The Kaiser's Warlords: German Commanders of World War I (Elite Book 97)

Osprey's study of the German commanders of World War I (1914-1918). The turn of the 20th century saw Imperial Germany as essentially a militarist state, whose growing industrial resources and wealth were harnessed to the task of increasing German military power, at a time of aggressive expansionist diplomacy in competition with Britain and France. After her victories over Austria in the 1860s and France in 1870, Germany's General Staff enjoyed tremendous professional prestige throughout Europe, and was the model for all aspects of command and control. The German army was essentially that of Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony with smaller contingents from the lesser states. Its generals were the men who planned, initiated, and to a large extent controlled the course of World War I. IN 1913, THE YEAR THAT Germany celebrated the centenary of the victory over Napoleon at the battle of Leipzig, the German Emperor Wilhelm II also celebrated his 25th jubilee and the wedding of his only daughter to Duke August of Braunschweig-Luneburg. This work provides an exploration of the generals who planned, initiated and drew the course of World War I. It features famous generals such as Hindenburg whom the German passenger airship Hindenburg was named after. Cover; Title; Contents; Imperial Germany on the Eve of War; 1914-18: Kriegspiel Becomes Reality; Biographies; Select Bibliography; The Plates; Related Titles; Imprint