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Iron and blood

£18.99

For most of its existence German-speaking Europe has been splintered into innumerable states – some substantial (such as Austria and Prussia) and some consisting of just a few Alpine meadows. Its military experience has also been extraordinarily varied: threatened and threatening; a mere buffer-zone, and a global threat. ‘Iron and Blood’ is a startlingly ambitious and absorbing book. It encompasses five centuries of political, military, technological and economic change to tell the story of the German-speaking lands, from the Rhine to the Balkan frontier, from Switzerland to the North Sea. Wilson’s narrative considers everything from weapons development to recruitment to battlefield strategy.

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Description

*WINNER OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON MEDAL FOR MILITARY HISTORY*
*A DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022*

‘No one interested in the history of Europe can afford not to read this stupendous book’ Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph

Iron and Blood is a startlingly ambitious and absorbing book, encompassing five centuries of political, military, technological and economic change to tell the story of the German-speaking lands, from the Rhine to the Balkan frontier, from Switzerland to the North Sea. Wilson’s narrative considers everything from weapons development to recruitment to battlefield strategy.

Germans’ military impact on the rest of Europe has been immense. If there is one constant it has been the sense of being beset by seemingly more powerful enemies – France or Russia or Turkey – and the need to strike a rapid knockout blow to ensure a favourable result. Almost inevitably, this has in practice meant protracted, relentless and often unwinnable wars, and – in 1939-1945 – moral catastrophe.

The author of definitive books on the Holy Roman Empire and the Thirty Years War, Peter Wilson has with Iron and Blood written his masterpiece.

‘Hugely impressive’ Richard J. Evans, Times Literary Supplement

Read a sample here

Additional information

Weight 0.68 kg
Dimensions 20 × 13 × 4.2 cm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Paperback

Pages

976

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

943.03 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K