Recommended reading on Imperial Germany

Discussions on all aspects of Imperial Germany not covered in the other sections.
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Marcus
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Recommended reading on Imperial Germany

#1

Post by Marcus » 10 Dec 2006, 12:40

The idea of this sticky is to collect recommandations on good books dealing with Imperial Germany.

Please post the title, author and a short (or long) explenation as to why you feel that particular title deserves to be included.

/Marcus



If you buy through the below links you not only get the books you want but you also support the forum while shopping!
* AHF Bookstore
* Amazon.com (UK, Germany)
Last edited by Marcus on 03 Nov 2007, 20:31, edited 1 time in total.

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Peter H
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#2

Post by Peter H » 10 Dec 2006, 13:21

The German Army on the Somme 1914-1916,by Jack Sheldon.

Sheldon,using diaries and extracts from Regimental histories,details the ordeal of the German Army in the Somme fighting of 1916.Provides useful insights into the German view of the war,plus its fighting techniques and abilities.

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Peter H
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#3

Post by Peter H » 10 Dec 2006, 13:28

Expensive Schiffer tomes by Johan Somers but well worth it for their pictures and layouts.

Imperial German Uniforms And Equipment 1907-1918: Field Equipment, Optical Instruments, Body Armor, Mine And Chemical Warfare, Communications Equipment, Weapons, Cloth Headgear

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Imperial German Field Uniforms And Equipment 1907-1918: Infantry and Cavalry Helmets: Pickelhaube, Shako, Tschapka, Steel Helmets, etc.; Infantry and Cavalry

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Peter H
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#4

Post by Peter H » 10 Dec 2006, 13:38

Our member,joerookery's book

Neumann & Müller Imperial German Military Catalogues: A Resource for Collectors and Historians

Provides insights into what was available, for private purchase, for the Imperial Officer and soldier.Great information here.


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walterkaschner
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#5

Post by walterkaschner » 10 Dec 2006, 22:50

For the Weimar Republic, a short list from my library:

S. William Halperin, Germany Tried Democracy: A Political History of the Reich from 1918 to 1933 (The Norton Library, paperback, 1965) 567 pages. Halperin was Professor of History at the University of Chicago, and first published this book in 1946 - so it is 60 years old, but still IMHO the best overall political account of the Republic of which I'm aware. Thoughtful, intelligent, well written and fair. It seems to cover the high spots, with some - particularly the financial problems in considerable depth; has a lengthy (although outdated) bibliography and a very useful index. No illustrations.

Otto Friedrich, Before the Deluge: A Portrait of Berlin in the 1920's (Harper & Row, 1972) 448 pages. Lively, breazey, gossippy, great fun to read - deals primarily with cultural, artistic, intellectual and social life in Berlin during the Republic, with some emphasis on politics. No bibliography as such, but a useful discussion of the materials the author found most helpful in reasearching each chapter. Fair index. Some illustrations.

Peter D. Stachura, Political Leaders in Weimar Germany: A Biographical Study (Simon & Schuster, 1993) 230 pages. Brief biographical sketches of about 130 Weimar politicians, nunning from 400 to 1,000 words each. Each sketch finishes with a paragraph recommending further reading, and there is a short "Select" bibliography at the end, accompanied by a so-so chronology, and a fair index. To me, its value lies in the inclusion of details concerning characters only briefly referred to in other works I've come across on the subject. I've noticed a few mistakes or typos, none serious. No illustrations.

Theo Balderson, Economics and Politics in the Weimar Republic (Cambridge University Press, 2002, paperback) 123 pages. This is an interesting but frustration study, full of facts and charts but with (for me at least, with no background in economics) little intelligible explanation of their significance. Contains a fairly useful Glossary of Economic and Political Terms, a lengthy bibliography, brief index.

Kaes, Jay, Dimendberg (editors) The Weimar Republic Sourcebook (University of California Press, 1994, paperback). 806 pages. This is a massive collection of excerpts from letters, essays, diaries, political programs and other materials written by a vast variety of (mostly) well known authors, groups and other figures of the times, grouped into 6 major topics from "A New Democracy in Crisis", through "Intellectuals and the Ideologies of the Age" to "The Transformation of Everyday Life", with a host of sub-topics under each major rubric. Contains very brief bios of most included authors, a brief political chronology, a pretty fair bibliography and a spotty index. A somewhat strange but fascinating mish-mash of materials, some intensely interesting (e.g. correspondence between Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud) some skull-numbing boring (e.g. Valeska Gert on Dancing). All in all, highly recommended as reference.

Richard M. Watt, The Kings Depart: The Tragedy of Germany: Versailles and the German Revolution (Barnes & Noble Books, 2000, paperback) 604 pages. Although first published almost 40 years ago in 1968, this has IMHO stood the test of time well. It does not, of course, purport to be a history of the Weimar Republic, but only of the initial events and struggle to establish it, although it does contain a 30 page "Afterword" generally describing how things turned out. It is extremely well written, short bibliography, excellent Index, some illustrations. For anyone with little prior knowledge of the origins of the Republic and the hex with which the Versailles Treaty cursed its future, this book is a fine place to start.

