Second Hand Staatsrason und Kriegfuhrung im kaiserlichen Deutschland 1914–1916

A detailed and highly regarded study of German high command decision-making during the crucial early years of the First World War, Heinz Kraft’s Staatsräson und Kriegführung im kaiserlichen Deutschland 1914–1916 explores the internal conflict between two of Imperial Germany’s most important military leaders:
Erich von Falkenhayn, Chief of the General Staff, and the Oberbefehlshaber Ost (Eastern High Command).

This authoritative work examines how political priorities, military realities and personality clashes shaped the strategic direction of the Central Powers. Kraft provides a clear and deeply researched analysis of:

Falkenhayn’s strategy for a decisive victory in the West
The diverging agendas of the Eastern Command
The tensions between politicians, generals and the Kaiser
The wider diplomatic consequences within the Alliance
Operational debates over Flanders, Galicia, and the Eastern Front
The interplay of state policy (Staatsräson) and military necessity
Illustrated with maps and supported by extensive archival research, the book offers a rich academic exploration of how internal disagreements influenced Germany’s wartime conduct at the highest level.

Essential reading for historians of the First World War, German military studies, and anyone interested in the political and strategic foundations of modern warfare.