Military institutions Books

Book SynopsisThis book presents a new interpretation of the development of the French army during the 'personal rule' of Louis XIV. Based on massive archival research, it examines the army not just as a military institution but also as a living political, social and economic organism.Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: 'This is an extraordinarily well-researched and important book which does much more than improve our understanding of the administration of the army under Louis XIV; it forces us to reconsider the very nature of the late seventeenth-century state.' The English Historical ReviewReview of the hardback: 'This is an impressive study, founded on extensive research in the French army archives, one which throws important light on Louis XIV, his military and his nobility … Guy Rowlands has made an important contribution to the history of the armed forces of the Sun King, one with important implications for our understanding of army, government and society - and their interaction - elsewhere in ancien régime Europe.' Christopher Storrs, Journal of Continuity and ChangeTable of ContentsGeneral introduction: 'Absolute monarchy', dynasticism and the standing army; Part I. 'Patrimonial Bureaucracy': The Le Tellier Dynasty and the Ministry of War: Introduction; 1. The Secretary of State for War and the dynastic interests of the Le Tellier family; 2. The ebb and flow of Le Tellier power, 1661–1701; 3. The use and abuse of servants: the Ministry of War, venality and civilian power in the army; 4. Financing war: the treasury of the Extraordinaire des guerres; 5. Corruption and the pursuit of self-interest in the Ministry of War; Part II. The Forging of the French Officer Corps and the Standing Army under Louis XIV: Introduction; 6. In the name of sustainability: reforming the structure of the standing army and the officer corps; 7. The business of a regiment; 8. The pressures and temptations of service; Part III. The High Command of the French Armies: Introduction; 9. The commanders-in-chief and the delegation of royal authority; 10. The appointment of general officers; 11. The summits of ambition and the rewards of good service: the bienfaits du roi and the high command; Conclusion: the preservation of the dynasty; Appendix 1: Defining the grands; Appendix 2: The proportion of revenue generated by the Extraordinaire des guerres as a 'primary receiver'; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisIn many ways the German soldiers who marched back from the Western Front at the end of World War I held the key to the future of the newly-created republic that replaced the Kaiser's collapsed monarchy. To the radical Left, the orderly columns of front-line troops appeared to be the forces of the counterrevolution while to the conservative elements of society they seemed to be the Fatherland's salvation. However, in their efforts to get home as soon as possible, most soldiers were indifferent to the political struggles within the Reich, while the remnant that remained under arms proved powerless to defend the republic from its enemies. This book considers why these soldiers' response to the revolution was so different from the rest of the army and the implications this would have for the course of the German Revolution and, ultimately, for the fate of the Weimar Republic itself.Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: 'Scholars will find much to engage with in this powerful book. Stephenson's descriptions of the German retreat following 11 November and his analysis of the soldiers' councils are among the book's strengths. His investigation of the conduct of German soldiers has implications beyond the rather unusual environment of 1918 and will speak to those interested in the behavior of veterans of all wars. The Final Battle is a worthy contribution to Cambridge University Press's prestigious Studies in the Social and Cultural History of Modern Warfare series and a valuable addition to our understanding of the critical year of 1918.' Michael Neiberg, Michigan War Studies ReviewReview of the hardback: '… a moving and often brilliant book that should serve as a model for the so-called 'new military history'.' ParametersReview of the hardback: 'No historian of the Imperial army or the Weimar Republic can afford to ignore this thought-provoking and, in many ways, provocative study.' English Historical ReviewReview of the hardback: 'This well crafted and thoroughly researched monograph is the first in many years to explore the return home of the defeated Imperial Army.' Stand To! The Journal of the Western Front AssociationTable of ContentsPreface; 1. The divided army; 2. The last ditch: German front-line soldiers in the last days of the First World War; 3. Caesar without legions: the field army and the abdication of the Kaiser, November 8–9, 1918; 4. Legions without Caesar: the German army's response to armistice and revolution, November 9–14, 1918; 5. The last march: the German Westheer's march to the Rhine, November–December, 1918; 6. Dissolution and conspiracy: the army's homecoming and demobilization, December 1918; 7. The last parade: the Guards return to Berlin, December 10–22, 1918; 8. The last battle: 'Bloody Christmas,' December 23–24, 1918; 9. From debacle to civil war: the aftermath of 'Bloody Christmas,' December 1918–January 1919; 10. Conclusion: Frontschweine and revolution.

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Book SynopsisThis book studies the importance of North India's military labour market for state and sect formation, social change and the survival strategies of Hindustani villages, and shows how North Indian politics and decision making reflected the multiple alliances and fluid identities of the peasantry.Trade Review""Naukar", Rajput and Sepoy challenges long-held assumptions about the nature of military power and peasant society in northern India before British ascendance. It will add to our knowledge of Indian state formation and to the growing body of scholarship questioning the historical pervasiveness of caste in Indian society." Journal of Asian History"...the argument that military free agency, or naukari, was an important career alternative for late medieval Indian peasants is compelling and energetically sculpted, making this a welcome addition to the social and economic history of South Asia." Richard B. Barnett, The International History ReviewTable of ContentsPreface; List of abbreviations; Glossary; 1. Beyond the control of the state; 2. A Warlord's fresh attempt at empire; 3. The Rajput of pre-Mughal North India; 4. Politics and entrepreneurship of a 'spurious' Rajput clan; 5. Bhojpuri soldiering and the vicissitudes of Empire; Epilogue; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisAbandoned as a baby, Andy McNab''s start in life was tough. Growing up in South London with foster parents, and surrounded by poverty, he attended seven schools in as many years, disillusioned and in remedial classes. It wasn't long before his life descended into petty crime. By the age of sixteen, he was in juvenile detention. Recruited into the Army from there, it soon became apparent that he had the reading age of an eleven year old. The next six months in the Army education system changed his course of his life forever. Today Everything Changes is the inspiring story of when life changed for Andy McNab.

