Berliner Zinnfiguren/Books & Media/Books/1830-1914/General products

Dotto, Bruno/Browne, Jeff (Hrsg.): Decision in Lombardy 59,95 €

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:00:09 +0200

Volume 62 of the series "From Musket to Maxim 18151914." Just before dawn on June 24, 1859, near the small northern Italian town of Solferino, the largest battle fought on the European continent since the Napoleonic Wars unfolded. This decisive engagement of the Second Italian War of Independence raged throughout the day and into the evening along an 18-kilometer front line. Often underestimated in its significance, the battle involved nearly 300,000 men of all armscommanded, for the last time in history, by three reigning monarchs. Today, the Battle of Solferino-San Martino is widely regarded as the birth of the Red Cross; yet the events of that day encompassed far more. This work, translated from the original Italian, has been enriched with newly created and previously unpublished maps and illustrations. It offers valuable insights for historians, military enthusiasts, and wargamers alikegroups that will all appreciate the depth and precision of its depiction of the combat operations between Austrian, French, and Piedmontese forces. This clear and meticulously researched analysis sheds new light on events and personalities that have hitherto remained in the shadows of history. It examines in detail the extensive reconnaissance operations that prompted Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria to resume the offensive against the allied armies of France and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The deadly sequence of encounter battles that unfolded between the three warring armies spanned three main sectors: the San Martino plateau in the north, the hilly terrain surrounding Solferino in the center, and the plains of Medole and Guidizzolo in the south. These engagements were fought largely independently, with only limited coordination between the individual troop units. The fighting erupted with great ferocityinitially at Medole, and subsequently along the ridge extending from Grole through Solferino to Cavriana and onward toward Volta Mantovana. Each of these engagements is meticulously analyzed, described, and interpreted; in doing so, the narrative draws upon a comparative evaluation of reports submitted by subordinate commanders, which have been preserved in state and military archives. Particular attention is devoted to the Austrian "Alte Feldakten" (Old Field Records), housed within the extensive archival collections in Vienna. Finally, this work offers a long-overdue reconstruction of the role played by the Venetian soldiers serving in the Imperial Regiment "Wernhardt"men recruited from the provinces of Treviso and Venice whose contribution has, until now, been largely overlooked by historians.

Henderson, G. F. R.: Science of War 32,95 €

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 07:50:10 +0200

Volume 63 of the series "From Musket to Maxim 18151914." Colonel G.F.R. Henderson was one of the most distinguished soldier-scholars of the British Army during the late Victorian eraa gifted historian, strategist, and lecturer whose writings shaped the professional education of an entire generation of officers prior to the First World War. First published in 1905, *The Science of War* collects Hendersons most important essays and lectures on warfare, strategy, leadership, and military thought, written during the final decade of his life. This remarkable volume reveals Henderson at the very zenith of his intellectual powers. Moving effortlessly between theory and history, he examines the nature of strategy, the tactical employment of cavalry, the relationship between morale and firepower, and the timeless principles of command. His studies of Wellington, the American Civil War, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness Campaign remain to this day among the most outstanding examples of military analysis in the English-speaking world. Throughout the work, Henderson consistently affirms his conviction that war can never be reduced to mechanical formulas; rather, judgment, leadership, initiative, and moral force remain the decisive factors. Few British military thinkers of that era exerted a greater influence. As Professor of Military Art and History at the Staff College in Camberley, Henderson shaped the thinking of numerous officers who would later assume positions of command during the First World War. His celebrated biography, *Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War*, established his international reputation; yet *The Science of War* arguably offers the deepest insight into the intellectual foundations upon which his entire body of work rested. Here, the reader encounters not merely a historian, but a profound interpreter of the very nature of warfare. At a time when European armies were grappling with the implications of industrial warfare, mass mobilization, and modern firepower, Henderson insisted that military history remained indispensable as an intellectual training ground for the commander. Officers, he argued, needed not only to acquire technical skills but also to develop the capacity to think under pressure, cope with uncertainty, and grasp the human dimensions of combat. His writings thus stand at the crossroads between Napoleonic warfare and the industrial conflicts of the 20th century.

