What are some of the best books in military history?

Question

I'd like for you fellow history nuts out there to list some of your favorites that helped you learn about military history the best. I'm talking about the author breaking things down in understandable terms, going through what the terms mean, going through events with as unbiased an analysis as possible, providing a further reading list, things of that nature.

I'm looking for anything in any time period, it can be a world civilization kind of thing where it looks at many civilizations in a general sense, or it can be a far more serious and focused book.

Answer 1

For an overview of military history from 3500BC to the early 21st century 'Collins Encyclopedia of Military History' by Dupuy and Dupuy is excellent.



Other good military history books (a small selection):



'Renaissance Armies' - G. Gush.

'Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome' - P. Barker.

'The Military Experience in the Age of Reason' - C. Duffy.

'The Great Siege of Malta 1565' - E. Bradford.



Anything by Charles Oman.



Look at primary source memoirs by participants,always a good place to get info:



Julius Caesar

Richard Atkyns

Heros von Borcke

George Coppard

Heinz Knoke

Sydenham Poyntz



are just some of those who wrote excellent memoirs of their participation in various wars and campaigns.

Answer 2

Manninen, Ohto (2008). Miten Suomi valloitetaan: Puna-armeijan operaatiosuunnitelmat 1939–1944. Helsinki: Edita. ISBN 978-951-37-5278-1. (How to conquer Finland: Operational plans of the Red Army 1939–1944)

Answer 3

Congratulations in your husband! I'm an avid reader of WW2 books as good. Check out Masters and Commanders by means of Andrew Roberts. It appears on the strategic part of World War two and appears intently on the relationships worried and management patterns, especially Roosevelt, Marshall and their British opposite numbers Churchill and Brooke, but additionally many others. It's by means of a ways the fine booklet of its sort I've visible in many years and really readable.

Answer 4

1. Shelby Footes 3 volume history 'The Civil War' on the US Civil War. Most of it is military history where he explains the battles, tactics, strategy in great and easy to remember layman's terms includes easy maps on the pages and inside the front and back covers. It's also just a very good read.

2. Barbara Tuchmans 'The Guns of August' about the 1st months of WWI when the War was still one of movement, explains the military philosophy/ strategy of the main countries, their tactics, battles, Generals in great layman's terms and prose style, another great read.