War Planning 1914
Published on 27. February 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
280 pages
978-1-107-63512-8 (ISBN)
Description
The major European powers drafted war plans before 1914 and executed them in August 1914; none brought the expected victory by Christmas. Why? This tightly focused collection of essays by international experts in military history reassesses the war plans of 1914 in a broad diplomatic, military, and political setting for the first time in three decades. The book analyzes the war plans of Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Russia on the basis of the latest research and explores their demise in the opening months of World War I. Collectively and comparatively, these essays place contingency war planning before 1914 in the different contexts and challenges each state faced as well as into a broad European paradigm. This is the first such undertaking since Paul Kennedy's groundbreaking War Plans of the Great Powers (1979), and the end result is breathtaking in both scope and depth of analysis.
Reviews / Votes
"Richard Hamilton and Holger Herwig have turned conference papers into a work that now becomes the standard on war planning before the Great War." -Samuel R. Williamson, Jr., The Journal of Military History "This useful collection of essays explores 'war planning' in Europe before World War I." -Eric Dorn Brose, American Historical Review An important work for those interested in World War I, military institutions, and war planning, not to mention the course of the twentieth century." -A. A. Nofi, StrategyWorld.com "The volume provides an excellent overview of the state of scholarship as well as a provocative focus on the decision-making process. Experts and students alike will benefit from reading it." -European History QuarterlyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
6 Maps; 6 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
459 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-107-63512-8 (9781107635128)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Richard F. Hamilton | Holger H. Herwig
War Planning 1914
Book
11/2009
Cambridge University Press
€129.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Richard F. Hamilton is Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University. He is the author of President McKinley and the Coming of War, 1898; President McKinley and America's 'New Empire'; and The Origins of World War I. Holger H. Herwig is Canada Research Chair in Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary. He is the author of The First World War: Germany and Austria-Hungary 1914-1918, War Memory and Popular Culture, The Origins of World War I, and The Marne: 1914 (2012).
Content
1. War plans: obvious needs, not so obvious solutions Richard F. Hamilton; 2. Austria-Hungary Guenther Kronenbitter; 3. Germany Annika Mombauer; 4. Russia Bruce W. Menning; 5. French war plans 1914 - the 'Balance of Power Paradox' Robert Doughty; 6. British plans for war before 1914 Keith Neilson; 7. The uncertain partner: Italy and the war plans of the Triplice 1888-1914 John Gooch; 8. Conclusions Holger H. Herwig.