Häußler, Matthias: Die Last der Sonne 29,90 €

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:05:14 +0200

German South West Africa, 1904: The Ovaherero rise up against German colonial rule. In an attempt to break their resistance, German troops commit the first genocide of the 20th century. Later, the Nama also take up the fight against colonial rule. Matthias Häußler now presents the first comprehensive account of the bloody wars in present-day Namibia. "He has taken on the 'burden of the sun' and it will crush him," the Nama leader Hendrik Witbooi prophesied to the Ovaherero leader, Kamaharero, when the latter signed the protection treaty with the German Empire in 1890. He would be proven right. But how did the crimes committed by the German colonial troops during the suppression of the uprisings come about? In his compelling account, Matthias Häußler shows how the violence slowly escalated and how the genocide was fueled more by the prevailing circumstances and an excessive will to power than by a genocidal intent. In doing so, he describes the Ovaherero and the Nama not merely as powerless victims, but deliberately as independent actors whose abilities and successes surprised the colonial rulers more than once and truly fueled their will to destroy them.

Barnard, C. J.: General Louis Botha on the Natal Front 1899-1900 34,95 €

Wed, 20 May 2026 07:05:11 +0200

Volume 61 of the series "From Musket to Maxim 1815-1914." This detailed study, now translated into English, offers a compelling account of the confrontation between the Boer commandos and the British Army on the Natal Front from the beginning of the Boer War in October 1899 to the British relief of Ladysmith in February 1900. The chapters focus on key battles such as Talana, Colenso, Spioenkop, and Vaalkrans. The central figure is Louis Botha, whose biography is partially recounted in this book: it traces his rise from ordinary citizen to commanding general in just five months and details his achievements as a military tactician. Making C. J. Barnard's meticulous research in Dutch and Afrikaans primary sources accessible to English-speaking readers, the book also features revised maps and a wealth of photographs, including some never before published.

Dong, John: Sunstruck Giant. Band 2: The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95. Teil 2 45,95 €

Wed, 20 May 2026 07:05:11 +0200

Volume 60 of the series From Musket to Maxim 1815-1914. Using previously untranslated sources, the second volume of Sunstruck Giant provides a complete campaign history of the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95, detailing not only the battles themselves but also the strategic motives that shaped them. Six color plates bring the most important battles of the war back to life with vivid authenticity. The First Sino-Japanese War is often portrayed as the death throes of one empire and the rise of another, and is commonly understood as a stark contrast between a backward China and a fully modernized Japan. This nationalistic view has led many accounts to gloss over the positive qualities of the Chinese military while downplaying the serious shortcomings of the Japanese military. Based on previously untranslated sources, Sunstruck Giant is the first English-language work to take a truly comprehensive and balanced look at both sides of this neglected conflict. Existing English-language historical works rely almost exclusively on Japanese sources, ignoring the invaluable Chinese perspective and often concealing facts that are less flattering to the Japanese side. Sunstruck Giant therefore examines the other side of the mountain and analyzes the successes, failures, mistakes, and misfortunes of both sides of the war. The Chinese forces were by no means uniformly backward, but showed moments of genuine heroism, while the supposedly modernized Japanese were by no means immune to serious and costly mistakes.

Ducker, Peter: HMS Shah and the Anglo Zulu War 31,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:35:16 +0200

This is an account of the career of Lieutenant Frank Abbott, Royal Navy (185486). It begins with his early service with the navy in the Far East and the Pacific and his central role in the Perak Crisis of 1874, follows his career to the Egyptian Campaign of 1882 and his final service as an officer aboard the Royal Yacht. The book focuses on Abbott's experiences aboard the powerful new frigate HMS Shah during its long deployment in the Pacific between 1876 and 1879. This included its famous ship-to-ship action with the Peruvian warship Huáscar in 1877, during which the Royal Navy used torpedoes for the first time, followed by its unexpected deployment in South Africa during the Anglo-Zulu War. After the disaster at Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 and the very real fear of a Zulu invasion of Natal, the sudden arrival in Durban of this impressive warship, carrying most of the garrison of St Helena and landing a landing party of nearly 300 officers and soldiers, was a great relief to the colony of Natal and a significant boost to morale. The ship's crew played an important role in the operations to relieve the besieged garrison at Eshowe in March and April 1879, including the great battle of Gingindlovu, and served in the subsequent campaign under General Crealock in the 1st Division, which advanced slowly northwards along the coast of Zululand. Abbott himself played an important role in transporting troops, ammunition and equipment to Zululand via the pontoon across the Thukela and in the subsequent advance to a new landing place on the coast at Port Durnford. In an area of the Anglo-Zulu War that is not covered in detail in general accounts, Abbott's letters and diaries offer a new and interesting insight into the workings of the naval brigade and the experiences of an officer during a difficult campaign.

