The Seven Years' War


Book Description

The closest thing to total war before the First World War, the Seven Years' War was fought in North America, Europe, the Caribbean and India with major consequences for all parties involved. This fascinating book is the first to truly review the grand strategies of the combatants and examine the differing styles of warfare used in the many campaigns. These methods ranged from the large-scale battles and sieges of the European front to the ambush and skirmish tactics used in the forests of North America. Daniel Marston's engaging narrative is supported by personal diaries, memoirs, and official reports.




Instrument of War. Volume 1


Book Description

This book is the most important examination of an 18th Century army yet done, written by the premier military historian of the era.




Armies of the Seven Years War


Book Description

Drawn from many international sources, many not employed before in English-language publications, Armies of the Seven Years War is the finest reference work on this most complex of conflicts. It details the senior commanders, uniforms, weapons, equipment, artillery, strategy and tactics (military and naval) of the forces that fought - in effect - for world supremacy from 1756 to 1763. States involved included Austria, Bavaria, Britain, Brunswick, Hanover, Hessen-Darmstadt, Hessen-Kassel, France, the Palatinate, Portugal, Prussia, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Württemberg and the minor states of the Holy Roman Empire. The colonial struggle in North America is not neglected.Coverage of the uniforms and colours is in depth. The tactics of the 'horse and musket' era are examined, as are Frederick the Great's abilities as a war leader who led his armies against the rest of continental Europe. With over 280 illustrations and specially commissioned battle maps, Armies of the Seven Years War is an invaluable resource for the modeller and wargamer, as well as a clear analysis of an extraordinary period of international conflict for all those with an interest in the history of empire.William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, Britain's war leader, stated that 'America was won in Germany.' How could Prussian successes on the continent of Europe have sounded the death knell for New France and Spanish ambitions in North America? Armies of the Seven Years War explains the connection and the outcomes of all the complex alliances that led to the 'first world war'.




Instrument of War


Book Description

The Austrian Empire of the 18th century was the most ethnically diverse in Europe. The large number of subject peoples with their own styles of warfare gave Austrian generals the potential to have the most flexible army in Europe during the wars of the 1700s. If Austria's aristocratic generals usually failed to utilize their diverse army properly on the battlefield, Austrian units nevertheless introduced new methods of warfare that were copied by more effective armies and are in some cases still in use today. Austria's Hungarian hussars, or light cavalry, introduced a new mobility to the battlefield, with an increased role for scouting and raiding. Prussia, France and most European countries soon created hussar units, even copying the Hungarian national dress that they wore. Horse artillery was also introduced by the Austrians, but more effectively utilized by others later. The Austrian army in the field was screened by a vast swarm of Serbs, Bosnians, and Croats, who introduced principles of light infantry and guerrilla operations that many associate with the American frontier. Renowned military historian Christopher Duffy has been given unprecedented access to the Austrian archives in Vienna to bring this important multi-national army fully to life for the first time.




Habsburg Sons


Book Description

Habsburg Sons describes Jewish participation in the Habsburg Army, 1788-1918, concentrating on World War I. Approximately 300,000-350,000 Jews fought in the Austro-Hungarian Armies on all fronts; of these, 30,000–40,000 died of wounds or illness, and at least 17% were taken prisoner in camps all over Russia and Central Asia. Many soldiers were Orthodox Ostjuden, and over 130 Feldrabbiner (chaplains) served among them. Antisemitism was present but generally not overt. The book uses personal diaries and newspaper articles (most available in English for the first time) to describe their stories, and compares the experiences of Jews in German, Russian, and Italian armies.




Uniforms & Equipment of the Austro-Hungarian Army in World War I


Book Description

Franz Joseph I and Karl. These emperors ruled a multiethnic empire destined to become one of the central powers in World War I. In addition to the studio portraits shown, the candid photos offer an authentic view of life in the trenches and on the battlefield. Each photo has been carefully chosen and researched to offer the reader detailed information on the k.u.k (royal and imperial) Empires air, motor and medical corps, as well as infantry, artillery, pioneer and railroad troops. There are chapters covering highly decorated elite units, such as the Bosnian and the Kaiserschuetzen. A full color section of heretofore unpublished photos of original head dress, uniforms, equipment and accessories used by the k.u.k armed forces provides valuable information on the materials, markings, stamps, and construction of field caps, cavalry helmets and flight gear. Also included in this section are pilot badges and cap and collar insignia. This book is an indispensable resource for all historians, collectors, re-enactors, war gamers and model builders. 550 colour & b/w photographs




The Seven Years War in Europe


Book Description

In this pioneering new work, based on a thorough re-reading of primary sources and new research in the Austrian State Archives, Franz Szabo presents a fascinating reassessment of the continental war. Professor Szabo challenges the well-established myth that the Seven Years War was won through the military skill and tenacity of the King of Prussia, often styled Frederick “the Great”. Instead he argues that Prussia did not win, but merely survived the Seven Years War and did so despite and not because of the actions and decisions of its king. With balanced attention to all the major participants and to all conflict zones on the European continent, the book describes the strategies and tactics of the military leaders on all sides, analyzes the major battles of the war and illuminates the diplomatic, political and financial aspects of the conflict.




Ring of Steel


Book Description

A prize-winning, magisterial history of World War I from the perspective of the defeated Central Powers For the Central Powers, the First World War started with high hopes for an easy victory. But those hopes soon deteriorated as Germany's attack on France failed, Austria-Hungary's armies suffered catastrophic losses, and Britain's ruthless blockade brought both nations to the brink of starvation. The Central powers were trapped in the Allies' ever-tightening Ring of Steel. In this compelling history, Alexander Watson retells the war from the perspective of its losers: not just the leaders in Berlin and Vienna, but the people of Central Europe. The war shattered their societies, destroyed their states, and imparted a poisonous legacy of bitterness and violence. A major reevaluation of the First World War, Ring of Steel is essential for anyone seeking to understand the last century of European history.




The Face of Battle


Book Description

John Keegan's groundbreaking portrayal of the common soldier in the heat of battle -- a masterpiece that explores the physical and mental aspects of warfare The Face of Battle is military history from the battlefield: a look at the direct experience of individuals at the "point of maximum danger." Without the myth-making elements of rhetoric and xenophobia, and breaking away from the stylized format of battle descriptions, John Keegan has written what is probably the definitive model for military historians. And in his scrupulous reassessment of three battles representative of three different time periods, he manages to convey what the experience of combat meant for the participants, whether they were facing the arrow cloud at the battle of Agincourt, the musket balls at Waterloo, or the steel rain of the Somme. The Face of Battle is a companion volume to John Keegan's classic study of the individual soldier, The Mask of Command: together they form a masterpiece of military and human history.




The Austro-Hungarian Forces in World War I (1)


Book Description

The part played in World War I (1914-1918) by the army of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy is little known to English-speakers, perhaps because the end of the war saw the complete destruction of the Empire. Yet it was of central importance, providing nearly all Central Powers forces on the Italian front, huge numbers on the Russian front, seven Army Corps in the Balkans – and even a little-known contingent in Turkey and Palestine. The first half of the story of this complex multi-national organization at war is described here in a concise but detailed text, supported by data tables and an insignia chart, and illustrated with rare photographs and colourful uniform plates.