Strategy, Policy and Defense Preparations: German Military Planning Between the Two World Wars

Strategy, Policy and Defense Preparations examines German military planning and strategy development during the interwar period of 1919-1939. The book focuses on the internal debates, policy decisions, and organizational changes within Germany's military leadership structures during this critical timeframe. Drawing from archival materials and military documents, Chickering analyzes how German military planners approached rearmament, force structure, and strategic doctrine in the aftermath of World War I. The work traces the evolution of German defense policy through the Weimar Republic and into the early years of the Nazi regime. The study explores the relationship between civilian leadership and military authorities, detailing how strategic priorities shifted based on political developments and resource constraints. Chickering documents the specific military preparations, training programs, and capability assessments conducted by German forces during this period. This in-depth examination of interwar German military planning provides context for understanding the broader dynamics of European security in the early 20th century and the complex interplay between military strategy and national policy.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Roger Chickering's overall work: Readers view Chickering as a thorough academic historian who makes complex German history accessible. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of WWI's impact on German society - Detailed research and documentation - Balanced perspective on German militarism - Focus on civilian experiences and social changes What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Heavy focus on statistics and demographics - Limited coverage of military operations - High price point of academic editions Ratings: - Goodreads: 3.8/5 (84 ratings) - Amazon: 4.2/5 (26 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Makes the social history of wartime Germany understandable without oversimplifying" - Goodreads review "Very thorough but can be dry reading" - Amazon review "Excellent source material but not for casual readers" - Library Thing review Most reviews come from students and academics rather than general readers, reflecting the scholarly nature of his work.

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🔹 Author Roger Chickering is considered one of the leading American historians of modern Germany, particularly known for his work on Imperial Germany and World War I. 🔹 The period between WWI and WWII saw Germany develop innovative military doctrines despite severe restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, including the secret development of tanks and aircraft under code names. 🔹 German military planners during this period pioneered the concept of "Blitzkrieg" warfare, though they never actually used that term themselves - it was coined by Western journalists. 🔹 The Reichswehr (German military) maintained secret training facilities in the Soviet Union during the 1920s, allowing them to develop forbidden weapons and tactics while technically complying with Versailles Treaty limitations. 🔹 Many of the military strategies developed during this interwar period were heavily influenced by Germany's experiences in WWI, particularly the need to avoid another prolonged war of attrition on two fronts.