Quintin Barry apporte la précision d'un solicitor et l'expérience d'un juge de l'emploi à ses récits historiques militaires. Son parcours diversifié, incluant des rôles dans le NHS et la radio locale, informe son approche analytique des événements historiques. En tant que Secrétaire Général d'un groupe international d'entreprises juridiques, il possède une compréhension pointue des structures organisationnelles complexes. La fascination de Barry pour l'histoire, en particulier pour les affaires navales, alimente sa recherche méticuleuse et ses récits captivants qui éclairent les conflits passés.
"Before the War of 1866 the name Helmuth von Moltke was scarcely known outside the Prussian army ... This book follows Moltke's part in the course of the campaign at the end of which his name had become a household word. It traces his rise to the position of Chief of the General Staff, against the background of the political situation of Prussia in the middle of the 19th Century, and the way in which he developed the functions of the General Staff."--Inside cover
Throughout the drawn-out war at sea during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, it was a cardinal principle of British naval strategy to blockade the port of Brest - the largest and most important of the French naval bases that threatened the security of the British Isles. It was a strategy that had been perfected by Sir Edward Hawke durin
Annotation An examination of the brilliant individuals behind one of the most powerful teams in military history.
Each of the innovations inspired by the Industrial Revolution encountered considerable resistance from conservative thinkers opposed to change, on technical, financial and political grounds; these included many well respected figures in the Navy, as well as leading politicians.
In the first part of this comprehensive all-new two-volume military history of the Franco-Prussian War, Quintin Barry presents a detailed account of the war against the French Imperial Army waged by the armies of the German Confederation, directed by that supreme military mind, Helmuth von Moltke. The author places Moltke and his strategic planning in the context of the European balance of power following the ending of the Austria Prussian War of 1866, before exploring the initial mobilization and deployment of the armies in 1870.All of the battles of this opening round of the war are described in detail, including Weissenburg, Worth, Spicheren, Borny-Colombey, Mars la Tour, Gravelotte, Beaumont and, of course, Sedan. The book ends as the Second Empire of Napoleon III lies defeated, crushed by the German armies directed by von Moltke. The author has made full use of an extensive number of German and French language sources. His detailed text is accompanied by a number of black and white illustrations and battle maps. Orders of battle are also provided.
In the second part of this comprehensive all-new two-volume military history of the Franco-Prussian War, the author continues his narrative from the fall of the Second Empire until the ending of the war, and the founding of a unified Germany. The war against the Government of National Defense presented quite different problems to von Moltke and his staff. Although the Siege of Paris loomed large during the second phase of the war, the author fully explores events in other parts of France, including the siege of Strasbourg, the activities of the Francs Tireurs, the investment of Metz, and the battle against the French armies of the Loire, the North, and the East.The author has made full use of an extensive number of German and French language sources. His detailed text is accompanied by a number of black and white illustrations and battle maps. Orders of battle are also provided.
The Earl of Derby frequently said that he had had two ambitions - to be Prime Minister, and to own the winner of the Derby. His political power derived from his home county, in which he was so preeminent that he was known, not unreasonably, as the 'King of Lancashire.
The Royal Navy and the Imperial German Army 1914-1918
The narrative explores the strategic dynamics between the British Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy during World War I, highlighting the tensions and mistrust among naval leaders and politicians. It delves into the pivotal Battle of Jutland, questioning its classification as a British victory and emphasizing the actions of Admiral Reinhard Scheer post-battle. The book chronicles the North Sea conflict from its inception to the High Seas Fleet's final scuttling in Scapa Flow, revealing how chance influenced naval encounters and decisions throughout the war.
Defeated commanders are frequently blamed for the decisions which they made, sometimes with serious or even fatal consequences. The case of the unfortunate Admiral Byng is an example from British naval history. This is the first book in the English language devoted to the story of Bazaine.
By the end of 1780, the war for American independence appeared to be approaching a stalemate. After five years of war, Washington's armies remained in the field. Once France, and then Spain, joined the war, Lord Sandwich as First Lord of the Admiralty was faced with a constant struggle to balance the forces needed at home and overseas, while facing constant hostile pressure from the opposition. However, events were conspiring to bring about a showdown in North America, which would take place in the waters off Chesapeake Bay. This book describes how, step by step, the crisis was reached. After France had accepted the need for a major effort to support the Americans, Count de Grasse arrived in the West Indies in April 1781 with a large fleet, intending to arrive off the North American coast in July. Once he had opted to sail to Virginia, Washington began to move south. Meanwhile Lord Cornwallis, the British commander in the Carolinas, had chosen without authority to march to Virginia, where he arrived in May to link up with a force that had been sent to establish a naval base in the Chesapeake