Germany Books

I have the original version, 1925 V. Stephanitz and would like to sell it. I understand that the Original Versions bring a rather high price. Anyone interested? Lillie Berg, Soldotna Alaska

This book is a little pricy these days but it's a great book and well worth the money for any German Shepherd Dog fan. You'll have the best luck finding this book in the English version through Hoflin Publishing Company. Written by the founder of the breed, this book gives many answers to age old questions from history, feeding, raising, training, and breeding among many other topics of interest. Anyone interested can learn a lot from this book not only about what German Shepherd Dogs were/are intended to be but also about dogs in general.

What happens when the basic strategic assumptions that a country has used to formulate its war plans are shown to be misguided or worse? What happens when these assumptions are at the same time part of your country's strategic culture, the way that your military staff officers have been taught not only to fight, but to think about war? How does one implement such changes against ingrained resistance from the very military that one is attempting to reform?

Failure is likely, and the aftermath for the commander attempting such a radical rethink is liable to be very unpleasant. Consider that even given the best of circumstances, any commander would be hard pressed to change so much under the pressure of war.

Consider the case of Erich von Falkenhayn, Chief of the German General Staff from November 1914 to August 1916, who is remembered formost today as the architect of the bloodbath of Verdun.

Robert T. Foley's book traces the strategic discussion back to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, when the German strategic theorist Colmar von der Goltz made the case that it was the second part of the war, not Moltke's seemingly decisive victories at Sedan and Metz, which pointed the way to the future, that being Volkskrieg, the mobilization of the people by the state bringing vast resources to bear for the continuance of the war, which had become essentially national projects, not the affairs of narrow interests.

Foley follows the pre-1914 debate and considers the opening offensives in the West in 1914 along with the rise of Erich van Falkenhayn.

Falkenhayn had his own views as to how to best end the war and also to the limits of Germany's resources. It came down to the distinction between following a "strategy of annihilation" or a "strategy of attrition" with Falkenhayn deciding that the latter was Germany's only chance. The distinction here is Delbrück's as Foley points out.

Which brings us back to the questions I asked in the first paragraph. Falkenhayn failed and in fact was not even aware of the real difficulties of the task he had attempted. He was also later burdened with the failures of his enemies, who lacked his sense of honor in accepting responsibility for their actions, especially after the war. The General comes across in Foley's account as a complex, but very understandable human being, unlike say Ludendorff who must have known the truth by the end of 1918, but never accepted responsibility, this all going back again to the choice of strategies. Had Ludendorff followed Falkenhayn's example there would have been no "stab in the back" after 1918.

In all a very interesting history of the Western Front during 1914-16 with some coverage of the Eastern Front in 1915 as well. It is interesting that as we approach the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the war, Germany doesn't look much different from Britain or France in terms of their war aims, we seem to have finally put much of the propaganda of 1914-18 behind us.

Anyone interested in the battle of Verdun and why it developed the way it did would find this book of interest, as would most interested in the First World War. Perhaps the main audience are those interested in strategic theory since this work indicates very well the dangers of changing strategic "horses" in midstream, something that is being attempted today, as it was in 1916.

Robert T. Foley's new book, "German Strategy.." is an examination of German military ideas from the end of the Franco-German War to the First World War. It culminates in an in-depth investigation of Falkenhayn's strategy for 1916, including the role of the Verdun battle in his overall plan.

The book is extremely well researched, and a look at the book's
bibliography shows the hard work, and amount of research the author put into his study. Sources include many unpublished documents from various archives in multiple countries.

On the salient point of Verdun, and Falkenhayn's true intentions, the author weaves a larger picture of German strategy for 1916, with the Verdun battle being but a piece of an overall larger plan. Foley himself admits that reconstructing Falkenhayn's true plan is difficult, due to the amount of secrecy and disinformation involved-that being said he does an admirable job.

Most interestingly Foley does not include Falkenhayn's famous "Christmas Memorandum," of 1915 as one of the pieces in reconstructing the Verdun puzzle. He states that because the authenticity of the Memorandum has never been established, and in fact, has been disputed, he does not include it. Instead, he relies on first hand accounts of conversations with Falkenhayn, and plans requested from, and submitted by, various German armies along the Western front.

