Military Blunders: The How and Why of Military Failure

by Saul David

Paperback, 1997

Status

Available

Call number

355.0209

Genres

Publication

Constable and Robinson (1997), Paperback

Description

Retelling the most spectacular cock-ups in military history, this graphic account has a great deal to say about the psychology of military incompetence and the reasons even the most well-oiled military machines inflict disaster upon themselves. Beginning in AD9 with the massacre of Varus and his legions in the Black Forest all the way up to present day conflict in Afghanistan it analyses why things go wrong on the battlefield and who is to blame.

User reviews

LibraryThing member surreality

The individual treatment of battles is interesting and well done, though more maps would have been very useful. What is an issue is the selection. After reading this, you're left with the impression that the British army is the most incompetent bunch of soldiers ever. Also, there's a very heavy

emphasis on the 19th and 20th century. A pity because some major previous battle blunders go unmentioned. (Like the Romans - Teutoburg is a minor loss compared to Arausio, which was lost due to quarreling commanders.)

A nice overview for those interested in British (and to a lesser degree US-American) military history, but the promise of a wide historical scope is highly misleading.

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