FIGHTING FOR THE FATHERLAND

The story of the German Army and its soldiers from 1648 to the present day. Why have German soldiers always been such formidable opponents? Former infantry officer David Stone traces and analyses the evolution of the German fighting man and the army in which he has served over the last three-and-a-half centuries. Apart from their well-known role in two World Wars, German soldiers could look back with pride upon the Prussian victories in Bismarck's wars of unification and Prussian prowess in the Napoleonic Wars and under Frederick the Great. In seeking to explain the true nature of the German soldier - his motivation, his preparation for war, his conduct in battle, and every aspect of his training, organisation, leadership and lifestyle - this expert study sets his patriotism against his cultural background and against the ever-changing national imperatives of the time. The reader learns just why these fighters have consistently proved to be so redoubtable, and why they have had such a pronounced impact upon European and world history during the last 350 years. "This is the most comprehensive and accessible account of the German soldier ever published in English. It also shows, once again, the merit of having such a history written by an author who blends military experience with academic perception. I recommend it very highly" - Richard Holmes.