The Imperial German Army Between Kaiser and King: Monarchy, Nation-Building, and War, 1866-1918

Description

This book provides a reappraisal of Germany’s military between the mid-nineteenth century and the end of the First World War. At its core is the following question: how 'German' was the imperial German army? This army, which emerged from the Wars of Unification in 1871, has commonly been seen as the 'school of the nation'. After all – so this argument goes – tens of thousands of young men passed through its ranks each year, with conscripts undergoing an intense program of patriotic education and returning to civilian life as fervent German nationalists and ardent supporters of the German emperor, or Kaiser. This book reexamines this assumption. It does not deny that devotion to the Fatherland and loyalty to the Kaiser were widespread among German soldiers in the decades following unification. It nevertheless shows that the imperial German army was far less homogenous and far more faction-ridden than has hitherto been acknowledged. Acknowledgements Contents About the Author Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Introduction References Chapter 2: Genesis Dealing with Defeat Between Alliance and Unification The Crucible of War Conclusion References Chapter 3: Military Federalism An Army of Contingents Guardians and Go-Betweens Celebrating Kaiser and King Conclusion References Chapter 4: The Need for Compromise The Unlikely Conqueror of South Germany A North German Bridgehead in the South? A Tougher Nut to Crack Conclusion References Chapter 5: Warrior Princes Passing the Martial Baton Encouraging Particularism Double Standard Conclusion References Chapter 6: The Danger Within A Divided Contingent Out of Reach but Not Out of Sight A Gathering Point for Particularism Conclusion References Chapter 7: Fighting Together but Apart Familiar Tropes New Problems Thinking About the Future Conclusion References Chapter 8: Conclusion References Index