Holger H. Herwig Book order

Karl Haushofer, a Bavarian general and professor, is widely recognized as the "father of geopolitics." In 1945 the United States sought to put him on trial at Nuremberg as a major war criminal for being "Hitler's intellectual godfather" and the true author of Mein Kampf. In this definitive biography, noted historian Holger H. Herwig assesses the fiction and reality behind these claims. Making comprehensive use of Haushofer's previously unavailable private papers, Herwig analyzes Haushofer's geopolitical concepts, his relations with his student Rudolf Hess, and his mentorship of Hitler and Hess at Landsberg Prison in 1924. Herwig offers unique insights into Haushofer's crucial behind-the-scenes influence in providing the Nazis with his theories of Autarky and Lebensraum, the rationale for Germany's control of Europe and the world. This riveting book ends with Haushofer's final verdict on himself: "I want to be forgotten and forgotten." But the author concludes with the admonition that the "demon" of Geopolitik demands much closer scrutiny in this new age of geopolitics.

Focusing on the ambitions of German leaders and diplomats, the book explores their efforts for overseas expansion and the factors leading to their failure. It examines the role of the navy, German nationals abroad, and the influence of the German Evangelical Church and its missions, providing a comprehensive history of Wilhelmian Germany's imperial aspirations.

A new edition of the definitive military history of Germany and Austria-Hungary during the First World War

For the first time in a generation, here is a bold new account of the Battle of the Marne, a cataclysmic encounter that prevented a quick German victory in World War I and changed the course of two wars and the world. With exclusive information based on newly unearthed documents, Holger H.

"Decisions for War" examines the pivotal choices made by small groups of leaders in various countries that led to World War I. It challenges common explanations like nationalism and militarism, focusing instead on the unique agendas of key figures in Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, and beyond, including Japan and the U.S.