History Of The German General Staff, 1657-1945

by Walter Goerlitz

""History of the German General Staff, 1657-1945"" by Walter Goerlitz is a comprehensive account of the development and operations of the German General Staff from the 17th century to the end of World War II. The book covers the evolution of the General Staff from its origins in the Prussian Army to its role in the First World War and its ultimate demise in the aftermath of the Second World War.The author provides a detailed analysis of the General Staff's organization, structure, and leadership, as well as its strategies and tactics in various conflicts. He also examines the General Staff's impact on German military culture and the country's political and social history.The book is divided into four parts, each covering a distinct period in the General Staff's history. Part one covers the early years of the General Staff, from its creation in 1657 to the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. Part two focuses on the General Staff's role in the wars of German unification and the First World War. Part three covers the interwar period, including the General Staff's involvement in the rise of the Nazi Party and the Second World War. Finally, part four looks at the General Staff's dissolution and the aftermath of the war.Overall, ""History of the German General Staff, 1657-1945"" is a comprehensive and insightful study of one of the most influential military institutions in modern history. It provides a detailed account of the General Staff's history and its impact on German military and political culture, making it an essential read for anyone interested in military history or the history of Germany.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: History, Military History, Military Fiction, World War II, Nonfiction, Germany, European History

544 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1952

Reviews

[Mark Lisac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absorbing and illuminating, if a little confusing in the last half because of the multiplicity of generals in different but similar-sounding roles and different but similar organizations. That actually is one of the main points in the story of the increasingly less powerful staff during the Second World War — the vaunted German military machine somehow functioned for years despite its leadership being caught in rivalries, suspicions, occasional despair, frequent reorganizations, and the badly crossed lines of authority that were part of the Nazi regime's way of doing things.
It's probably less a history of the general staff and the way that organization operated than a story of many of the remarkable and less remarkable men who were part of it, and of the historical situations in which they found themselves. While generally very good, some sections are standouts for their informativeness and/or their literary quality; for example, the description of the extent to which German officers feared Poland between 1918 and 1939, or the portrait of Count Alfred von Schlieffen. I wasn't persuaded, however, by the author's statement that a hard-driving commander might have made Schlieffen's plan to destroy French resistance work in 1914. Also wondered if he was being a bit too sympathetic with the regular army officers in the last half of the book, covering the Second World War. They are largely portrayed as victims of the Nazis and their half-mad leader. Still very convincing and readable work.
Actually read the 1953 Praeger paperback edition, which I take it was somewhat condensed for the American translation but still runs 500 pages.

[Jose Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning:Spoilers! The Germans lost WW2. Now that is out of the way the book is an Excellent account of the histories Prussian/German General staff. The books chapters shows the reader how both German idealism and the material conditions of Germany lead to the rise and fall of the German Junker class. The early chapters recounting the histories of von Gneisenau, von Scharnhorst, von Moltke the elder may be a bit romanticized but it serves a rhetorical purpose that I am sympathetic too. As I’m sure many of the german staff officers who take the stage after these characters would long to be born in that time, you get a sense of that. The final chapters holds important political lessons on the dangers of inaction and a reliance on old/outdated political norms which would make it a relevant reading even if you are not interested in the history. The prose itself was pretty and the English translation was a pleasant read. My only criticism is I wish the author/translator explained more deeply the social/political theories and nuances of the works of von Clausewitz. 5/5.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been looking for a book dedicated to the German General Staff. This one did the trick and answered my questions and filled me in on how this organization functioned.

[Billy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting general history of the German General Staff from its earliest embryonic phases to its final destruction with the end of WWII. Unfortunately, it is more of a German military history with references to where the General Staff had a role. The book is utterly devoid of both maps and organizational charts, which would have been especially useful given the often nebulous, conflicting and confusing entities in play, especially in WWII when staffs seemed to breed like rabbits. Also, the book pays undue attention to the Valkyrie assassination plot against Hitler, which seems far too into the weeds for a history spanning almost three centuries.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book with a wealth of information for those interested in the topic. Due to the age of the book however, some of the "facts" (such as widespread Polish cavalry charges during the German invasion in 1939) have been proven otherwise. While the book is good, it's certainly a slog and is best read if you have the requisite knowledge of German history and an elementary understanding of German and French.

[Readius Maximus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just read several books on WW1 and WW2 the second half of the book was a bit repetitive and was like viewing German history through the key whole of the General staff. Still interesting but not sure I would have read it if I had knew it would be like this. The first part was excellent and the second half did help separate Hitler's megalomania from what the German Generals thought would be prudent.

[Jason Hillenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive and authoritative. Goerlitz is clearly a student of German/Prussian history but, most importantly, he is well versed in European history from that era. His contextual understanding of the political forces driving continental European affairs is critical in this book's success.

His diction deserves equal praise. In the hands of an incompetent, this weighty tome could have read like stereo instructions. However, Goerlitz never fails to imbue the narrative with a strong conversational style that deftly clarifies the complex machinations of the era.

Wholeheartedly recommended.

[Dirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and rare book a must read for WW II buffs

[Mark Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth the read.