In contrast to every other book about the conflict Andrew Lambert's ground-breaking study The Crimean War: British Grand Strategy against Russia, 1853-1856 is neither an operational history of the armies in the Crimea, nor a study of the diplomacy of the conflict. The core concern is with grand strategy, the development and implementation of national policy and strategy. The key concepts are strategic, derived from the works of Carl von Clausewitz and Sir Julian Corbett, and the main focus is on naval, not military operations. This original approach rejected the 'Continentalist' orthodoxy that dominated contemporary writing about the history of war, reflecting an era when British security policy was dominated by Inner German Frontier, the British Army of the Rhine and Air Force Germany. Originally published in 1990 the book appeared just as the Cold War ended; the strategic landscape for Britain began shifting away from the continent, and new commitments were emerging that heralded a return to maritime strategy, as adumbrated in the defence policy papers of the 1990s. With a new introduction that contextualises the 1990 text and situates it in the developing historiography of the Crimean War the new edition makes this essential book available to a new generation of scholars.

Winfried Baumgart's masterful history of the Crimean War has been expanded and fully updated to reflect advances made in the field since the book's first publication. It convincingly argues that if the war had continued after 1856, the First World War would have taken place 60 years earlier, but that fighting ultimately ceased because diplomacy never lost its control over the use of war as an instrument in power politics. With 19 images, 13 maps and additional tables as well as a brand new chapters on 'the medical services', this expanded and fully-updated 2nd edition explores * The origins and diplomacy of the Crimean War * The war aims and general attitudes of the belligerent powers (Russia, France, and Britain), non-belligerent German powers (Austria and Prussia) and a selected number of neutral powers, including the United States * The characteristics and capabilities of the armies involved * The nature of the fighting itself The Crimean War: 1853-1856 examines the conflict in both its Europe-wide and global contexts, moving beyond the five great European powers to consider the role and importance of smaller states and theatres of war that have otherwise been under-served. To this end, it looks at fighting on the Danube front, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Caucasian battlefield, as well as the White Sea and the Pacific, with final chapters devoted to the Paris peace congress of 1856, the end of the war and its legacy. This book remains the definitive study of one of the most important wars in modern history.

For a relatively short war, the Crimean War holds an important place in history. Finally, a resource that provides a historical overview of the war from a number of different angles including, the causes, the motivations, the course, and the consequences. This volume fully explores the: o Main engagements o Principal political figures and rulers o Military leaders and naval commanders o Events leading up to the conflict This Dictionary is an excellent window into the political, national, and military intrigue that surrounded one of the most costly campaigns of all time. Includes a chronology, maps, and a comprehensive bibliography full of primary sources, as well as classic sources and histories that will allow researchers to trace the changing perception of the war through history.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 edition. Excerpt: ...for serving us at London and at Paris with free hands; while we endeavoured to prove to him that an ostensible agreement with us would cause our adversaries to reflect, by depriving them of all hope of raising up the whole of Europe against us. Nevertheless, at the solemn moment, the King, without attending to the counsels of his minister, and following naturally the impulse of his own sentiment, started suddenly for Warsaw. At this interview nothing was put in writing. All that took place was an exchange of ideas and of personal assurances, recalling previous meetings at which the Emperor Nicholas had so often had occasion to employ his influence for the good of Germany and the union of his allies. Now it was our case that had to be considered, and the Emperor was in a position to reiterate to his august guests the solemn promises which were to reassure them as to the political views he was pursuing in the East. The King of Prussia showed himself convinced by the loyal word of the Emperor, and deeply sensible of his friendly assurances. But the predominance of interest over sentiments is one of the characteristic features of this epoch. Impossible to doubt those of King Frederick for his august ally! At every moment he renewed his assurances, now in his private correspondence, now in the language he held to our minister. But the acts of his Government were very different. There the influence of Baron Manteuffel predominated with that of the chambers, of the political parties, and of public opinion, all based on the interests of Prussia. These interests were not, perhaps, well understood. They sacrificed the future to the present. Political passions were largely mixed up with them. But what cannot be ignored is that, in fact, they...