He builds a picture of Falkenhayn's strategy for 1916 which is compelling. Verdun was to be the means to draw the French reserves into battle, inflict casualties on them, and weaken other areas of the French front by drawing troops to the Verdun battle. The Verdun battle was also to provoke a premature Allied counter-attack, which would be bled white by German forces on the defensive. Once these aims had been achieved Falkenhayn would use his own reserve forces to launch attacks at other points along the front. Foley also gives a detailed description of the execution of the Verdun battle and how it went wrong.

His book ends by explaining how the failure of Falkenhayn's strategy led the German military to abandon its attempt at a strategy of attrition, and return to the strategy of annihilation.

Foley's book it well written, with copious notes on sources, and well balanced. He even includes footnotes such as, "For a differing view see."

By presenting a comprehensive view of Falkenhayn's strategy for 1916, with Verdun as only one aspect of that strategy, the author goes a long way towards removing the shroud of mystery that has surrounded Falkenhayn and objectives for Verdun.

It's a pleasure to browse through this guide.

It's just the thing to use to translate Deutsche Spezialitaten, the German-language version of Culinaria Germany, the lush, big food book that describes the delicious cuisine of Germany, region by region, or you can use it in a German supermarket to decipher labels. Plus, it's handy for translating German menus.

At 289 pages, it's a bit too thick to carry in a pocket, next to your body. Plus, it's a bit fragile, with its paper covers and perfect binding. So carry it in a purse, fanny pack, jacket- or cargo pocket.

I may know the names of typical German dishes, but that doesn't help me decipher a menu when I'm visiting a restaurant in Germany. With a limited amount of time (and thus a finite opportunity to pig out on regional specialties), I wanted to make sure I was picking the best stuff to eat.

We took this slender tome with us on our last trip, and we were extremely glad we did. What's this dessert prepared with Muskatnuss? Ah, nutmeg! How do I ask for a hard-boiled egg at breakfast? (If you don't specify, I learned, you get it soft-boiled.) And so on.

We definitely had fewer surprises. And we able to order what we really wanted. The book also includes a section on regional specialties, so we knew enough to order Maultaschen when we had the opportunity to do so, not to mention an idea of what would arrive on the plate.

In addition to the Hungry Traveler Germany, I also have the Marling Menu-Master Germany (which appears to be out of print, alas). Both are very good, earning 5-stars unquestionably, though this book is a bit larger (and thus may be awkward to carry; it fits okay in a fanny pack). If I had to choose, I'd take the Marling book with me on a trip, because it's organized by restaurant menu sections, rather than alphabetically. It's also small enough to fit in a pocket.

This one, though, has little extras that make it worth reading all the way through. For example, it warns you not to try to bring back any meat products (which I should have read before trying to bring home Black Forest Ham), and suggests made-in-Germany food related specialties that won't bother Customs at all (ranging from Christmas gingerbread to cutlery and table linens).

Given the special relations between Germany and Israel it is surprising that the topic has so far been treated by political science rather marginally. It is all the more gratifying that an author has now produced a successful opus in this respect.

On the basis of numerous interviews the author has presented a comprehensive analytical study. Particularly interesting is the study's detailed and extensive part on security policy, intelligence and other related issues. Here the author succeeds in drawing a comprehensive picture despite the fact that the complete availability of relevant sources is not given. These approx. 150 pages alone make the study as yet an unrivalled standard work which should not be lacking in any university library.

The relationship between Germany and Israel has been often characterized as a one way street: Germany being the donor and Israel the recipient. Yet little is known about the fact that for a long a time there has been a close cooperation - particulary in the field of security - from which both parties equelly benefit. Yves Pallade writes about this relationship and about much more in a very in-depth manner. On a broad basis of sources he impacts information about the relations between the two countries and mentions both stumbling blocks as well as successful cooperations. Particulary after the numerous soap-box oratories on the occasion of the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of official German-Israeli relations, this is an indispensable book for all those who want to see what lies behind the scenes.

