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 Edward White

• Format
• hardcover

• Pages
• 259

• Series
• Scharnhorst

• Publisher
• Praeger

• Language
• english

• ISBN
• 9780275929367

• Genres
• war, canon, history

• Release date
• 1988