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Book SynopsisThe candid, poignant, unforgettable writing of the young girl whose own life story has become an everlasting source of courage and inspiration.Hiding from the Nazis in the “Secret Annex” of an old office building in Amsterdam, a thirteen-year-old girl named Anne Frank became a writer. The now famous diary of her private life and thoughts reveals only part of Anne’s story, however. This book rounds out the portrait of this remarkable and talented young author.Newly translated, complete, and restored to the original order in which Anne herself wrote them in her notebook, Tales from the Secret Annex is a collection of Anne Frank’s lesser-known writings: short stories, fables, personal reminiscences, and an unfinished novel, Cady’s Life.

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Book SynopsisLearn to communicate effectively, meaningfully, and lovingly with your partner--even in tense situations.Conflict is part of every relationship, even the healthiest ones. The key to a long-lasting relationship isn't avoiding fights, but rather seeing them as opportunities to work together. In her book, Gottman-certified relationship coach Dr. Gina Senarighi gives us the tools and strategies we need to communicate effectively, rebuild trust, and repair past hurts. Love More, Fight Less features: 30 COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND ACTIVITIES for building self-awareness, identifying and interrupting emotional reactivity, eliminating judgment, separating thoughts from feelings, and more 29 COMMON PITFALLS IN RELATIONSHIPS around issues of intimacy, career, finances, family and home matters, and friendships with other people--and how to navigate them STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE AND EXPERT INSIGHT to help you transform your rela

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Book SynopsisRonit Stahl traces the ways the U.S. military struggled with, encouraged, and regulated religious pluralism and scrambled to handle the nation’s deep religious, racial, and political complexity. Just as the state relied on religion to sanction combat missions and sanctify war deaths, so too did religious groups seek validation as American faiths.Trade ReviewEnlisting Faith vividly explores American military commanders’ century-long war to force their soldiers’ multifarious religious faiths inside the myth of a pristine Anglo-Saxon Protestant nation. Startling, incisive, and gorgeously written, Stahl’s book shows how the military’s reluctance to accept cultural and religious complexity demeaned soldiers and compromised chaplains as they grappled with death, maiming injuries, and the terrors of war. -- Jon Butler, author of Becoming AmericaCutting across a century of perpetual war, shifting its analytic gaze from bureaucratic functions of the state to the people of faith who served, from mainline denominations to religious movements on the rise, Ronit Stahl’s study of the military chaplaincy brilliantly recasts our understanding of church–state relations in the modern era. Stahl vividly shows how the military chaplaincy has offered the means for Washington to encourage proper religious expression in a pluralist society, and for faith communities to earn political legitimacy in the eyes of their peers. An essential book for students of American religion, politics, and history. -- Darren Dochuk, author of From Bible Belt to SunbeltEnlisting Faith tells a compelling story, showing how the military chaplaincy has entailed deep mutual engagement between government and the great diversity of American religious life. Stahl’s excellent work is a must-read for anyone interested in religious freedom, separation (or not) of church and state, war, politics, and the many challenges of pluralism. -- Sarah Barringer Gordon, author of The Spirit of the LawThe federal government used the military chaplaincy to unify diverse Americans, promote ‘ethical’ personal behavior, and marshal faith on behalf of domestic and foreign policy goals. In Stahl’s illuminating book, we listen as chaplains, GIs, and their families wrestle with issues posed by race riots, rape, pacifism, feminism, proselytizing, interfaith marriage, and untimely death. She adds enormously to our understanding of the evolving relationship between religion and the American state across much of the twentieth century. -- Wendy L. Wall, author of Inventing the “American Way”Enlisting Faith deserves to be read by anyone interested in an underexplored aspect of the intersection of religion and the state or, even more, in the stories of those who honorably served them both. -- Marc M. Arkin * Wall Street Journal *Given the perennial argument over whether the United States military should or should not be a social laboratory, Stahl’s book invites fresh consideration of the connections between military and society…Ronit Stahl’s book is a thoughtful and well-researched account of a singular religious institution, the military chaplaincy, that has weathered a century of profound social change…In an age when some want to preserve the military ethos from social changes, Ronit Stahl reminds us that concerns for authentic individual expression, in the form of religious belief, have been in play since the United States began mobilizing its citizen soldiers in the modern era and even earlier. Perhaps the greatest value of this book is that it shows us how the U.S. military has been a social laboratory for many decades, thanks in large part to its seemingly innocuous and oft overlooked chaplains. -- Michael Peterson * The Strategy Bridge *[An] outstanding, definitive book… Expertly, with deep research and great stories, historian Stahl charts the course of the military chaplaincy from WWI (when the current chaplain system effectively was institutionalized) to the present… A supremely important, well-executed work of scholarship, sure to have wide influence. -- P. Harvey * Choice *Enlisting Faith contributes a marvelous exploration of how the American government attempted to manipulate religious institutions into supporting its political missions…Stahl deftly reveals what kind of religiosity the American state encourages and discourages in its citizens, and to what lengths the state will go to realize its vision of acceptable American spirituality. -- Alan J. Clark * Reading Religion *Offers many significant ways in which the military and faith influenced each other through compromise and creative thought. Discussions of the atomic bomb, Eisenhower’s support of the chaplaincy program, and the Vietnam War are all particularly interesting and informative. -- Nancy Saultz Radloff * Anglican and Episcopal History *Well worth the time of any scholar or casual reader interested in the military chaplaincy and the evolution of American religion. -- Patrick G. Stefan * Religious Studies Review *

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents*FrontMatter, pg. i*Contents, pg. vii*Tables and Figures, pg. ix*Acknowledgments, pg. xi*One. Perspectives on Civil-Military Relations in the Soviet Union, pg. 3*Two. Political Change and Civil-Military Relations, pg. 44*Three. The KGB and Civil-Military Relations, pg. 93*Four. Resource Stringency and Civil-Military Resource Allocation, pg. 126*Five. The Defense Industry and Civil-Military Relations, pg. 164*Six. The Response to Technological Challenge, pg. 192*Seven. Social Change and Civil-Military Relations, pg. 239*Eight. The Military Abroad: Internal Consequences of External Expansion, pg. 285*Nine. Conclusions: Toward a Crisis in Civil-Military Relations?, pg. 334*Index, pg. 365

