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

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From the author of the acclaimed The Thirty Years Warand Heart of Europe, a masterful, landmark reappraisal of German military history, and of the preconceptions about German militarism since before the rise of Prussia and the world wars. Wilson's focus examines the development of weapons, and the logistical evolution that supports the growth of standing armies through this period. 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 an immensely readable, though academic, work on the evolution of German army structure. Military buffs ought to be aware that this work doesn't focus on battles, operational details, or military nuts and bolts. 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. Iron and Blood delves into politics, economics, technology and social developments. Its long view of Germany’s military history, magisterial detail and acute analysis provide a new understanding of what was once Europe’s warring heart. ” — The Economist Don’t get me wrong, I have loved reading all I can get my hands on regarding WW1 and WW2, and the German military figures large in both. I just keep thinking there is more to say - although such stories might be much more involved.

This is an ambitious book which was badly needed given that so much of our recent history has been dominated by both the Hapsburgs and the Hohenzollerns and the consequences of their demise… Required reading for serious military historians. ” —Barney White-Spunner, Aspects of History The scholarship of this book is breathtaking… No one interested in the history of Europe, and of the Germans in particular, can afford not to read this stupendous book. ” —Simon Heffer, The Telegraph From the author of the acclaimed The Thirty Years War and Heart of Europe, a masterful, landmark reappraisal of German military history, and of the preconceptions about German militarism since before the rise of Prussia and the world wars.In defiance of this orthodoxy, Wilson’s astonishingly detailed new book is a military history not merely of Germany, but of all parts of Europe that were populated by German speakers, notably Switzerland, from 1500 to the present day. Every aspect of the armies and navies of German Europe is considered: the men (and later women) who served in them; their uniforms, weaponry, recruitment, pay and treatment; the relationship of the military with rulers and politicians; and the wars themselves.

For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the “Settings & Account” section. If you’d like to retain your premium access and save 20%, you can opt to pay annually at the end of the trial. William I, King of Prussia, proclaimed as German emperor at Versailles, 18 January 1871. Painting by Anton von Werner, 1877. 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. And as I said above, there is at last equal attention given to Austrian development: I've only found good looks at equivalent developing of the Holy Roman Empire's military in books written in German. This goes for the Swiss military evolution as well--their soldiers once admired as the epitome of the warrior.Saxon infantry at the siege of Modone, 1686. Drawing by Ignazio Fabroni from Album di ricordi di viaggi e di navigazioni sopra galere toscane dall’anno 1664 all’ anno 1687, c. 1686–7. Even the last 100+ years get an interesting and compelling rewrite. The key lesson is to NOT take the teleological view, reading all past events as if somehow (almost by destiny) culminating in the string of wars of 1866 + 1870-1871 + 1914-1918 + 1939-1945 and leading to the great reset, of "Zero Hour" in 1945 (followed by a new chapter). Therein lies a key tenet that focusing on the popular and unquestioned explanation of "Prussian militarism" makes for a crappy understanding of German-speaking peoples' history and military history. The two world wars have generated an almost incomprehensible amount of historical writing, but have also posed a historiographical problem: they have “stunted debate and frozen German military history”, as Peter Wilson puts it. Historians imagine that all German military history is rooted in Prussia; and they write mainly about battles. The existing literature focuses on the period between German unification in 1871 and the Third Reich’s destruction in 1945, to which all roads are seen to lead. Dr. Wilson's writing style is basically boring. He's fond of lists: fortresses established in Berlin, Konigsberg, Dusseldorf, Leipzig etc etc. Readers accustomed to more engaging history writers like Stephen Ambrose of Band of Brothers Fame or German military historian Rob Citino will immediately note that Dr. Wilson is not a particularly gifted story teller. Westphalian Garde du Corps uniforms re-used in a Shrove Monday procession, Cologne, 1825. Detail from a lithograph by Jodocus Schlappal.

The book is as much a history of Germany as it is a military history. Wilson goes through painstaking detail to describe the ever-changing political landscape of Europe leading up to World War I and II… A fascinating study. ” —Lynn White, Books for Congress Groundbreaking and highly accessible… The return of conventional warfare to Europe’s shores undoubtedly gives [Wilson’s] astute historical reflections on the conduct of war in central Europe an unforeseen, and unhoped for, topicality. ” —Robert Gewarth, Financial Times The scholarship of this book is breathtaking [and] Wilson relates it with a command of his subject that is unparalleled. No one interested in the history of Europe, and of the Germans in particular, can afford not to read this stupendous book. Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph Troops of the Austro-Hungary Railway and Telegraph Regiment, 1895. Painting by Oskar Brüch, 1895–6. Peter Wilson doesn't write many books, but the few that he does write are very long and very German. Iron and Blood follows his epic history of the Thirty Years War and his even more epic history of the Holy Roman Empire. There is inevitably a degree of overlap over these three topics, although Iron and Blood takes a wide ranging, rather than forensic approach to 500 years of German military history.The definitive account of Germany’s military history over the long durée… As the country enters a new military epoch, rearming against a resurgent Russia, this timely book offers an invaluable guide to Germans’ rich, long and complex martial history. ” —Alexander Watson, Literary Review

A lieutenant and cycle messenger of the Tirolean Feldjäger, 1934. Lithograph from the series Adjustireung und Ausrüstung des Österreichischen Bundesheeres, 1918–38. Starting in 1500 with the Holy Roman Empire describing the relationship between the electors and empire and between each other, reasons when the war was deemed as permissible, means to wage the war, day to day of the army, relationship between the army and the civilian, advances in weaponry and strategy and how those changed the face of war. All this and more is in the book, each theme having its own subdivision. German soldiers observe the hanging of alleged male and female partisans near Orel, Russia. Photograph, 1941–2.German infantry and armoured vehicles entering a village on the Moscow front, Russia. Photograph, 1941. Change the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the “Settings & Account” section. What happens at the end of my trial? A work of first-rate scholarship, rooted in broad and deep knowledge of the period and literature… Iron and Blood will become the starting point for all students of military history, not only of Germany but of Europe as a whole. ” —Jonathan Boff, BBC History Magazine