The arduous path from the colourful diversity of the Holy Roman Empire to the Prussian-dominated German nation-state, Bismarck's German Empire of 1871, led through revolutions, wars and economic upheavals, but also through the cultural splendour of German Classicism and Romanticism. Hagen Schulze takes a fresh look at late eighteenth- and nineteenth-century German history, explaining it as the interaction of revolutionary forces from below and from above, of economics, politics, and culture. None of the results were predetermined, and yet their outcome was of momentous significance for all of Europe, if not the world.

Now available in paperback, this is a uniquely authoritative study of Germany from the mid-18th century to the formation of the Bismarckian Reich.

This volume explores the essence of German military professionalism as exemplified by the nineteenth century Prussian German Staff. The study focuses on the most important Prussian military reformer--Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst, who in 1801 founded the Militarische Gesellschaft (Military Society) in Berlin. The Gesellschaft became the focal point for the transformation of the Prussian army from a robotic war machine into a modern fighting force that was instrumental in defeating Napolean in 1813 and in 1815. The author examines the following elements of this military society: its membership; the specifics of its agenda; the intellect, imagination, and habits of thought, reflection, and objective analysis of its members; Scharnhorst's particular contributions.

Until 1870-71 Germany was little more than an idea. The nation-state formed in 1871 lasted less than 50 years. Hitler destroyed the republic founded in 1919 and expanded into non-German regions. Defeat in 1945 led to territorial loss and partition. In 1989 the German Democratic Republic collapsed and was absorbed into the Federal Republic of Germany a year later.

Every 3rd issue is a quarterly cumulation.