Dong, John: Sunstruck Giant. Band 1: The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 39,95 €

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:00:09 +0200

Volume 59 of the series From Musket to Maxim 1815-1914 presents a thorough military history of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95, detailing its campaigns, battles and key figures. Based on previously untranslated Chinese sources, it is the first English-language work to offer a truly comprehensive overview of both sides of this often-forgotten war. The First Sino-Japanese War, which marked the death throes of one empire and the rise of another, is often portrayed as the ultimate contrast between a backward China and a fully modernised Japan. This nationalistic view has led many to overlook both the positive qualities of the Chinese military and the serious mistakes made by the Japanese. In contrast, Sunstruck Giant examines in detail the specific strategic, tactical and individual actions and decisions of both sides in the conflict. The text is richly illustrated with rare photographs and artwork, many of which are published here for the first time. Volume 1 lays the essential groundwork for understanding the conflict and analyses the organisation, leadership, doctrine and equipment of the Qing and Imperial Japanese forces on the eve of war. It examines the structure, development and capabilities of the main Chinese and Japanese armies and navies and reconstructs their uniforms, ranks and weapon systems in unprecedented detail. The volume contains extensive colour illustrations of Chinese uniforms, flags and equipment, many of which have been reconstructed from private and museum collections, as well as a detailed presentation of the uniforms of the Imperial Japanese Army. Volume 2 recounts the course of the war itself, from the Korean crisis and the first naval battles to the major land battles in Korea, Manchuria and the Liaodong Peninsula, which culminated in Japan's victory and China's humiliating peace. It analyses the strategy, tactics and logistics of both sides and assesses the human and political dimensions of the conflict, as well as its long-term consequences for the geopolitics of East Asia. Previous works on this period were limited by the lack of access to Chinese and Japanese-language sources, but Sunstruck Giant fills this gap.

Barry, Quintin: The Franco-Prussian War 1870-71. Volume 2: After Sedan. Helmuth von Moltke and the Defeat of the Government of National Defence 44,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:30:23 +0200

Volume 58 of the series From Musket to Maxim 1815-1914. In this concluding volume of his study, Quintin Barry continues the history of the Franco-Prussian War, from the collapse of Napoleon III's empire to the proclamation of the German Empire in Versailles and the subsequent uneasy peace. After Sedan, Helmuth von Moltke faced a new and uncertain struggle. The war against the self-proclaimed Government of National Defence was no longer a conventional campaign between professional armies, but a test of patience against hastily assembled troops, popular resistance and the political passions of a nation in turmoil. Barry traces the German advance on Paris and the long siege that followed, alongside simultaneous operations throughout France in Strasbourg, Metz, Orléans, Amiens, on the Loire, in Belfort and in the north. Drawing extensively on contemporary German and French sources, he reconstructs the most important battlesCoulmiers, Beaune-la-Rolande, Loigny-Poupry, Le Mans, and St. Quentinand shows how Moltke's command structure adapted to the new challenges of logistics, winter campaigns, and dispersed warfare. The narrative captures both the strategic and human dimensions: Gambetta's desperate mobilisation efforts, the rise of the Francs-Tireurs, and the tensions within the German High Command as the war dragged on into 1871. The climax is the fall of Paris, the armistice and the emergence of a united Germany - the moment when modern European history was reshaped. Illustrated with detailed maps, period engravings and comprehensive battle orders, this volume is an indispensable companion to Volume 1 and completes one of the most thorough English-language studies of the war that ended one empire and created another.