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Book SynopsisThis book synthesizes the wartime experiences of American combat soldiers, from the doughboys of World War I to the grunts of Vietnam. The author looks at what motivated these men to serve and how they were turned into soldiers.Trade ReviewA superb, compelling analysis of twentieth-century American combat troops that never loses sight of the individual soldier. An important, meticulously documented contribution to our understanding of men-at-arms. Rick Atkinson, Author Of An Army At Dawn And The Long Gray Line; ""Kindsvatter's book is based firmly on the first-hand accounts of combat by American soldiers and Marines of the World Wars, Korea, and Vietnam. He is a sensitive, skillful mediator between those writers and us."" Russell F. Weigley, Author Of The American Way Of War; ""A vivid portrayal of the savagery of war and its human dimensions."" Michael D. Doubler, Author Of Closing With The Enemy: How GIs Fought The War In Europe, 1944-1945

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Book SynopsisThe scale and organisation of the Roman army was unprecedented in the ancient Western world. This book tells the story of everyday aspects of the army in the heyday of the Roman Empire from life in a tent to the food soldiers consumed and explains its hierarchy, roles, equipment and place in a vast multiethnic society divided between citizens and subjects. Everything the best history books can be: erudite, entertaining and eloquent.' Terry Deary, author of Horrible Histories Splendidly direct, clear and jargon free You are unlikely to find a clearer or more comprehensive account' Classics for All The Roman army has been immortalised in heroic art and screen epics, but what was life really like for an ordinary soldier? This book explores everyday life in the army including the experiences of women and enslaved people through a range of rare objects and testimonies. These include letters from Apion and Terentianus, young Egyptian soldiers writing home to their families; the tomTable of ContentsForewords Timeline and map Introduction 1. Enlisting 2. A soldier’s remains 3. Ranks and roles 4. Aristocracy and the army 5. Dressing for battle 6. Camp and campaign 7. Fort life 8. Soldiers in society Glossary Rulers of the Roman Empire Notes Bibliography Lenders Picture credits Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisIn their companion volume to British Army Cap Badges of the First World War, authors Peter Doyle and Chris Foster present an overview of the main cap badges worn by the British Army during the Second World War, which continued the rich and varied tradition of British regimental insignia. This book describes and illustrates, for the first time in high quality full colour, the main types of cap badge worn. With many amalgamations, war-raised units and special forces, British military insignia from the period have a surprising range that differs substantially from that worn by the soldiers of the previous generation. As in the first book, this volume contains contemporary illustrations of the soldiers themselves wearing the badges. Employing the skills of an established writer (and collector) and artist, it provides a unique reference guide for anyone interested in the British Army of the period.

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Book SynopsisTogether, and against the odds, Dease and Godley became the first winners of the Victoria Cross in the First World War. Here Mark Ryan uses contemporary documentation and images to tell their astounding, fascinating stories, putting the focus on two genuine and ordinary heroes of the Great War.

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Book SynopsisRevealing how the men of Waterloo were left to languish after the battle, often homeless and penniless – history’s heroes forgotten are now remembered

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Book SynopsisThis book presents a photographic record of the service of a distinguished county regiment whose origins go back to the Seven Years'' War, in the middle of the eighteenth century. Formed in 1881, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the KSLI, formerly the 53rd and 85th Regiments, did tours of duty around the world in the days of the Empire - serving in India, the Far East, the West Indies, and the Mediterranean. This book also shows the KSLI on active service which took them to Egypt in 1882, the Sudan in 1885, and South Africa during the Boer War. Much expanded, the KSLI rendered outstanding service during the First World War. The eight battalions that went overseas served on the Western Front (notably in the Ypres Salient, on the Somme, and in the great offensives of 1918), in Palestine and in Salonika. During the Second World War, the KSLI played a major part in engagements in France in 1940, in Tunisia, in Italy and in North West Europe. Post-war campaigning took them back to Palestine, t

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Book SynopsisIt was in 1794 that the Duke of Argyll deputed his kinsman Campbell of Lochnell to raise a Regiment of Argyllshire Highlanders. In 1881 the Cardwell Reforms twinned the 91st with the 93rd, raised by Major General William Wemyss in 1800. The 93rd came into prominence in the Crimean War where it formed the Thin Red Line at Balaklava before seeing action in the Indian Mutiny, notably at the Relief of Lucknow where the Regiment won no less than six VCs. These two units were brought together to form the Argyll Sutherland Highlanders. The new Regiment was given an area comprising the counties of Argyll and Bute, Stirlingshire, Clackmannan, Renfrew and Dumbarton. They saw action in Palestine before taking part in Korea where Major Muir won the Regiment''s last VC. They took part in the Suez operation in 1956, were on active service in Cyprus in 1958-9 and were among the last troops out of Aden in 1969 after their famous retaking of Crater.

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Book SynopsisDuring the 3 ½ month long struggle, which claimed the lives of more than 60,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen, 61 men were adjudged to have performed deeds worthy of the Empire’s highest award for valour – the Victoria Cross.