My wife and I lived in Germany for 2 1/2 years and used that time as an opportunity to get into bicycling. One of the first books we bought was "Germany by Bike"...a smart move on our part. Of the 20 tours listed in the book we took 3 of them and can say we were most pleased with those. The directions are simple and easy to follow and the trails are wonderful. If you're looking for a great guide to explore Germany by bike then look no further.

Definitely the best cycling guide book there is about Germany. I grew up in this country and thought I knew it well - yet Nadine Slavinski's book reveals a treasure of little known secrets. Her tours provide a brilliant mixture of Germany's best in terms of bicycle touring and you can tell that she has spent quite some time working and researching in the 'Old World'

Another in the series by Mr. Douglas regarding former head of the Gestapo (Geheimstaatspolizei), Heinrich Mueller, nearly each page drops bombs that will make you think. If you prefer television to thinking, you can pass it by, but if you like a purportedly nonfiction page-turner, where it is the content, not the style, that really grabs you, this is a must. Shatters all preconceptions about the 20th century.

This adds to data on what really happened in WWII.

You must read to understand.

This book by author Rupert Butler is a fairly quick read (185 pages of text) revealing the barbarity of members of Hitler's Third Reich in carrying out executions of millions of individuals. Numerous photos of the infamous characters both in their heyday and death add to the book's interest. Incidents such as the assassination of The Butcher of Prague, Reinhard Heydrich, and the July, 1944 bomb plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler are given detailed attention. I'm sure the text of this book can be found in many other volumes, but the photos chosen for the book are exceptional. Examples are the sinister Heydrich cuddling his youngest daughter, the destruction of the village of Lidice in reprisal of the death of Heydrich, Judge Roland Freisler showering venom onto a pathetic defendant at the People's Court, the ruins of the inside of the conference room at Rastenburg following the attempt on Hitler's life, close up pictures of Hitler's henchmen, some of them shown in death, and the ruins inside Hitler's bunker. These and many other photos make this book a keeper in the library of World War II buffs.

This is an excellent book which reads easily and never bores. The format of the book is well thought out, with many pictures, quotes, and sub-stories. The author's writing style is engaging and I could not put the book down once I started. The book's main focus is on the leading figures of the Gestapo to include Goring, Himmler, Heydrich and Kaltenbrunner and on the interagency politics between the Abwehr, SD, SS, and the Wehrmacht. Butler certainly pulls no punches, revealing the brutality of the Gestapo and the depravity of the mass murderers who led this twisted organization. While this book is well done, it is not an authoritative work and does not address Gestapo activities in areas such as the eastern front, the Baltics, and the Balkans. However, what the book does cover, it covers well. If you want a solid foundation on the Gestapo's activities in WWII then this is the book for you. I am glad I bought it and will retain it in my collection.

This is the first book from the eurohistory publishing company that I've purchased, and I have to say I was impressed. The Gilded Prism chronicles the lives of Konstantin Nikolaievich and his descendants through the last century of Romanov rule. The book starts with Konstantin Nikolaievich the family's patriarch who was the brother of Alexander II. He played a huge part in the reforms of his brother's reign and was a talented musician although his later years were frought with tragedy. Next is his wife Alexandra Iosifovna who came from Germany a young and somewhat frivolous princess to become a highly respected and imperious Grand Duchess although very conceited and self absorbed. The book then follows the lives of their children. The oldest, Nicholas, brought scandal and embarrassment to the family while the two daughters Olga and Vera became popular and beloved women in their adopted homelands. Konstantin Konstantinovich proved one of the most dutiful and charitable members of the Romanovs, but also led a secret homosexual life. Dimitri was just as dutiful as his brother and was a talened military commander and horse breeder. The youngest, Vyacheslav, who is often times forgotten because he died young, was said to be intelligent and doted on by his father. The book also chronicles the descendants of Nicholas and Konstantin Konstantinovich who led equally interesting lives themselves. I give the book five stars because it gives much detail and information on this branch of the Roamnov family. The Konstantinovichi were an artistically talented, highly intelligent, dutiful, and charitable family at a time when most Romanovs were known for being callously decadent and lacking in intelligence as well as concern for the common people. It is refreshing to read a novel that isn't completely devoted to the overdone subject of Nicholas II and Alexandra. The one sore point I found with this book is that there isn't as much info on Olga and Vera like there was on their brothers, but the title does say The Konstantinovichi Grand Dukes & the Last Years of the Romanov Dyansty and not the Grand Duchesses so I guess it's to be expected. The most interesting part of the book was the story of how Nicholas and his American mistress Fanny Lear (just one of her names I might add), got embroiled in a scandal that led to his exile and being nearly forgotten by the rest of the family. The book also analyzes the nature of Konstantin Konstantinovich's homosexuality. It also contains three sections of photos, many I've never seen before, several family trees, and even features some of Konstantin Konstantinovich's poems, which are full of emotional and artistic depth. The book is relatively short but the wealth of information and photos proves the age old saying it's quality over quantity. I was thoroughly impressed and will definitely purchase more books from eurohistory in the future.

