhayn’s time as chief of Staff. Lastly there is a very thorough analysis of the 1918 battles. Battles are analyzed - but at Army and Army Group level. There is no nitty-gritty about divisions attacking or regiments defending a hill. This book deals at the highest levels of German war planning, training and policy. Really high level work analyzing the German High Command during WW1.Overall a well-documented and very readable book on the subject that anyone with an interest in WW1 should read. Only one complaint: the maps are Horrible. For example the battle of the Marne in the book shows much of western Germany, all of Belgium, and most of France north of Paris. Yet the part of that map which concerns the Battle of the Marne takes up perhaps ¼ of the lower part of the whole map. Again for the 1918 German offensives the book, which rightfully calls them Michael, Georgette, Blucher, etc, the corresponding map shows them as 1st German Offensive, 2nd German Offensive, etc. Also the book accurately names the German armies making the attacks in these battles, such as Sixth or Seventeenth while the map shows Army Group Rupprecth or Army Group Prince. It is almost as if just before publication the publisher decided “We should add some maps” and they tossed in whatever they thought worked. They don’t. Nonetheless – 5 stars out of 5 for this book.

Used this for a class, very detailed book, detailing origins of the German army system.