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Book SynopsisFor as long as there have been armed forces there have been camp followers – the families who move with the military to stay with their men.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis"This engaging history of Arlington National Cemetery ... is also the story of America's maturation through death and war ... An editor and journalist, [Poole] is an adroit sketcher of historical events, but even more of character."-EconomistTrade ReviewVivid, compelling, filled with rich and unexpected detail. Geoffrey C. Ward, author of The Civil War Gripping and often deeply moving, On Hallowed Ground chronicles both the evolution of our national cemetery and the profound ways in which treatment of the war dead reflects a nation's soul. Caroline Alexander, author of The Endurance A memorable combination of historical research, firsthand reporting, and sensitive writing. Ernest B. Furguson, author of Freedom Rising Robert M. Poole not only captures the history of a venerable American institution but with it the politics of commemoration and reconciliation. Paul Dickson, coauthor of The Bonus Army Robert Poole has coupled superb storytelling with meticulous research and produced a gem. Robert Timberg, author of The Nightingale's Song

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Book SynopsisThe 2nd Canadian Regiment was one of the first ‘national’ regiments in the American army. In this study of the regiment, Holly Mayer marshals personal and official accounts to reveal what the personal passions, hardships, and accommodations of the 2nd Canadian can tell us about the greater military and civil dynamics of the American Revolution.Trade Review“By far one of the most important and original studies of the Continental Army yet published, Holly Mayer’s book is notable for how deeply and broadly it explores the Canadian borderlands context that gave birth to Congress’s Own Regiment, as well as the meanings of community, independence, and union for which Continental soldiers fought and died." —David L. Preston, author of Braddock’s Defeat: The Battle of the Monongahela and the Road to Revolution "Congress’s Own is a deep dive into a Continental regiment, its officers, its men and women, and their experiences and tribulations, but it is also much more. Here is the story of the war and the Revolution. Mayer shows us how the Continental government functioned through its commander-in-chief, through the Board of War, and ultimately through its army. Somehow, in all the chaos, a nation was made, carried forward on the backs of a very unlikely and diverse cast of characters." —Wayne Lee, author of Barbarians and Brothers: Anglo-American Warfare, 1500–1865

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Book SynopsisThe only religious unit in American military history. The Mormon battalion was unique in federal service, having been recruited solely from one religious body and having a religious title as the unit designation.

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Book SynopsisThe Fifth Illinois Cavalry has remained obscure despite participating in some of the most important campaigns in Arkansas and Mississippi in the US Civil War. In this pioneering examination of that understudied regiment, Rhonda Kohl offers the only modern, comprehensive analysis of a southern Illinois regiment during the Civil War.Table of Contents List of Illustrations Preface Abbreviations 1. The Politics of War, August 1861 to February 1862 2. The Springtime of War, March to July 1862 3. This Godforsaken Town, July to October 1862 4. Under Grant’s Command, November 1862 to May 1863 5. Redemption at Vicksburg, June to August 1863 6. Winslow’s Cavalry, August 1863 to January 1864 7. The Grand Raid, February to March 1864 8. Garrison Duty, March to December 1864 9. Soon This Cruel War Will Close, January to October 1865 Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWhen four-star general John Rogers Galvin retired from the US Army after 44 years of distinguished service in 1992, the Washington Post hailed him as a man without peer among living generals. In Fighting the Cold War, the soldier, scholar, and statesman recounts his active participation in more than sixty years of international history.Trade ReviewGeneral Jack Galvin has given us an insightful, important analysis of one of history's mega events - the Cold War when the future of the planet was at stake. This soldier-statesman was an insider's insider and we should be very grateful for his service and wisdom."" - Tom Brokaw""Widely respected as a soldier, scholar, and statesman - who stood out in his generation as a brilliant strategic thinker - General Jack Galvin was also a voracious reader with a wonderfully inquiring mind and a keen intellect. The joy he takes in observing, commenting, and writing-with a wry sense of humor-on an extraordinary range of experiences emerges wonderfully in the pages of this book. Fighting the Cold War thus is an exceptional commentary not only on General Galvin's life and times, but also on timeless issues like leadership, strategic thinking, family, and relationships."" - General David H. Petraeus, USA (Ret.), from the foreword""The Cold War could not have been won, nor ended so peacefully, without individuals like Jack Galvin manning the front lines. Fighting the Cold War is a thoughtful record of service by a distinguished leader in a tumultuous period."" - Henry Kissinger""Galvin played a vital role in the Cold War, and his experiences spanned much of America's history from the 1960s to the 1990s - from Vietnam to Central America to Europe. In Fighting the Cold War he tells this important story with style and verve."" - Lawrence S. Kaplan, author of The Conversion of Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg: From Isolation to International Engagement""During his more than forty-five years of service, during which he rose to become NATO Supreme Commander, General Jack Galvin was one of the brightest stars of his profession. Far more than just the memoir of one of the Army's finest, Fighting the Cold War is also the unusually candid, modest and insightful story of an exceptional teacher, scholar and diplomat whose dedication to the nation has made him a role model for us all. His book is a rare gem."" - Carlo D'Este, Author of Patton: A Genius For War""General Jack Galvin's career spans a critical period in American history, from before the start of Vietnam through the end of the Cold War. His memoir provides a keen personal perspective on all of those events, and reminds us of what we owe to those who have served as he has."" - Francis Fukuyama, author of Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of Democracy""General 'Jack' Galvin's extraordinary service was marked by dedication, wisdom, and absolute integrity. In this appealing memoir he describes with modesty and candor the challenges he faced during eventful times for our Army and our nation. It is quite simply a very fine account by a very fine soldier."" - General John W. Vessey Jr., Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (1982-1985)""General Jack Galvin is one of the greatest soldiers this country ever had."" - President George H.W. Bush""I was a warrant officer helicopter pilot for General Galvin when he commanded a battalion in Vietnam. I worked decades in and for the Army and never served under or met another officer of his caliber. I would literally charge Hell with a bucket of ice water for him and am thrilled by this terrific book about soldiers and service and sacrifice."" - Bruce James, Ghostrider 11 ""Zorba""Gen. Jack Galvin was the kind of warrior intellectual the U.S. Army produces at its very best. This wonderful memoir distills what Galvin learned in his 44 years of service - building toward his role as Supreme Allied Commander when the Cold War ended. A moment that sums up this book is something Galvin says he told Henry Kissinger in 1988 about the darkest days of World War II. Watched young second lieutenants head off to their commands from the Anzio beachhead, an observer asked: ""I wonder if they are well read?"" Still the right question. Those who love the U.S. Army will want to add this volume to their shelves."" - David Ignatius, Columnist, The Washington Post""General Jack Galvin is a true Cold War hero. Few Americans combined the roles of soldier, scholar, and statesman during those decades, as ably as he. His leadership has been exemplary, and we are fortunate to have it reflected so clearly in this excellent memoir."" - John Lewis Gaddis, Yale University""From his early days in the atomic army of the 1950s, through two tours in Vietnam, to top commands in Europe and Panama, General John Galvin witnessed nearly half-a-century of American military history. Honest, insightful, reflective, and entertaining, his memoir is a fascinating insider's perspective of Cold War soldiering."" - Brian McAllister Linn, author of The Army's Way of War""[I]ntriguing... A valuable read for anyone interested in the continuing evolvement of the American military."" - Washington Times""This engaging memoir of a solider's service is an altogether superb work. [He] is candid, lucid, meticulous in research, and writes with verve on a wide canvas."" - Richard Halloran, US Army War College Parameters""He has a unique perspective on many of the momentous events of the latter half of the twentieth century. It is not only his access, but also his perspicacity that gives this memoir its unique value. Young men and women considering military service will appreciate this book. Galvin recounts both the hardships and rewards that come with service."" - Survival""Students of military history will find much in the book about the Vietnam War, as well as about the American Cold War presence in Europe and Latin America.""Superbly written memoir....Galvin is a gifted writer and writes in a highly conversant style that allows him to tell a story very succinctly. It is unquestionably one of the most readable soldier's memoirs published in recent years."" - On Point""Galvin's memoir (introduced by an admiring Petraeus) is a characteristically modest, wry, and thoughtful account, not only of leadership but also of the rise, fall, and rise again of U.S. military power in the second half of the twentieth century. And it is, as well, a reminder that now and again, one comes across generals with the stuff of greatness in them."" - Foreign Affairs""He provides a unique perspective that includes candid thoughts on his personal engagements with leaders such as Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Colin Powell. Superbly written, highly detailed."" - Military Review""A delight to read. The real Galvin - son of Boston, family man, soldier-scholar, mensch - comes through on every page.Galvin reveals the people and personalities behind the policy.He artfully showed how the general-statesman navigated political-military issues, lined up the allies, openly consorted with ambassadors, and coordinated with multiple bosses, all while simultaneously developing new warfighting concepts and arms-control proposals. Worth every minute that you invest in it, whether you are a historian, a student of leadership, a NATO-phile, a USSOUTHCOM staffer, or just interested in the Cold War as seen through the eyes of a general raised in Boston's working class"" - Joseph J Collins, Joint Forces Quarterly""Galvin is a skilled raconteur, and his narrative holds a reader's attention as he moves from story to story. Galvin's memoir is an entertaining endeavor full of fascinating observations on the personalities and events of the Cold War. It captures the feel of that epoch's waning years as East and West moved toward a wary rapprochement. Reading the book is time well spent for both military personnel and civilians interested in the career of one of the Army's most distinguished officers of the Cold War period, as well as the history of the era itself."" - Army History""His memoir is superbly written; it will be a treat for all who read it."" - Army Magazine""A highly interesting and informative autobiography."" - VVA Veteran""It is an intelligent, complete analysis untouched by the hubris and arrogance of so many other leadership biographies. The colour and texture he provides makes the reader feel part of the discussion - a skill few writers manage with such effectiveness.Not only was Galvin a most capable soldier, but he wrote engagingly, with breadth, perspective and humor."" - RUSI Journal""The rich detail emanates from [Galvin's] own copious notebooks and journals, supplemented by material from his wife and, most importantly, a series of letters to his father that extended over thirty-seven years. [The book] offers insightful and compelling stories from the Cold War, told by a capable and engaging writer."" - Journal of Military History""General Jack Galvin has written a fascinating memoir that is both an important lesson in history and a tutorial in strategic leadership."" - Prism"" Fighting the Cold War, which spans Galvin's life from youth to West Point to Vietnam to NATO command and beyond, is a free-roaming reflection on the events, people, and causes that made Gen. Galvin one of the key architects to the peaceful end of the Cold War.The fine balance between thinking and acting is one of the consistent themes in Fighting the Cold War. Whether dealing with the paperwork headaches in the 101st or disarmament talks with his Soviet counterparts, Gen. Galvin's memoir reveals an astute and self-reflective leader who grasped the many dimensions of senior command. The book offers ideas and examples of how to be an effective commander and staff officer at all levels, how to deal with foreign forces, and how to deal with profound change. As we prepare for an uncertain future, Fighting the Cold War provides insights on how to approach change thoughtfully, with emphasis on self-reflection, teamwork, and communication."" - Infantry

