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

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.

Author: Charles White
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 11/17/1988
Pages: 259
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.06lbs
Size: 9.24h x 6.36w x 0.87d
ISBN: 9780275929367

About the Author

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