This is an excellent book. Once again Greg King and Penny Wilson have done an outstanding job. There are many wonderful photos as well as information on the family of Grand Duke Konstantine Konstantinovich and his nine tragic children. Bring on Guilded Prism II. Thank you for a great book.

I checked out this book from our public library as it was on my daughter's summer reading list from school (for 1st grade). Well, let me tell you she LOVED this story! She wanted me to read it to her over and over and over again. It has lovely illustrations and of course a happily ever after ending. I was considering buying for my daughter, but the $30 price tag was a bit shocking. Maybe if I had more than one daughter it would be worth the investment.

This fairy tale like story is a must read. I have this book at the day-care that I work with it and children absolutely love it. The language in the book is beautiful and helps the story flow. Although it is a longer story it engages children's attention through the colorful illustrations and interesting story.

Herta Blaukopf presents here the story of one of the oddest "couples" in music history: Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss.
Through her own commentary, using nearly all the known letters exchanged between Mahler and Strauss, Blaukopf helps readers come to a better understanding of what kept these two giants of music together--and what kept them apart.

Over a major span of their productive years, they maintained a correspondence, and frequently got together with friends and family, discussing music and how to further each other's careers. Yet these two titans never seemed to really understand each other.

Strauss, the genius of tone poems and sound painting, seemed never to run out of new ideas of music that would "sell." Strauss wrote because he COULD! (and he could make a lot of money at it!)

Mahler had a boundless reservoir of passion for Nature, and a depth of desire to understand the causes and reasons for human suffering. Mahler wrote, because he HAD TO! He was puzzled by those who could not understand the depth of suffering in his music.

After just such a moment of bewilderment, Mahler asks himself, "Are people made of different stuff than I?" Upon reading this, Strauss answers Mahler's heart-wrenching question, with a single word: "Yes."

Many good books have been written about Mahler and Strauss. This one lets you read their own thoughts in their own words, and it also includes the words of their family and associates to let readers judge for themselves.

An excellent work, and an indispensible one to both Mahlerites, and those few of us who still consider Strauss his equal. This relatively slim volume offers an extraordinary, privileged look at the relationship of the two great composers, their professional careers as major conductors, and their travails as avant garde composers. Strauss comes across very handsomely in this work, and his remarkable personal success is a running leitmotif set against Mahler's endless struggle for recognition. The letters are marvelously amplified and filled out by Herta Blaukopf's model essay - a long full historical overview of the correspondence, complete with gossipy wives and Mahler's insecurities and deep-seated neuroses.
It is impossible not to be reminded, when reading of Mahler and Alma, of an earlier musical couple, Clara and Robert Schumann. Both couples were highly critical of another major competing musical figure, with the Schumanns it was Liszt. The Mahlers kept their thoughts largely to themselves, and they seem constantly unable to resist the bait to their egos of Strauss' public glory. It eats at them and they let themselves fall prey to petty annoyances and imagined slights. Yet both Liszt and Strauss proved fair-minded, and in the case of Liszt, really quite magnanimous. Both couples also seem touched with too much zealotry, a sort of missionary calling of the right way, their way, and I find that most disquieting. In the case of the Mahlers the condition shows readily enough in these letters and the story documented by the attached essay. One comes away with a higher regard for Strauss the man, and certain private doubts about Mahler and especially Alma largely confirmed.