The Great War

Field Marshal von Hindenburg was the highest officer in the German military during World War I. This essential primary document is his own account of the war, surprisingly readable and sympathetic. As he recounts the various battles and tactical strategies, Von Hindenburg comes across as honest, trustworthy, dedicated, and stalwart. His love for his Fatherland is always uppermost in his mind; remarkably, he does not come across as a rabid zealot even though he idolizes, almost worshipfully, his “All-Highest War Lord”, Kaiser Wilhelm II. Amazingly restrained and tactful, he shows only the greatest respect for his soldiers and political leadership, never blaming them for any setbacks. His motivations were always for what he felt were the best interests of his homeland, and whether he agreed with his commanders or not, he followed them dutifully and to the best of his ability. It is a fascinating study; we Americans worship personal initiative, freedom, and independence, but von Hindenburg was following faithfully his country’s values of obedience, duty, honor and patriotism above all else – even if it led to the pursuit of goals he found repugnant or unreachable. It is not hard to understand why his people elected him to lead them after the war.