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Book SynopsisThis book opens up a new area in modern Chinese history and Chinese military history by revealing that the cultural discourse on the soldier image is essential to understanding Chinese nationalism, state-building, and civil-military relations in the early twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisThese letters and accompanying introduction, preface, and notes, draw attention to the Western experience in a place and time largely overlooked by military historians and modern China specialists.

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Book SynopsisThe first extensive English-language study of Yasukuni Shrine as a war memorial. It explores the controversial shrine's role in waging war, promoting peace, honouring the dead, and, in particular, building Japan's modern national identity. It traces Yasukuni's history from its conceptualization in the final years of the Tokugawa period and Japan's wars of imperialism to the present.

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Book SynopsisOffers a history of Civil War commemoration in Missouri, shifting focus away from the guerrilla war and devoting equal attention to Union, African American, and Confederate commemoration. In doing so, Amy Fluker provides the most complete look yet at the construction of Civil War memory in Missouri.Trade ReviewDr. Fluker’s important new work makes welcome contributions to Missouri history, the history of the American West, and the developing scholarship of Civil War memory."—Jeremy Neely, Missouri State University, author of The Border Between Them: Violence and Reconciliation on the Kansas-Missouri Line"Amy Fluker’s extensive research on the tenor of reconciliation in Missouri emphasizes the complexities of community healing in a state where various regional identities—Western, Southern, and Northern—collided. She illuminates the conservative, yet pragmatic approaches of her subjects, explaining how there was no single narrative dictating how Missourians understood this conflict. Commonwealth of Compromise is a must read for anyone interested in the Civil War’s legacies."—Kristen Epps, University of Central Arkansas, author of Slavery on the Periphery: The Kansas-Missouri Border in the Antebellum and Civil War Eras"Fluker complicates our understanding of Civil War memory by examining a place, Missouri, that did not conform to simple categories of Lost Cause, Unionist, or emancipationist memories of the war. Instead Missourians fashioned a memory that allowed disparate groups to preserve elements of their unique memories in a larger reconciliationist framework."—Nicole Etcheson, Ball State University, author of A Generation at War: The Civil War Era in a Northern Community"An extraordinarily timely contribution to our current national dialogue over Confederacy celebrating statues, Confederate general named military bases, and the removal of the last Confedrate 'Stars & Bars' from the Mississippi state flag, Commonwealth of Compromise: Civil War Commemoration in Missouri is a work of original and meticulous scholarship that deserves being a part of every community, college, and university library, U.S. Civil War History in general, and 19th century Missouri History supplemental curriculum reading lists in particular."—Midwest Book Review

