The War Book of the German General Staff Being "The Usages of War on Land" Issued by the Great General Staff of the German Army

This work offers a direct translation of the German General Staff’s official manual on land warfare, the Kriegsbrauch im Landkriege, originally compiled for officer training. The text lays out the army’s accepted practices for engaging enemy forces, handling prisoners, conducting sieges and bombardments, and distinguishing between regular and irregular troops. Readers hear the stark, procedural language that reflects the Prussian tradition of viewing war as an extension of state policy.

Accompanying the translation is a scholarly introduction that situates the manual within the broader currents of German military thought, diplomacy, and academic culture from the late 19th century onward. The editor adds extensive footnotes and marginal comments, pointing out how the Hague Conventions are dismissed and how the concepts of perpetual war shape the German mindset. For listeners interested in the legal and ideological foundations of early twentieth‑century warfare, the book provides a rare, unvarnished glimpse into the mindset that guided the German officer corps.