Instrument of War cover art

Instrument of War

The German Army 1914-18

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Instrument of War

By: Dennis E. Showalter
Narrated by: Julian Elfer
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About this listen

Drawing on more than a half-century of research and teaching, Dennis Showalter presents a fresh perspective on the German Army during World War I. Showalter surveys an army at the heart of a national identity, driven by - yet also defeated by - warfare in the modern age, that struggled to capitalize on its victories, and ultimately forgot the lessons of its defeat.

Exploring the internal dynamics of the German Army, detailing how the soldiers coped with the many new forms of warfare, Showalter shows how the army's institutions responded and how Germany itself was changed by war. He goes on to detail the major campaigns on the Western and Eastern Fronts and the forgotten war fought in the Middle East and Africa, revealing operational strategy, the complexities of campaigns of movement versus static trench warfare, and the changes in warfare.

©2016 Dennis Showalter (P)2018 Tantor 20th Century Europe Germany Military Military Science Modern World War Imperialism Warfare Russia

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All stars
Most relevant
This is a creditable enough analysis of the structure, composition and nature of the German army from the Franco Prussian War to 1918. It is spoiled in its description of the actual fighting by frequent descents into flippant asides and 'witty' reflections.

Mass Slaughter with a Light Touch?

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At last! A history book that goes beyond reciting numbers of General A having B tanks of type C, fighting General X with Y tanks of type Z.
For audio it is much better to describe the politics way behind the front line, it's the history we've been wanting to read.
The writer does inevitably recite numbers a bit, later in the book.
The reader is very nice: clear, easy to understand and pleasant.

At last!

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