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Table of ContentsIntroduction · The Royal Artillery · Uniforms · Engineers · Commissariat & Transport · Medical Services · The Plates

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThe Mounted Infantry had a short life spanning from the mid 1880's until disbanded in 1913. To continue the camaraderie of the corps, past surviving members formed the M.I Club and in 1936 decided to publish a short history based on Regimental records and personal reflections. An appeal elicited responses and work was begun by Major Tomlin. The manuscript was almost complete at the start of the Second World War when an enthusiastic cull of papers by Tomlin's family during a wastepaper salvage drive included much of the work he had completed. This would have been the end of the project, but Brigadier Standish G Craufurd intervened and undertook to rewrite the work using what material remained and his own resources. When the draft was substantially completed Sir Ian Hamilton (then in his 91st year) was approached to write the foreword, he responded that he felt this was a makeshift history that would best be left until the end of the war when access to records would be easier, and the ma

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Book SynopsisAlthough the Guards Armoured Division and its sister formation the 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade shared a common origin, they went on to forge quite different operational records. One of the units would be tarnished by its failures while the other was applauded for its successes. A month after VE Day, the two Guards' armoured formations would be reunited one last time before being officially disbanded. During the intervening years, the Guards faced criticism, public ridicule, the threat of disbandment, and many other challenges. Nevertheless, these armoured Guardsmen would prevail on the battlefield. In response to the threat of a German invasion of the British Isles, the Guards Armoured Division formed in the spring of 1941\. But why convert battalions of Foot Guards, considered by many to be first-class infantry, into an armoured formation? Certainly, many people were sceptical that 'spit-and-polish' Guardsmen could ever adapt to a new armoured role. As the threat of invasion receded, the Guards Armoured Division and 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade embarked on years of training while the war raged elsewhere. This book examines the decision to form the Guards Armoured Division and then keep it at home for an extended period. Once deployed to Normandy, the fighting quickly revealed shortcomings in the Division's training, equipment, and operational procedures. In contrast, when the Churchill tanks of the 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade went into action south of Caumont it was to prove an affirmation of everything they had learnt in training. Over the next ten months, the Guards' armoured formations would celebrate victories and lament failures while fighting their way across northwest Europe. This book examines how the decision to raise a Guards Armoured Division came about, and why the idea met with such strong opposition. It also takes an in-depth look at the training, equipment, and culture of the Brigade of Guards, and how that influenced the two formations' preparedness for war. Once deployed overseas, the book explores how the Guards were able to adapt to changing conditions on the battlefield and adopt new operational and tactical procedures. Finally, the book reveals why the Guards' armoured formations were hurriedly disbanded in June 1945\. Additionally, using new archive material, the book discloses why it took over a decade to publish the official' history of the Guards Armoured Division.

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1927, this book demonstrate the possible applications of psychological techniques to the training and deployment of soldiers. Bartlett examines features in the life of a soldier, including fatigue and the effects of battle, and offers some suggestions on how modern psychology can better be employed in the service of the army.Table of ContentsPreface; General introduction; Part I. Choosing and Training the Recruit: 1. The general examination: testing the special senses; 2. The general examination: testing intelligence; 3. Tests of special abilities; 4. Training bodily skill; 5. Practice and motives in learning bodily skill; 6. The study of fatigue; Part II. Leadership, Discipline and Morale: 1. Appetite and instinct groups; 2. Interest, sentiment, and ideal groups; 3. The nature and importance of social change; 4. Discipline and punishment; 5. Discipline and suggestion; 6. Leaders and leadership; 7. Morale, with special reference to group games; Part III. Mental Disorders of Warfare: 1. The general background; 2. The normal soldier in war; 3. Conversion hysteria; 4. Anxiety neurosis; 5. Predisposing conditions; 6. Methods of treatment; A review and some suggestions.

