The new title Why the Germans Lose at War for Kenneth Macksey's From Triumph to Disaster is attracting wide attention for the first publication of this book as a trade paperback. Greenhill have published four other books by this knowledgeable military historian: Guderian: Panzer General (1992) Kesselring: German Master Strategist of the Second World War (1996) Invasion: The German Invasion of England, July 1940 (1990) The Hitler Options (Ed and Contributor) (1995) In addition, Lionel Leventhal published the following books by Kenneth Macksey at Arms & Armour Press: Rommel: Campaigns and Battles (1980) The Tank Pioneers (1981) First Clash (1985) Technology in War (1986) Military Errors of World War II (1987) For the new book, Macskey examines the reasons behind the two crushing defeats the German armed forces have suffered this century: were these catastrophic military failures the random fortunes of war, or the inevitable result of a particular structure, leadership and history? Macksey brings unique experience to Why the Germans Lose at War which is, perhaps, the culmination of a lifetime of military history. As Macksey is so well known we take the opportunity to set down something of his long career, especially to show the special expertise that has gone into the making of Why the Germans Lose at War. THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE As a result of his many years' practical experience of military matters, Kenneth Macksey is in a different category from the academic military historians now coming to notice, few of whom have experienced Total War. Macksey learnt his craft in the real world of military service, a key part of which was at war against the Germans. A soldier who also has an international reputation as an historian, he stands among the very few, rapidly decreasing number of authors who have done more than simply research the subject. He has lived with it as well as meeting and corresponding with many of those who were close to great events. CONTACT WITH WAR Macksey enlisted in the Royal Armoured Corps early in World War II, aged eighteen. He became fascinated by those aspects of tank training that described the organisation and methods of the ruthless and efficient enemy he was bent on fighting. It was not until July 1944 that he saw action, in Normandy following the Allied invasion of Europe, and it was September before, wounded and as a prisoner after his tank had been destroyed, he actually spoke to a single German. Later he was to take part in the first major British attack on German territory, at Geilenkirchen in 1944. In the closing weeks of the war as a member of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, he was to advance to Wilhelmshaven. He celebrated VE Day at the U-boat Headquarters mess there and later witnessed the surrender of U-boats, experiences which provided close insight into Germans in defeat, as well as the attitudes of Poles and many other nations to their late oppressors. FROM ACTION TO WORDS Joining the Royal Tank Regiment as a regular in November 1946, Macksey became increasingly interested in the study of military history, and of that of the Germans in particular. Beginning with articles in The Tank and, in the 1950s, winning two prize essays in The Army Quarterly, he laid the foundations of what was to become a successful literary career. Meanwhile, he had served in India and Korea, had worked on the staff, spent a year at the Staff College and there made his first friendly contacts with Bundeswehr officers. These contacts were gradually strengthened during service in Germany in the 1960s, especially when taking part in some notably realistic exercises 'fighting' against German units. This was a period in which his interest in the study and running of official British Army battlefield tours was stimulated; and his knowledge of the Germans expanded along with improved understanding of their culture and motivations. Upon leaving the Army in 1968 to become deputy editor of Purnell's History of the Second World War, and then the History of the First World War, he plunged into intensive research and study of his subject in company with such historians as Basil Liddell Hart, John Terraine, Barrie Pitt and Ronald Lewin. By this time, too, he had corresponded with General Heinz Guderian's elder son, leading to an eventual agreement that he should write Guderian's official biography. First published in 1975, this remains in print in several languages besides English and German. It was followed in 1978 by an official biography of Kesselring and, in 1979, a critical study of Rommel's campaigns and battles. In the meantime he had also become ever more in demand by the Army for the running of their battlefield tours. He had also been appointed in 1980 by the Canadian Army to write very successful interactive modern battle training scenarios. Why the Germans Lose at War was originally published as From Triumph to Disaster in 1996 and, on hardback publication of this masterly account of the flawed brilliance of German generalship, reviews included: 'A lucid and knowlegeable military history, with informative insights on the interactions between the various areas of German Army operations.' – RUSI Journal 'This is a most thought-provoking book and contains many basic lessons on almost every aspect of political military involvement in modern conflict.' – Tank Journal Announcement of the republication of this book under its new title has already lead to the new sale of Book Club rights in the United States, and translation rights. Back to Greenhill Military Book News No. 93 Table of Contents Back to Greenhill Military Book News List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Greenhill Books This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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