Haigh, Morris & Peters, German-Soviet Relations in the Weimar Era: Friendship from Necessity (Barnes & Noble Books, 1985) 206 pages. Traces the relationship of Germany and Russia from Brest-Litovsk to 1933. Fails to provide a great deal of hard factual material, but does contain some nuggets. Notes at the end of each chapter. Brief bibliography; barely adequate index. Not much real gold here.

Charles Kessler, editor and translator, Berlin Lights: The Diaries of Count Harry Kessler (1918-1937) IMHO an absolute delight! Kessler was a thorough old-school aristocrat in background, thought , manner and taste, and his opinions and particularly observations of people and events of his day are particularly informed and insightful. He seems to have known everyone in Germany, France and England worth knowing - politicians, artists, authors, actors, personnages -the list is endless - and his days were filled with visits, luncheons, dinners and conferences with the vast range of his friends and aquaintances, noted in his diary with pungent and often ascerbic commentary. Clearly a social, cultural and intellectual snob, but with the ability to carry it off exceedingly well. He was not an imperialist, detested the old Reich for its pomposity and stupidity, was bittlerly anti-Nazi, and strangely enough clung to Social Democracy as his political party. Like most diaries, there are some dull spots, but very few. I would give gold to have known this fascinating man! Very highly recommended.

Detlev J.K. Peukert, The Weimar Republic: The Crisis of Classical Modernity (Hill and Wang, 1993 paperback ed.; first published in 1987 as Die Weimarer Republik by Suhrkamp Verlag) 334 pages. Well written, highly imaginative, fresh and insightful overview of the topic - excellent introduction to the subject.

Regards, Kaschner

walterkaschner
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#6

Post by walterkaschner » 13 Dec 2006, 17:50

Short listing on Imperial Germany from my library:

1. Lamar Cecil, William II (2 vols. [I. Prince and Emperor; 1859-1900, University of North Carolina Press, 1989, 463 pages]; [II. Emperor and Exile, 1900-1941, University of North Carolina Press,1996, 503 pages.] Certainly the definitive personal biography of Wilhelm II for many years to come. A set to treasure! Beautifully written, exhaustive research and detail, intelligent analysis, highly critical of his subject. Exhaustive bibliographies, excellent indices, few photos. In summing Wilhelm up, Cecil quotes the "brutal envoi" that the Duke of Wellington paid King George IV of England:

"He was a sovereign...who lived and died without having been able to assert so much as a single claim on the gratitude of posterity."

2. Michael Balfour, The Kaiser and His Times (The Norton Library, 1972, paperback) 531 pages. Originally published in 1964, with a brief "Afterword" by the author for the paperback ed. A useful adjuct to Cecil's biography, in that it's focused is slightly more broadened into the society and politics of the times. Brief but good introductory historical background, highly readable, intelligent and reflective. Good but not exhaustive bibliography, good index, a few photos. Balfour takes a bit more charitable view of Wilhelm in light of all the influences on his life, but ends the book with the quote: "Ça explique mais ça n'excuse pas." [That explains it but doesn't excuse it.]

3. Walter Görlitz, ed. The Kaiser and His Court: The Diaries, Note Books and Letters of Admiral Georg Alexander von Müller, Chief of the Naval Cabinet 1914-1918 (Harcourt, Brace & World, 1964, first published in 1959 by Musterschmidt-Verlag as Regiert der Kaiser? 430 pages. Müller, who accompanied the Kaiser virtually throughout the war, provides interesting details of the Kaiser’s conversations, reactions and decisions, but appears never to have been a real intimate. A Saxon from the middle class, he felt ill at ease and somewhat out of place at Court, was reluctant to take on the job but seems to have done reasonably well at it, given the circumstances. No great revelations in the book, but a worthwhile inside look at the Kaiser and his Court. Very poor index, only of names mentioned in the book. No photos.

4. Werner Richter, Bismarck (S. Fischer Verlag, 1962) 661 pages. Although over 50 years old, still an excellent one-volume biography of the man (in German). Well written, reasonably objective, favorable and fair minded. No photos, no bibliography, very few footnotes, name only index.

5. Edward Crankshaw, Bismarck (The Viking Press, 1981) 451 pages. A somewhat journalistic, but highly readable biography, with emphasis on Bismarck’s middle years. Crankshaw, a Brit,has little regard for the German people under the Empire and paints Bismarck as something of an evil genius. Worth reading as a counterbalance, but keep the bias in mind. Some good illustrations, few footnotes, select bibliography, mediocre index.

6. Fritz Stern, Gold and Iron: Bismarck, Bleichröder, and the Building of the German Empire (Vintage Books, 1979, paperback ed.) 620 pages. A fascinating study of the close relationship between Bismarck, the aristocratic Prussian, and Gerson von Bleichröder, a Jew and Germany’s leading banker at the time. Extensively and carefully researched, well written, the book deals primarily with the peculiar and often intimate position of the Jewish banking fraternity in the rise of German capitalism and the financing of the German Empire. Bleichröder was apparently the only Jew who was enobled without converting to Christianity. It also paints a moving picture of the rise of anti-Semitism later in the Empire and the ultimate demise of the Bleichröder bank. Highly recommended. Good pictures, adequate footnotes, very brief bibliography, adequate index.