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Book SynopsisThis study of Russia's home front mobilization in the Great War explores topics as wide-ranging as the press and propaganda, the Orthodox Church, 'spymania', memorialization, and philanthropy. It should appeal to individuals interested in World War I, nationalism and national identities, citizenship, gender and war, and the Russian revolution.Trade Review'Mobilizing the Russian Nation challenges the notion that Russians had no or insignificant national identity and anything resembling 'healthy patriotism' and, for most authors who argue this thesis, this 'failure' left a blank slate for Bolshevik militancy and dictatorship to become the new regime. On the contrary, Professor Stockdale shows Russian elites as very conscious of the importance of such national identity and patriotism, and as willing to devote considerable resources to their various projects even against the backdrop of the urgently competing priorities of munitions, manpower, and the national food supply. Although many of the 'achievements' of these various projects were undermined by the exhausting, long war - above all any loyalty to the tsar as an embodiment of the nation - other practices were adapted and adjusted by the new Bolshevik leadership. Stockdale offers wonderful institutional histories of several imperial and public associations that played important roles in these multiple wartime nation-building projects.' Mark Von Hagen, Arizona State University'Drawing on a dazzling diversity of original materials, Melissa Kirschke Stockdale upends conventional notions about how Russians experienced the First World War. Through her lucid, nuanced, and compelling analysis, Stockdale has masterfully recast our understanding of wartime patriotism's transformed and transformative role in the shaping of society and politics across a vast imperial state.' Aviel Roshwald, Georgetown University, Washington DC'Mobilizing the Russian Nation examines the powerful crystallization of nationalism, citizenship, and patriotism in Russia in the course of the First World War. She challenges the idea that Russia's war effort was unpopular and that the common people failed to conceive of the war as a patriotic project. Rather, she shows 'the endurance of soldiers and civilians, and the generosity of the entire population, through years of hardship and staggering losses'. She convincingly argues that the First World War transformed Russian civic life and public structures. In doing so, she is always attentive to comparative developments in other combatant societies. Her treatment is fluidly written and highlights the arc of individual lives - be it the high-born governor of St Petersburg, Count Ivan Tolstoy, or the semi-literatate peasant woman Maria Bochkareva. Readers interested in twentieth-century Russia, the First World War, and the global twentieth century will find much of interest in Melissa Kirschke Stockdale's very fine book.' Peter Holquist, University of Pennsylvania'Stockdale's outstanding book overturns the received wisdom on Russian nationalism by convincing readers that even though the Russian state failed in a spectacular and violent way at the end of the First World War, the war nonetheless 'played a significant role in the emergence of the modern Russian nation'. She persuasively shows that the attributes of the Russian national community forged during the First World War 'would outlive the war and civil war, and be worked into Soviet renderings of Russian national identity'.' Karen Petrone, University of Kentucky'How was Russian society mobilized during the Great War? What were the primary forms of patriotic mobilization? How did these efforts influence modern concepts of citizenship and nation in Russia? How has the war 'sold' to different social, ethnic, and confessional groups? And why did Russian soldiers continue to attack the enemy even after the monarchy had collapsed? In order to answer these questions, Professor Melissa Kirschke Stockdale has studied government propaganda, patriotic discourse, civil society activity and charity, theological debates and national projects, and gender and memory politics. She draws on sources from archives in both Moscow and St Petersburg, and has applied new approaches and methods to interpret them. This innovative book will be important both for historians of Russia and for scholars who study the political and cultural history of the Great War.' Boris Kolonitsky, European University, St Petersburg'The book is a panoramic tour of war attitudes that crosses boundaries of class, gender, and (to a lesser degree) ethnicity. Her book is arranged thematically, with chapters on patriotic narratives, the place of the press, the role of the church, war relief, support for soldiers, the discourse of treason, and on patriotism in the revolutionary year of 1917.' Joshua Sanborn, The Journal of Modern History'Melissa Stockdale's richly textured book discusses how Russian - and, by extension, Soviet - identity was fashioned by the war, showing how a variety of very different groups were instrumental in creating a patriotic discourse that had an impact even after the war had ended.' Peter Waldron, The Slavonic and East European Review'Stockdale's work is highly effective in synthesizing a variety of sources to create a well-rounded picture of the concept of patriotism during the war. The result is a nuanced and balanced assessment of the issue, indicating that concepts of patriotism and citizenship were dynamic and fluid, but certainly present. As such, it is an important contribution to the growing body of literature on Russia's Great War.' Laurie S. Stoff, European History QuarterlyTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. A sacred union: patriotic narratives and the language of inclusion; 2. National mobilization: government, propaganda, and the press; 3. 'On the altar of the fatherland': the orthodox church and the language of sacrifice; 4. 'All for the war!': war relief and the language of citizenship; 5. 'United in gratitude': honoring soldiers and defining the nation; 6. Fantasies of treason: sorting out membership in the Russian national community; 7. 'For freedom and the fatherland': shaping citizens in revolutionary 1917; Conclusion; Select bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisCulture has an enormous influence on military organizations and their success or failure in war. Cultural biases often result in unstated assumptions that have a deep impact on the making of strategy, operational planning, doctrinal creation, and the organization and training of armed forces. Except in unique circumstances culture grows slowly, embedding so deeply that members often act unconsciously according to its dictates. Of all the factors that are involved in military effectiveness, culture is perhaps the most important. Yet, it also remains the most difficult to describe and understand, because it entails so many external factors that impinge, warp, and distort its formation and continuities. The sixteen case studies in this volume examine the culture of armies, navies, and air forces from the Civil War to the Iraq War and how and why culture affected their performance in the ultimate arbitration of war.Trade Review'The Culture of Military Organizations explains superbly the importance of military culture and clearly demonstrates how culture underpins the effectiveness of armed force. Culture, once formed, is difficult to change; it cannot always be 'tamed,' but it can and should be understood. This book makes an enormous contribution in helping to foster that understanding. The history is first-rate, the analysis incisive, and the conclusions of enormous value to military leaders and policy makers today.' General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former commander of the surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan'A brilliant set of analyses of military cultures that captures the nature of military culture and an understanding of its importance. This is an important work written at a time when military innovation and transformation are being hotly discussed and debated. This is a must read for all those military leaders attempting to develop organizations that can meet the challenges posed by a new and different security environment.' General Anthony C. Zinni, United States Marine Corps (Ret.)'The old Druckerism that 'culture eats strategy for breakfast' is aptly demonstrated in this erudite yet accessible book. Murray and Mansoor reveal how military culture eats strategy, operational logic and sound tactics in every war. Students of military history will revel in its insights and professors will find it chocked with invaluable lessons for the classroom.' Colonel Frank Hoffman, United States Marine Corps (Ret.)'Invaluable perspectives on what may be the most important determinant of victory or defeat in war. Students of warfare and those responsible for military effectiveness will find important insights that not only impart understanding, but also illuminate ways to accentuate positive elements of military culture or compensate for deficiencies.' H.R. McMaster, Stanford University'The editors assembled a strong roster of contributors; there are no weak chapters as sometimes occurs in such works. Though the quality is uniformly good, the great strength of the cases is their diversity. There is a temporal balance with the late 19th, early and late 20th centuries represented in roughly equivalent parts.' Col. J.P. Clark, ARMY Magazine'This volume makes a useful contribution to begin global historical explorations of military culture.' Thomas Furse, Journal of Contemporary HistoryTable of Contents1. Introduction Peter R. Mansoor and Williamson Murray; Part I. Theoretical Frameworks: 2. Culture and military organizations Leonard Wong and Stephen J. Gerras; 3. Strategic culture David Kilcullen; Part II. Land Forces: 4. Ulysses S. Grant and the culture of the Union Army of Tennessee Wayne Wei-siang Hsieh; 5. 'Playing a very bold game': the organizational culture of the Army of Northern Virginia, 1862–1865 Mark Grimsley; 6. German Army culture, 1871–1945 Jorit Wintjes; 7. The culture of the Indian Army, 1900–1947: an evolving identity Daniel Marston; 8. An army apart: the influence of culture on the Victorian British Army Richard Hart Sinnreich; 9. The culture of the British Army, 1914–1945 Williamson Murray; 10. Imperial Japanese Army culture, 1918–1945: duty heavier than a mountain, death lighter than a feather David Hunter-Chester; 11. Military culture, military efficiency, and the Red Army, 1917–1945 Reina Pennington; 12. An army like no other: the origins of the IDF's military culture Gil-li Vardi; 13. The weight of the shadow of the past: the organizational culture of the Iraqi Army, 1921–2003 Kevin M. Woods; 14. US Army culture, 1973–2017 Peter R. Mansoor; Part III. Maritime Forces: 15. The Royal Navy, 1900–1945: learning from disappointment Corbin Williamson; 16. US Navy cultural transformations, 1945–2017: the jury is still out John T. Kuehn; 17. The US Marine Corps, 1973–2017: cultural preservation in every place and clime Allan R. Millett; Part IV. Air Forces: 18. The culture of the Royal Air Force, 1918–1945 David Stubbs; 19. US Air Force culture, 1947–2017 Robert Farley; 20. Conclusion Peter R. Mansoor and Williamson Murray.

