New Books in History Peter H. Wilson, "Iron and Blood: A Military History of the German-Speaking Peoples Since 1500" (Harvard UP, 2023)
Feb 1, 2026
Peter H. Wilson, Professor of the history of war at Oxford and author of Iron and Blood, rethinks five centuries of German-speaking military history. He questions myths of innate German militarism. He traces shifting power from Habsburgs to Prussia, explores soldier life, mercenaries, and militia, and repositions the world wars within long-term military and political change.
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Neutrality Grew From Pragmatism
- Swiss military identity shifted from aggressive regional power to long-term neutrality post-1815, tied to cantonal income from foreign service.
- Neutrality grew from pragmatic balancing of internal divisions and external pressures.
Most States Acted Reactively
- Outside Prussia, German-speaking states usually acted reactively within coalitions rather than as independent aggressors.
- The 1740 Prussian strike at Austria changed the balance but did not alone create a unique German militarism.
Prussia's Short-War Imperative
- Prussia developed a high mobilization capacity with part-time soldiers and short-service training, forcing it to seek quick victories.
- That imperative shaped imperial Germany's strategic culture after unification.
