Prelude to Blitzkrieg

The 1916 Austro-German Campaign in Romania

By: Michael B. Barrett

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Hardcover | 1 November 2013

At a Glance

Hardcover
426 Pages

Age
18+

Grade
13+

Dimensions(cm)
23.47 x 16.33 x 3.25

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In contrast to the trench-war deadlock on the Western Front, combat in Romania and Transylvania in 1916 foreshadowed the lightning warfare of WWII. When Romania joined the Allies and invaded Transylvania without warning, the Germans responded by unleashing a campaign of bold, rapid infantry movements, with cavalry providing cover or pursuing the crushed foe. Hitting where least expected and advancing before the Romanians could react-even bombing their capital from a Zeppelin soon after war was declared-the Germans and Austrians poured over the formidable Transylvanian Alps onto the plains of Walachia, rolling up the Romanian army from west to east, and driving the shattered remnants into Russia. Prelude to Blitzkrieg tells the story of this largely ignored campaign to determine why it did not devolve into the mud and misery of trench warfare, so ubiquitous elsewhere.

Industry Reviews

[Barrett's] treatment of the Central Powers is extensive, and his research in this regard can only be described as exhaustive. This work will stand as the definitive study of the Central Powers part of the campaign for some time to come.

* Journal of Military History *

Barnett's book is a valuable addition to the field. He writes well and with authority. He has been able to illuminate a little-known corner of the First World War and provide a state-of-the-art operational history combining detailed narrative with prescient analysis. It should be seen as a model for further research and one can only hope that it encourages other scholars to examine similar campaigns, particularly on the other lesser-known battlefields of the war in Russia, Poland, Turkey, and Armenia.

* American Historical Review *

Historians have given the Romanian front of World War I little attention. Michael Barrett works to correct this gap, comprehensively describing Romania's 1916 invasion of Hungary and the reaction of the Central Powers.

* German Studies Review *

This is a well-researched book that very carefully explores the factors shaping command decisions and the consequences of those decisions on the battlefield.

* Austrian History Yearbook *

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