Generals' War

David T. Zabecki (Lt. Gen. Ret) is author or editor of nine military history books, including The German 1918 Offensives: A Case Study in the Operational Level of War, and the assistant editor of several military history encyclopedias. He is editor of Vietnam Magazine, the Senior Historian of the Weider History Group, the world's largest publisher of history magazines, and author of numerous articles, book reviews, and encyclopedia entries, all dealing with military topics.

• Foreword by General Anthony Zinni, USMC (Ret)Table and MapsGlossaryI. Generalship in the Great War II. Battlefield Realities The Calculus of WarThe Technological Revolution in Military Affairs The Three Paradigm ShiftsThe Vast New Scope of WarfareFire, Maneuver, and Combined ArmsTanksArtilleryThe DefensiveThe OffensiveIII. The Strategic Situation GermanyFranceBritainIV. The Commanders-in-Chief Reputations One Hundred Years OnPowers and ResponsibilitiesMilitary ConceptsAdaptability and RiskPersonal BackgroundsPolitical Supporters and CriticsThe Political and the StrategicMilitary Allies and RivalsV. The Yanks are Coming VI. Two Conferences in November 1917 The Allied Supreme War Council, Rapallo, 7 NovemberThe German Planning Conference, Mons, 11 November VII. The Gathering Storm Vital Arteries and JugularsBracing for the Deluge as Pétain and Foch SparHaig's Enemies, Front and RearPershing Digs in His HeelsThe Elusive General Reserve Haig Spread ThinSteel Wind RisingVIII. MICHAEL and GEORGETTE MICHAEL: 21 March to 5 April 1918GEORGETTE: 9 to 29 April 1918IX. GNEISENAU and BLÜCHER Ludendorff Gropes for Plan BThe Allies Brace for Round ThreeBLÜCHER: 27 May – 5 June 1918GNEISENAU: 9 – 15 June 1918X. MARNESCHUTZ-REIMS and the Second Battle of the Marne Ludendorff Attacks Again: MARNESCHUTZ-REIMS (15-18 July 1918)Foch Hits Back Hard: The Second Battle of the Marne (18 July – 5 August 1918)Ludendorff vs. FochFoch vs Ludendorff XI. Le Hamel to Mount St. Quentin The Battle of Hamel (4 July 1918)The Battle of Amiens (8-14 August)The Battle of Montdidier (18-30 August)The Second Battle of Bapaume (21 August–1 September)The Battle of the Scarpe (26 August-2 September 1918)The Battle of Péronne—Mont St. Quentin (31 August-4 September) The Withdraw to the Hindenburg Line (2-9 September)XII. Closing to the Hindenburg Line The Saint-Mihiel Offensive (12-15 September) The Battle of Havrincourt (12 September 1918)The Battle of Épehy (18 September)XIII. The Allied General Offensive The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Phase I (26 September-3 October) The Battle of Canal du Nord (27 September-1 October)The Fifth Battle of Ypres (28 September-2 October)The Battles of the St Quentin Canal and the Beaurevoir Line (29 September-6 October)The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Phase II (4-28 October)The Second Battle of Cambrai (8-10 October)The Battle of Courtrai and the Closure to the Dutch Border (14-27 October)The French First Army Attacks Across the Serre River (15-27 October) The Battle of the Selle (17-27 October)Foch Maps Out Future Allied Operations (19 October-14 November) Exit Ludendorff (26 October)The Battle of Valenciennes (1-3 November) The Second Battle of the Sambre and the Final British Drive (4-11 November)The Final French Drive on the Western Front (1-11 November)The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Phase III (28 October-11 November)RetrospectiveXIV. The Armistice XV. The Fluctuating Verdict of History HindenburgLudendorffFochPétainPershingHaigIf NotThen Who?Appendix I: Biographical ChronologiesAppendix II: Note on General Officer Ranks

"This meticulously-researched study provides new knowledge and new perspectives about — and gives new insights into — what is known as the war to end all wars. If you ever thought you knew everything or enough about World War I, The Generals' War will prove you wrong."(The Washington BookReview) [Zabecki's] work is an excellent synthesis of . . . often complex and diverse arguments, and his analysis is also aided by his background as a major general. This experience with high command often shines through in his astute and insightful criticism of the operational decision-making and biases of his subjects. Consequently, Zabecki's work offers useful insights for both scholars of the First World War and more casual military history enthusiasts alike.(H-War)