Duffy, Christopher Instrument of War. The Austrian Army in the Seven Years War

How did an army function in the 18th century? This book is the most important study of such an army to date, written by the leading military historian of the period. Maria Theresa had almost lost her inheritance through unprovoked attacks by her neighbours. Her army had stood by her at the time and was now desperately trying to improve itself as it faced Frederick the Great, the master of the age. But she and her ministers were soon faced with the dilemma of how to fight a war without sacrificing what they were fighting for. The structure of the army, the lives of its soldiers, its strengths and weaknesses, the personalities that gave it such a unique character from top to bottom are all considered. Not only is Maria Theresa's Austria examined, but fascinating insights are also given into her Prussian opponents and the French, Swedish and Russian armies. Efforts were made to remould the army, the state and the world of diplomacy. Maria Theresa wanted to be a mother to her army and serve it as faithfully as it served her. This is a study of the problems they faced. The army and its needs affected everything around it. Conscription, taxation, constitutional changes, bureaucracy, logistics - all these dominated countries that had never seen a campaign. For most inhabitants of Central Europe, the army was the state, and their lives cannot be understood without examining it. Conscription says a lot about the soldiers' homelands - the languages they spoke, the professions they practised, their willingness to serve a monarch who was foreign to many. The army offers an important insight into Bohemia, Hungary, Croatia, Lombardy, Belgium and Austria in the 18th century. Even the far-flung Irish played an important role in this army. But this is no dry commentary. The 18th century is brought to life not only through the words of Christopher Duffy, but also through those of the astute diplomat Kaunitz, experienced generals such as Daun and Loudon, Prussian spies and foreign attachés, a cynical Belgian prince and a young Italian officer, and many others. Their first-hand accounts explain Austria's successes and failures in the war. The battles and campaigns of the Seven Years' War cannot be understood without knowledge of the instruments necessary for the conduct of such a war. Every serious military historian should read this book.

Pages : 556 | Images : 71 b/w ills/photos, 6 b/w maps, 21 diags/graphs