Barry, Quintin: The Franco-Prussian War 1870-71. Volume 1: The Campaign of Sedan. Helmuth von Moltke and the Overthrow of the Second Empire 44,95 €

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:55:08 +0200

Volume 57 of the series From Musket to Maxim 1815-1914. The Franco-Prussian War changed the map of Europe and ended a century of French dominance on the continent. In this first volume of his two-part historical account, Quintin Barry provides a compelling study of the early stages of the conflict from the diplomatic crises after 1866 to the decisive Battle of Sedan and the collapse of the Second Empire under Napoleon III. Drawing extensively on German and French sources, Barry reconstructs the planning and execution of the campaign with exceptional clarity. The focus is on Helmuth von Moltke, the architect of Prussian victories and the first truly modern professional officer. The book traces Moltke's strategic concept, the mobilisation of the German armies and their relentless advance through the battles of Weißenburg, Wörth, Spicheren, Borny-Colombey, Mars-la-Tour, Gravelotte and Beaumont battles that culminated in the encirclement and surrender of the French army at Sedan. Barry combines rigorous scholarship with an easy-to-understand narrative, placing the events in their larger political and technological context: the rise of the general staff system, the strains of rapid mobilisation, and the interplay between Bismarck's diplomacy and Moltke's operational genius. Supported by detailed maps, contemporary illustrations and comprehensive battle orders, Volume 1 of this study is both an authoritative reference and a compelling account of the demise of an empire and the birth of a new German nation.

Flaherty, Chris: Qajar regular army uniforms (1807 till 1848) 29,95 €

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:55:08 +0200

This book deals with the uniforms worn by the regular army of the Qajar era from 1807 to 1848. Crown Prince Abbas Mirza, governor of the Persian province of Azerbaijan, admired the military reforms of neighbouring Sultan Selim III and is historically regarded as an early moderniser of the Persian army, known as Nezam-e Jadid: Reforms of the New Order. The first modern Persian army, called Sarbaz: regular infantry, was trained according to the European model. With the expansion of the regular army from the 1840s onwards, during the era of Naser al-Din Shah, uniforms were simplified and, with the introduction of the tunic, which was popular in most European armies at the end of the Crimean War, and new headgear, which replaced the classic conical sheepskin cap of the Qajar with a busby cap based on European models. At the end of this book, there is a brief discussion of later developments in uniforms from the 1850s onwards and the uniforms after 1860, which continued to evolve into the 1890s. For the sake of completeness, the naval uniforms from the period 1860 to 1890 are also briefly presented.

Grainger, John: The Mahdi and Africa 38,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:35:16 +0200

The story of the Mahdi of Sudan is generally told from a British perspective, although it was more of an African event. The Mahdi's uprising was the last in a series of Islamic rebellions and wars that had begun in the 18th century. It also had a profound impact on the rest of North and East Africa, destroying the Egyptian Empire and provoking Ethiopia into a new unification that enabled it to successfully defend itself against the Mahdists, the Egyptians and the Italians. It prompted British forces to advance from the East African coast to Uganda, fearing that a European power might capture the sources of the Nile and block the river's course. Finally (but only after several humiliating defeats), the Mahdist state was overthrown by a British invasion (led by Kitchener and with the participation of Churchill); this also led to a difficult confrontation in Fashoda between the British conquerors and a French expedition triggering a European crisis. The author considers the Mahdi War in the broader context of Africa and Islam, as well as in the context of the development of African states, but also takes a look at the present, in which the most important development in Africa is the far-reaching Islamic uprising that repeats that of the 19th century.

Flaherty, Chris: Predynastic Egyptian Warrior Armes and River warfare 28,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:30:23 +0200

This book looks at the predynastic period of Egypt, when the first army of hunter-warrior-soldiers emerged at the crossing of the military threshold. This is best described as a state in military evolution, where various emerging societies worldwide, at one stage or another participate in organizing an army of soldiers for war.

Flaherty, Chris: Turkish and Egyptian navy uniforms 32,95 €

Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:12 +0200

This book deals with the uniforms and insignia of the Turkish and Egyptian navies from the time of the Janissaries to the end of the First World War. Ship Janissaries were identified by tattoos with anchor or galley motifs. The first red and green uniforms were introduced with the Nizam-i-Cedid galleys, followed by European-style uniforms for officers, which appeared in the early 1830s. During the Crimean War, officers and sailors wore uniform uniforms. By 1861, uniforms and rank insignia were introduced that corresponded to those of the other European naval powers. This study covers the uniforms and insignia of the Naval Academy, the Marine Infantry, the Marine Fire Brigade, the Marine Police, the Marine Air Force and the German transfer crews. The uniforms of the Egyptian Navy are also presented in this book. As the Egyptian part of the fleet, the Egyptian Navy retained its uniforms until the 1860s, when it was reduced to harbour duties and manning the Khedive's royal yacht.

