FIRST REICH: The German Army in the Franco-Prussian War 1870-71

by David Stone

The finest account of the history-making Franco-Prussian War for half a century. Essential for military history and European studies.

Genres: Military History, History, Military Fiction, Germany

Hardcover

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

David John Anthony Stone is an established military author and historian and a former British army officer. Most of his books on various aspects of military conflict have been written and published since he retired from active military duty in 2002, including several studies on the Prussian and German armies throughout the course of history: an area in which his particular expertise is today acknowledged both in the UK and abroad.

Reviews

[William DuFour · Rating 4 out of 5]

A interesting book on the war that still have repercussions felt today. On the battles and personalities involved as well as insight on how the German Army conducted itself on and off the battlefield.

[Dimitri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stone's first effort can't hope to rate 5 stars like Fighting For The Fatherland: The Story Of The German Soldier From 1648 To The Present Day, but already his masterful use of long citations of the original sources shines through. The downside is they're one-sided, predominantly pulled from the dispatches of a British correspondent with the German Army. Still, the 1870 purists shouting don't throw out Michael Howard! as they would again next year over The Franco-Prussian War: The German Conquest of France in 1870-1871 should take note.