Instructions for His Generals

by Frederick the Great

Book Overview

The king of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, Frederick the Great ranks among eighteenth-century Europe's most enlightened rulers. In addition to abolishing serfdom in his domains and promoting religious tolerance, he was an ardent patron of the arts and an accomplished musician. "Diplomacy without arms," he observed, "is like music without instruments." Frederick's expertise at military matters is reflected in his successful defense of his territory during...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486444031
• ISBN13: 9780486444031
• Release Date: February 2012
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

military strategy before the War for Independence (first)

I am doing personal research on military strategic thought at the time of the American Revolution / War for America. Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, was one of the most popular & prolithic military strategists at that time. However, since you don't want your enemies to know your moves & countermoves, you should seek to keep those strategies secret. One of Frederick's generals was captured carrying a copy of this limited printing & distribution text (51 copies). The Austrians translated and printed it in 1761 and the English in 1762. So it provides the only insight into Frederick's mindset for that time. His numerous other works were allegedly published posthumously after 1787. This short book focuses on military thought by generals. It mostly covers operational considerations and battle strategy. It does discuss "projects of campaign" which was the operative term for "strategy" before the 19th century. It has encouraged me to rethink the most common criticisms of military strategy on both sides during the Am. Revolution. So I personally found this seminal work worth reading. And I plan to reread it for further clarification on military thought during the late 18th century. RELATED WORKS being read at that time: Saxe's Reveries on the Art of War and Julius Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic Wars. For a codified treatise drawing on all of Frederick's writings, please read Jay Luvaas' Frederick the Great on the Art of War. CAVEAT: I neither served nor was trained in the military service. I did study corporate strategic planning for five years during the 1970s when pursuing a doctorate. I have been reading and speaking locally on historical topics for over two decades.