Auguglioro, Michel: L'Affaire de Tunisie 1881-1883 29,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:30:09 +0200

From bandit hunting to French protectorate, 1881-1883. How could a reader in 1881 be informed about a war in Tunisia that led to a protectorate in 1881, at a time when France was in political, industrial, economic and artistic turmoil? The only connection was the press, which enabled him to follow this Tunisian affair almost daily. It was a time of confrontation between the great powers, including Great Britain, Germany, Russia, Turkey and, as far as Tunisia was concerned, Italy, which had concrete intentions for this country. The Treaty of Bardo in May 1881 was confirmed in 1883 by a second treaty at La Marsa. What happened in those two years, about which little is reported in the history books?

Hirschhausen, Ulrike von/Leonhard, Jörn: Empires 49,00 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:24 +0200

Empires have returned to our world. Russia's war against Ukraine and China's new power politics are reminiscent of the imperial expansion of great empires in the century of empires between the end of the 18th century and the First World War. But how did the European division of large parts of the world actually take place? And what options did the colonised have in dealing with imperial power? Ulrike von Hirschhausen and Jörn Leonhard take a close look and reveal the diversity of historical developments. The result is an innovative history of empires as part of a global history at the height of their expansion. In the 19th century, the great European powers divided the world among themselves. The British Empire stretched from Canada across large parts of Africa to India and Australia. The Russian Empire stretched from the Baltic to the Pacific, and Habsburg expanded in the Balkans, while the Ottoman Empire appeared as the sick man on the Bosporus. But what is meant when we talk about empires? This book retells their history by examining the encounters between people under the conditions of colonialism. It focuses on the central challenges of empires: the decline of ethnic diversity. And it explains how colonised peoples dealt with conquest, domination, integration and exploitation. In this way, the logic of imperial action and the dynamics of violence become as clear as the strategies of the colonised, which did not boil down to simple oppositions between rulers and ruled. The result is an innovative and contemporary history of empires in the world of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Smith, Nigel James: The Honvéd War. Armies of the Hungarian War of Independence 1848-49 30,00 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:24 +0200

Volume 47 of the series From Musket to Maxim 1815-1914 provides a detailed and informative account of the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-1849, a decisive conflict in the history of Central Europe. Nigel Smith's work focuses on the organisation, tactics and operations of the Hungarian Honvéd army, as well as the forces of the Austrian Empire and their Russian allies. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including military records and contemporary accounts, the book examines the structure of the armies involved, their leadership and the strategic challenges they faced. Particular attention is paid to the composition and leadership of the Hungarian, Austrian and Russian forces, the tactical innovations of the period, and the decisive battles and campaigns that shaped the outcome of the war. Smith's detailed analysis of troop movements, regimental organisation and the role of foreign mercenaries provides valuable insights into the military history of the period. The book also covers the broader political context, examining the revolutionary movements across Europe and their impact on the Austro-Hungarian Empire. With comprehensive maps, illustrations, including specially commissioned artwork, and battle diagrams, The Honvéd War is an indispensable resource for military historians and specialists interested in the conflicts of 19th-century Europe. It offers a clear, in-depth understanding of a war that played a decisive role in shaping the future of Hungary and the entire region. The book also includes full details of the uniforms and weapons of all the troops involved in the war.

Flaherty, Chris: Egyptian Army uniforms 1830 till 1914 32,95 €

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:05:14 +0200

This book looks at the uniforms of the Egyptian army from 1832 to 1914. After the Napoleonic wars, Muhammad Ali saw European training, discipline and tactics as crucial to improving his military power. The Egyptian army can be divided into two main periods: before and after 1883 (when the new Egyptian army was formally established). Before 1883, there were nearly twenty guard and line infantry regiments, which had their origins in the establishment of the Nizam al-Jadid: New Organisation. Around 1832, standardised uniforms and equipment based on the European model were introduced. After 1880, the Egyptian army was reorganised, and although it was modelled on the British army during the same period, it retained a distinctive appearance. Between 1885 and 1914, the khaki-coloured field service uniform was introduced in the Egyptian army, in addition to the traditional summer and winter dress, which was relegated to the barracks.

