The Enlightened Soldier: Scharnhorst and the Militarische Gesellschaft in Berlin, 1801-1805 / Edition 1

by Charles E. White

Overview

This volume explores the essence of German military professionalism as exemplified by the nineteenth century Prussian German Staff. The study focuses on the most important Prussian military reformer—Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst, who in 1801 founded the Militarische Gesellschaft (Military Society) in Berlin. The Gesellschaft became the focal point for the transformation of the Prussian army from a robotic war machine into a modern fighting force that was instrumental in defeating Napolean in 1813 and in 1815. The author examines the following elements of this military society: its membership; the specifics of its agenda; the intellect, imagination, and habits of thought, reflection, and objective analysis of its members; Scharnhorst's particular contributions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275929367
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/17/1988
Pages:	259
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

CHARLES E. WHITE is the Historian of the United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia, where he teaches miliary history.

Table of Contents

Introduction: War in the Enlightenment
Scharnhorst and the Classical Tradition
The Militärische Gesellschaft in Berlin
The Revolution in Warfare
An Aristocracy of Education
Translating Theory into Practice
Organization and Intellect
Epilogue: The Enlightened Soldier
Appendixes
Index