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Latter 19 th Century Warfare: Prussia

Latter 19 th Century Warfare: Prussia. 8801, Lesson 7. Educational Objectives. Understand The significance of the Prussian Army’s reorganization The accomplishments of the General Staff under Moltke The ramifications of a “professionalization race.”

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Latter 19 th Century Warfare: Prussia

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  1. Latter 19th Century Warfare: Prussia 8801, Lesson 7

  2. Educational Objectives • Understand • The significance of the Prussian Army’s reorganization • The accomplishments of the General Staff under Moltke • The ramifications of a “professionalization race.” • Analyze the success, failures and relevance of the German Staff model to the U.S.

  3. 19th Century Europe • European Reaction to Napoleonic Warfare • Continuity • Jomini • Clausewitz • Napoleonic warfare • Maneuver • Strength at the decisive point • Prussia • Dominant Military Power

  4. Prussian Success • Cohesive, training fighting units • Elite trained officers • Improvisation • Thoughtful command

  5. The European Context • Dealing with the aftermath of Napoleon • Not to be repeated • Reverted to 18th Century model • Military schools • Military literature • Concert of Europe

  6. The Concert of Europe • Most peaceful period • Characteristics • Economic growth • Cultural interaction • Middle class • Goal • To suppress revolution • Avoid general war

  7. 1815-1848 Small wars, big riots 1849-1869 Great Powers wars 1870-1914 Peaceful competition The wars of 1849-1869 Crimean War Italian Wars Wars of German Unification Franco-Prussian War The Wars of 19th Century Europe

  8. The ‘isms Nationalism Darwinism Imperialism Militarism Navalism Military influences Franco-Prussian War (1870) The Spanish-American War (1898) The Boer War (1898-1901) The Russo–Japanese War (1904-05) 19th Century Europe

  9. Forces at work • Technology • Military professionalism • Population growth = unparalleled destructive potential

  10. Between 1815 and 1914 • Communications revolution • Transformed strategy • Weapons technology • Transformed tactics • Military professionalization • Tied these together… • Resulting dilemma

  11. Dilemma • The tactical problem • Offensive action, but • unsupportable casualties. • Reinforced by wars • Resolution: improved artillery to neutralize infantry firepower

  12. The Prussian Revolutionin Military Organization • Conscription • General Staff System • Military Education

  13. The Prussian Army • Created by • Frederick the Great • Napoleon • Scharnhorst & Gniesenau

  14. Prussian Effectiveness • Organization • Training system • Study of war

  15. Prussian Changes • Conscription • Goal • Organization of the army • General Staff • Command System

  16. The Great German General Staff • The brains • Junior partners in command • Institutionalized combat efficiency • Same training • Similar solution • Auftragstaktik – directive control

  17. Moltke • Military writer of the 19th Century • The Fundamental Questions of Military Theorists • Influence of historical setting? • Use of historical analysis? • What are his ideas? • Build on or react to previous theorists? • Affect on later theorists and practitioners of war?

  18. Moltke • Influence of the historical setting

  19. Moltke • Use of historical analysis?

  20. Moltke • What are his ideas about • The fundamentals of strategy • Civil-military relations • The importance of material and moral factors • The ability of individuals to affect events • Relationship between offense and defense • The importance of chance in war

  21. Moltke and War

  22. Approach to Modern war • Dilemma

  23. Moltke • What are his ideas about strategy?

  24. Moltke • What are his ideas about civil-military relations?

  25. Moltke • What are his ideas about the importance of material and moral factors?

  26. Moltke • What are his ideas about the ability of individuals to affect the course of events?

  27. Moltke • What are his ideas about the importance of chance in war?

  28. Moltke • What are his ideas about the relationship between offense and defense?

  29. Moltke • How do his ideas build on or react to previous theorists?

  30. Moltke • Affect on later theorists and practitioners of war?

  31. Moltke’s Legacy

  32. Critique

  33. The U.S. in the late 19th Century • Approach to war? • Roles of • Regular Army? • State militia? • Navy?

  34. Can Prussian system be duplicated • In the U.S.? • Today? • Considerations • Functional demands v societal imperatives • Elites in a democracy? • Zero defect management mentality • Anti-military bias

  35. Issues for Consideration • Prussian Military Revolution • Professionalization Race • Moltke • Civil-Military Relationships

  36. Issues for Consideration • The Prussian Military Revolution • Meaning? • Causes? • What was it? • How did it work?

  37. Issues for Consideration • Professionalization Race • Institutionalization of the Prussian approach? • Confined to one state? • Consequences?

  38. Issues for Consideration • How did Moltke apply • Prussian traditions? • Clausewitizian theory? • His own strategic thought?

  39. Issues for Consideration • Civil-Military Relationships • What was the relationship in • The Prussian Kingdom? • The German Empire? • Strengths? • Weaknesses? • Compared to U.S. historic civ-mil relations?

  40. Summary • Military Revolution • Schlieffen Plan v TPFDL • General Staff v maneuver warfare? • Maneuver warfare v unity of command? • Points to remember

  41. Next Week:

  42. Points to remember The simple things are always hard.

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