Henderson, G. F. R.: The Battle of Woerth August 6th 1870 32,95 €

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:55:08 +0200

Volume 53 of the series From Musket to Maxim 1815-1914. Like Spicheren, the Battle of Wörth was an encounter battle in the early stages of the Franco-Prussian War and had the same outcome: after a valiant defence, the French were forced to retreat from the battlefield. Although Henderson has made this book shorter than his study of Spicheren, he has carefully selected his sources and again drawn on regimental histories. He presents a detailed account of the battle with additional commentary on the tactics employed and the qualities (or shortcomings) of the generals and the soldiers they led. This new, expanded edition not only includes all the maps from the original, but also a new introduction by Duncan Rogers, additional illustrations and a bibliography on the Battle of Wörth.

Babac, Dusan: The Serbian Army in the Wars for Independence Against Turkey 1876-1878 49,95 €

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:55:08 +0200

Volume 55 of the series From Musket to Maxim 1815-1914. The Wars of Independence, also known as the First and Second Serbian-Turkish Wars of 1876-1878, were the first military conflicts in the modern history of the Serbian state, after which the Principality of Serbia gained full independence at the Congress of Berlin. There are many written sources about the wars of 1876-78. Some of them date from the period between 1877 and the interwar period between the two world wars, others from many years after that. The fact is, however, that this glorious period of Serbian history has almost been forgotten today. This book offers a very thorough analysis of the Serbian army of the time, its organisation, its participation in military operations, its weapons, equipment, uniforms and the system of orders and medals that had just been introduced. It is a synthesis of all available literature, published in English for the first time, and contains extensive pictorial material and photographs, including coloured uniform plates, contemporary paintings, portraits and photographs, and many colour photographs of surviving artefacts and documents. Particular emphasis is placed on the colourful aspects of Serbian uniforms from this period. After the Crimean War, when photographers first covered military conflicts, they were followed by the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War, as well as the Balkan Wars of 1876-78. This book contains remarkable photographs from this period, showing all manner of aspects of the Serbian campaigns, including uniforms, military formations, artillery, telegraphs, liberated towns and wounded soldiers.

Weaver, Ralph: Three Weeks in November 33,95 €

Thu, 14 May 2026 06:55:07 +0200

Volume 52 in the series From Musket to Maxim 1815-1914. The political phenomenon known as the Spring of Nations engulfed all of Europe in 1848, toppling thrones, forcing old autocratic regimes to grant constitutions to the people, and bringing street fighting and large-scale campaigning to cities and states across the continent. What is not widely known is that a precursor to these events had already taken place in the centre of Europe, in the Alpine valleys of the group of independent states collectively known as Switzerland. In November 1847, twelve of the Swiss cantons were at war with seven other cantons over the country's future. The campaign lasted only three weeks, claimed only a few hundred casualties, and ended with the establishment of the modern Swiss state we have today. Had it not been ended so quickly, France, Austria and Prussia would probably have interfered, leading to a Europe-wide war. This book is unique in that it focuses on the military aspects of this episode in history. In addition to an outline of the campaign itself, the strengths and organisation of each canton are covered; in 1847, each was a separate state with its own army. Included are chapters on the uniforms of the armies of the cantons, their battle flags, weapons and insignia. The main battle of the war, at Gislikon (now Gisikon), a small village with a strategic river crossing north of the city of Lucerne, is covered in detail. Alongside the general picture, the stories of individual soldiers illustrate the fighting techniques of the time. Biographies of some of the leading personalities of both parties to the conflict are presented, illustrating the European dimension. Many served in French, Dutch and Neapolitan armies before joining the Swiss cantonal armies. To complement the text, the book is illustrated with a mixture of contemporary images in colour and black and white, as well as specially produced colour plates of uniforms and flags of the Swiss cantons. To enable the reader to follow the campaign, maps from official Swiss sources are included. Battle formations for all cantons and detailed battle formations for the main action at Gisikon are also included.