Gordon A. Craig (1913–2005)

Craig's work still stands as one of the most important studies extant on German militarism. Written during the first two decades after the end of World War II, The Politics of the Prussian Army, also gives burgeoning historians insight into the state of historiography dealing with Germany during this period. It is comprehensive, institutionally oriented, and far afield from the current generation's emphasis on class, sex, and race. Rather, Craig describes not only the Prussianization of the German army but the Prussianization of the German nation. At the same time, he also traces the rise of the Prussian/German military as an independent political force, subject to nobody--not even the kaiser during World War I. I don't know if this work is still taught in undergraduate studies or graduate seminars. It should be.… (more)

Great book! Discusses the interplay between the Prussian Army, the Crown and the population. From 1640 on the army was a separate entity in Prussia, later Imerial Germany. Loyal only to the Crown, and standing in the way of any liberal change in the nation. The book also focuses on how the army influenced internal and foreign policy in general. Without giving away too much....the army continued in this manner until the arrival on the scene of Adolph Hitler. Apparently AH was the only one to figure out how to curb and then donimate the German Army. All this resulted in disaster for Reich.

The only reason I did not give the book 5 Stars is that Gordon Craig is one of those authors that thinks EVERYONE speaks and reads German and French. His book is laced with phrases in primarily German, but also French. He gives no translations. I find this extremely frustrating. This style really takes away from my experience reading a book. How much do I miss by not reading German/French? I don't know. I am one of those readers who actually reads footnotes. When they are in German/French, I am out.… (more)

994 The Battle of Koniggratz: Prussia's Victory over Austria, 1866, by Gordon A. Craig (read 12 Jan 1969) This battle is more familiar to me as the Battle of Sadowa (although Sadowa was one of a number of small villages in the area, while Koniggratz was the biggest nearby town). It was fought July 3, 1866. Benedek was the Austrian commander. The King of Prussia, Frederick Wilhelm IV, was commander of the Prussian forces, with Helmuth von Moltke as Chief of the General Staff. This book tells the story well. What if Prussia had not won: how different the world would have been!… (more)