Iron and Blood: A Military History of the German-speaking Peoples Since 1500

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Almost inevitably, this has in practice meant protracted, relentless and often unwinnable wars, and - in 1939-1945 - moral catastrophe. Not for the faint of heart, but great book for those looking for a broad overlook of military history and culture as it interacted and reacted to political currents and whims. I found it especially worthwhile in tracing the path from the mass levies of medieval times through the hiring of mercenary armies to the idea of a standing army.

A DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022'No one interested in the history of Europe can afford not to read this stupendous book' Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph'Endlessly fascinating . The title, "Iron and Blood," aptly captures the essence of the German experience, encapsulating the indomitable spirit and tumultuous history that have shaped the German-speaking peoples. The book opens in the late-medieval heyday of the Holy Roman Empire, an intricate political entity of 226 lordships, counties and priories, eighty-six cities, eighty-three principalities and seven powerful electorates, whose rulers had the right to choose the emperor. Of course this reading of history was bollocks and this, as well as Peter Wilson's other books on the Holy Roman Empire and Thirty Years War, are a reminder that history should never be written 'after the fact'. Iron and Blood is a monumental and comprehensive exploration of the German-speaking world from the early modern period to modern times.However if you’re looking to experience the history, the people and compile a working understanding of the interwoven strands then look elsewhere. I had very high hopes for this book (especially after just finishing Napoleon the Great) but it really disappointed. Why I finished it: This book was a chonker, and Wilson did an excellent job of keeping the pace, interest and details clear and consistent throughout the entire book. Germany, their argument goes, was naturally predisposed to bellicosity thanks to its place at the heart of Europe. He offers an absorbing overview of how slowly changing societal forces—such as fiscal systems, scientific and technological capabilities, ideological and cultural beliefs, and the social background of soldiers—have transformed the use of military force across modern times.

German people and culture are not inherently more militaristic than other European nations, even if the years 1865-1945 might suggest otherwise. will become the starting point for all students of military history , not only of Germany but of Europe as a whole. That's not to say that there is no coverage of important aspects of military history--we get an excellent section on the design of warships, for example--but while battles are referred to, they are not detailed as in purely military histories.

This is very comprehensive but as with his 100 Years War book, Wilson has trouble not getting swamped in his narrative by including every historical event or detail. If there is one constant it has been the sense of being beset by seemingly more powerful enemies - France or Russia or Turkey - and the need to strike a rapid knockout blow to ensure a favourable result. Violence had stamped the German state since unification in the late 19th century and Heuss’s own republic had emerged in 1949 from the ashes of two devastating world wars instigated by German governments. But nonetheless I enjoyed reading through some of the trivia, especially around the late medieval and early modern eras, as well as the longstanding German obsession in the 20th century with a quick victory to stave off an extended two-front war.

Harvard University Press books are not shipped directly to India due to regional distribution arrangements.

Instead, Wilson gives reasons why modern English-written works especially comb over well-trodden ground with respect to the history of military Prussia, while giving scarce attention to the leviathan that was the Holy Roman Empire during the 1500s-1700s. Whereas most studies cover only the blood-soaked eighty years from the wars of unification in the 1860s to the end of the Second World War in 1945, Wilson takes his readers through a full half-millennium of German warfare, from 1500 to the present. Astonishingly ambitious and detailed…An absorbing overview of how slowly changing societal forces—such as fiscal systems, scientific and technological capabilities, ideological and cultural beliefs, and the social background of soldiers—have transformed the use of military force across modern times. By the time the author got to the Cold War and modern times, he had run out of steam, I think, because the chapters just glossed over most of that period.

BTW, the book finishes (and was finished) before large-scale land war again rose its head in Europe. Granted, air power is not a factor before the 20th century, but sometimes, the in-depth breakouts aren’t consistent. The concluding chapter didn't really bring the tome's major themes together and seemed an abrupt ending. The scholarship of this book is breathtaking [and] Wilson relates it with a command of his subject that is unparalleled.Yet it also goes deeper, explaining how professional armies, technology and tactics developed, and how experiences of war and soldiering over a period of five hundred years profoundly shaped German society. If there's a second edition ever, I hope the author delves a bit more into explaining why the otherwise professional German armed forces were inclined to wage such brutal wars in the 20th century and to eventually support the genocidal Nazi regime.