Regards, Kaschner

weimar_police
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#7

Post by weimar_police » 26 Dec 2006, 08:49

Kaschner, thank you for this valuable posting!


Ed

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coburg22
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#8

Post by coburg22 » 27 Dec 2006, 05:08

Hello,

I hope this is the right place for the German Air Service and if so, I would like to
recommend:

Above the Lines by Franks, Bailey and Guest which carries a list of Jasta Units/
Kdrs/ Aces and short biographies of all aces with five or more kills from WWI.

Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany in WWI and the Men Who Earned Them Vols
1-7 by Neal W. O'Connor which has extended biographies of German Air Service
pilots / Award History / List of Recipients and is heavily illustrated.

Coburg22

joerookery
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#9

Post by joerookery » 27 Dec 2006, 20:40

I have a short list here with my opinions in them. Some people do not like my opinions. Most of these books are related to spike helmets. I am woefully behind in reviews.
http://www.pickelhauben.net/books.htm

YM
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#10

Post by YM » 01 Apr 2007, 21:55

I am reading Stern's book about Bleichroder based on your recommendation.
It is outstanding! Thanks. It is interesting that such an important person
such as Bleichroder is not mentioned in histories of mid-19th century
Germany. Even Christopher Clark's new history of Prussia (1600-1947)
doesn't mention him. Even today, historians are reluctant to touch the
subject of the Jewish contribution to the building of the Imperial German
Reich.

Gwynn Compton
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#11

Post by Gwynn Compton » 02 Apr 2007, 10:08

I've got Clark's history, but haven't had a chance to read it yet (I'm trying to plow through Von Clausewitz at the moment). Stern's book looks like it'll provide an interesting counterweight to some of the other works out there, I look forward to reading it.

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phylo_roadking
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#12

Post by phylo_roadking » 27 Jun 2007, 20:40

Philip Metcalfe "1933" Bantam/Black Swan 1989. Covers the period January 1933 to March 1934 through the eyes of Rudolf Diels, Martha Dodd, Bella Fromm and Putzi Hanfstanegel. Particularly the on-going "Nazi Revolution" and how through those 15 months the Nazi government gradually took control of the Republic. Not with the sudden bang of the Enabling Laws as we are all taught....

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#13

Post by Randyflycaster » 10 Jul 2007, 17:03

These chapters might interest. To me, they tell an important part of the Weimar story that is often overlooked: the relationship between Hindenburg and Scheicher:

http://www.amazon.com/WEIMAR-Hindenburg ... 063&sr=8-1


http://www.amazon.com/WEIMAR-Hindenburg ... 063&sr=8-1

Randyflycaster

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Peter H
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#14

Post by Peter H » 31 Jul 2007, 12:13


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Peter H
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#15

Post by Peter H » 11 Sep 2007, 12:27

War Experiences in Rural Germany 1914-1923 Benjamin Ziemann

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An Amazon review:
For all the books written on the Great War, very few shed real light on the society that fought it. This book does just that, painting a fine picture of the war experience of the men and women of rural Bavaria both at home and in the army. While telling both the stories of the men at arms and those left behind, Benjamin Ziemann shows clearly that the two were deeply interlinked in their attitudes and experiences. These are tracked from their stunned acceptance of war in 1914 (which matches Jeffrey Verhey's study of the `Spirit of 1914'), through disillusion and hopes for peace to the reintegration of those who returned and commemoration of those who did not.

The experience of the ordinary soldier is particularly important for those interested in the war in military terms. While not covering specific battles fought, the general trends of experience and the variations between old and young and urban and rural soldiers are very interesting. Young soldiers were relied on for fighting as veterans became disillusioned; further, this disillusion was spread to the home front by soldiers' letters and those on leave. Rural soldiers were given more leave from the army (and often held in the Replacement Army in Germany) to assist with the harvest so essential to their blockaded country. This book provides useful insights into the workings of the Imperial German army, particularly the progress of soldiers' disillusion from early in the war and the increasing desire for peace and often refusal to fight on in 1918.

The study of the rural home front through the period shows a rural community with a strong feeling of victimisation. Despite their soldiers' extra allocation of leave and the much more reliable supply of food, Bavarian farmers continued to feel hard done by in comparison with their urban contemporaries. Matching the soldiers' disillusionment, there was a profound movement away from the (previously inherent) belief of rural communities in the nation and church, leading to a widespread protest vote for the Social Democrats in 1919. This book gives a fascinating picture of this turbulent period in Germany history, both in general terms and from the specific perspective of rural communities. The results show that broad generalisations about war experiences, like `war enthusiasm' in 1914 and radicalisation of returning soldiers should not be taken for granted. This is a fascinating book, giving a real insight into the Germany and its army in the First World War.

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