Synopses & Reviews
This volume examines the state of the art in modern military history, and the utility of the subject as a training, educational, and policy-relevant tool for professional armed forces. Part 1 explores the state of military historical writing in Britain and the United States, and on specific topics, such as air warfare, naval warfare, intelligence, low-intensity conflict, and the most recent trends in "the New Military History." Part 2 illustrates the utility of the historical method in analyzing command decisions, providing an "institutional memory" for a wide range of policy, command, and operational problems, and its application in specific subjects such as naval strategy, and by certain countries (the US, Germany, and the Soviet Union) in the search for "lessons" and fundamental principles. The contributing authors represent an impressive cross-section of prominent academic and official historians recognized as leading scholars in the study of military history. The Foreword is written by Anne N. Foreman, Undersecretary of the United States Air Force. This book will be of interest to the academic and the official historian (and their students) and to military professionals.
Review
Many of the essays have considerable merit. The value of many of the articles is further enhanced by excellent bibliographies. This work is necessary for specialized collections.Choice
Review
This is a gathering of 15 essays with a practical forward by Anne Forman, former US Air Force undersecretary, on the uses of military history in policymaking.Parameters
Review
This is a worthwhile addition to any military history library.Air Power History
Review
Nevertheless, this is an extremely stimulating symposium with a consistently high scholarly level unusual in many group ventures. The volume should be of interest to all military historians, and especially those involved in the education of the armed services.Military History
Synopsis
This volume examines the state of the art in modern military history, and the utility of the subject as a training, educational, and policy-relevant tool for professional armed forces. Part 1 explores the state of military historical writing in Britain and the United States, and on specific topics, such as air warfare, naval warfare, intelligence, low-intensity conflict, and the most recent trends in the New Military History. Part 2 illustrates the utility of the historical method in analyzing command decisions, providing an institutional memory for a wide range of policy, command, and operational problems, and its application in specific subjects such as naval strategy, and by certain countries (the US, Germany, and the Soviet Union) in the search for lessons and fundamental principles. The contributing authors represent an impressive cross-section of prominent academic and official historians recognized as leading scholars in the study of military history. The Foreword is written by Anne N. Foreman, Undersecretary of the United States Air Force.
This book will be of interest to the academic and the official historian (and their students) and to military professionals.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [229]-233) and index.
About the Author
J. BRENT WILSON is Senior Researcher at the Centre for Conflict Studies, University of New Brunswick.
Table of Contents
Foreword by the Honourable Anne N. Foreman
Introduction
Military History: The State of the Field
American Military History: Clio and Mars as "Pards" by Allan R. Millett
The Development of British Military Historical Writing from the Eighteenth Century to the Present by Tim Travers
"Naked Truths for the Asking": Twentieth Century Military Historians and the Battlefield Narrative by Donald E. Graves
The Soldier and the Battle by Bill McAndrew
Naval History: The State of the Art by W.A.B. Douglas
Air War History: The State of the Art by Robin Higham
Intelligence and Military History: A British Perspective by Keith Jeffrey
Low Intensity Conflict: Its Place in the Study of War by Ian Beckett
The New Military History: Its Practitioners and Their Practices by Don Higginbotham
Military History and the Military Profession
Stress Lines and Grey Areas: The Utility of the Historical Method to the Military Profession by Dominick Graham
History as Institutional Memory: The Experience of the United States Air Force by Richard H. Kohn
The Search for Principles and Naval Strategy by Donald M. Schurman
The Utility of History to Modern Navies by Eric Grove
Military History in the Federal German Republic and the "Bundeswehr" by Roland G. Foerster
The Napoleonic Paradigm: The Myth of the Offensive in Soviet and Western Military Thought by David R. Jones