Bibliograph

The German army and the defence of the Reich, military doctrine and the conduct of the defensive battle, 1918-1939, Matthias Strohn

Type

Label

The German army and the defence of the Reich, military doctrine and the conduct of the defensive battle, 1918-1939, Matthias Strohn

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Illustrations

illustrationsmaps

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The German army and the defence of the Reich

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

651077835

Responsibility statement

Matthias Strohn

Series statement

Cambridge military histories

Sub title

military doctrine and the conduct of the defensive battle, 1918-1939

Summary

"Historical research on the German army of the interwar period has concentrated on the development of the so-called 'Blitzkrieg'. However, Matthias Strohn shows that for most of the time the German army, restricted by the terms of the Versailles Treaty, was too weak to launch an offensive war or even effectively repel an invader. Accordingly, the army focused instead primarily on planning a defensive war against superior enemies, especially France and Poland. Making extensive use of German archival sources, Strohn explores the development of military thought and doctrine for the defence of Germany and shows how these ideas were tested in war games and staff rides. His findings comprehensively revise our understanding of the German army in this period, shedding new light on the ideas of leading figures in the German military and how events, such as the occupation of the Ruhr in 1923, influenced military planning"--, Provided by publisher

Table Of Contents

Introduction and definitions -- The Foundations of Defensive Warfare in the Inter-War Period -- Defence doctrine before the First World War -- The lessons of the First World War -- Military planning in the aftermath of World War One -- The Seeckt Era: Years of Ignorance -- Hans von Seeckt and the rebirth of the offensive -- The manual Führung und Gefecht der vebundenen Waffen and the conduct of the defensive battle; Part III. Adapting to Reality 1923-1933 -- Military thought after the occupation of the Ruhr -- Civil-military co-operation -- The manual Truppenführung and the increased importance of the defence -- Defensive Warfare in the Third Reich 1933-1939 -- Political ideology versus military reality: defensive warfare 1933-1936 -- The rebirth of offensive warfare 1936-1939 -- Conclusion: the defensive battle in World War Two and beyond

Classification