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Book SynopsisBEFORE HE COULD FORGE A BAND OF ELITE WARRIORS... HE HAD TO BECOME ONE HIMSELF.Adapted from Webb''s Adult Bestseller The Red Circle for a Young Adult AudienceBrandon Webb''s experiences in the world''s most elite sniper corps are the stuff of legend. From his grueling years of training in Naval Special Operations to his combat tours in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan, The Making of a Navy SEAL provides a rare and riveting look at the inner workings of the U.S. military through the eyes of a covert operations specialist.Yet it is Webb''s distinguished second career as a lead instructor for the shadowy sniper cell and Course Manager of the Navy SEAL Sniper Program that trained some of America''s finest and deadliest warriors-including Marcus Luttrell and Chris Kyle-that makes his story so compelling. Luttrell credits Webb''s training with his own survival during the ill-fated 2005 Operation Redwing in Afghanistan. Kyle went on to become th

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Book SynopsisThe history of a Tank Destroyer Battalion with an excellent combat record and the place of segregated tank destroyer battalions within the armed forces.

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Book SynopsisPrecise, factual appraisals of each stage of the battles, all of which are placed within its strategic context.

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Book SynopsisReprint of classic WW2 Divisional history. The Guards have universal appeal. The Division had an exemplary fighting record. A number of VC winners. Possible Royal foreword.

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Book SynopsisOriginal work appeared in 1950 but now a rarity. This new edition reproduces the classic original with much new and significant material added, giving greater detail to the events and personalities

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed biography of one of the great military leaders of WW2 and the penultimate Viceroy of India.

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Book SynopsisThis richly illustrated volume tells the story of the seven regiments of the Household Division, along with the supporting personalities and units of London District. A subject as fascinating as it is multifarious. From the key personalities responsible for the razor-sharp execution of state ceremonial and public duties, to the historical figures who helped establish and shape a military dynasty. Travel through the history of the Household Division from its birth in 1660, with the restoration of Charles II, to its role in establishing Britain's Special Forces. It is a journey of political intrigue, cementing empire, and fighting terrorism. From the founding fathers such as George Monck, who laid the foundations for a professional British Army, to adventurers like David Stirling and Sir Frederick 'Boy' Browning, the history of the Household Division is one of almost continuous action and innovation. Supported by the Honourable Artillery Company and the King's Troop, The Royal Horse

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Book SynopsisFormed in 1881 through the amalgamation of two line infantry regiments, 72nd Regiment and 78th (Highland) Regiment, the Seaforth Highlanders fought in various late colonial wars in Africa (invasion of Egypt, Mahdist War, 2nd Boer War) and India (Hazara Campaigns and Chitral Expedition, Northwest Frontier) as well as serving in the Far East. In the First World War its battalions saw service in the Middle East (Mesopotamia, Kut, Baghdad, Palestine) as well as most of the major battles of the Western Front, from Le Cateau in 1914 to the breaking of the Hindenberg Line in 1918 (and including Aubers Ridge, Messines, 2nd Ypres, The Somme and Passchendaele in between). Between the wars they were involved in colonial policing' again on the Northwest Frontier, Palestine and elsewhere. During the Second World War, 1st Battalion fought in the East throughout (Malaya, Burma, India) while 2nd Battalionsaw action in the Battle of France and was forced to surrender to Rommel's troops at St. Valery-en-Caux.A particular strength of this book is the personal story of one of the regiment's soldiers - his time on the North West Frontier and coverage of his four years of captivity and forced labour in PoW camps as suffered by many 2nd Battalion veterans during World War 2. This comes courtesy of exclusive access to this PoW's correspondence home. Meanwhile, the reconstituted 2nd Battalion redeemed itself through its participation in the Second Battle of El Alamein, the invasions of Tunisia, Sicily and Italy, D-Day and the Normandy Battles, and the invasion of Germany (operations Veritable and Plunder). Overall, this is an excellent and overdue account of the loyal service and many campaigns and battles of the Seaforth Highlanders Regiment across eighty years, from its raising to its amalgamation into the Queen's Own Highlanders in 1961.

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