Learning from Foreign Wars examines how the Russian army interpreted, and what lessons it learned from the wars in Europe between 1859 and 1871, and the American Civil War. This was a time marked by rapid change - political, social, economic and technological. By raising the question of learning from foreign wars the author attempts to fill a gap in the historiography of the Russian army.

The army was one of the pillars on which the Russian regime built its power, and it was crucial for the survival of the regime both in domestic and foreign affairs. The reactions and thinking of the military at a time of rapid social, political, economic, and technological change, therefore, tell a lot about the regime's ability to adjust, develop, and ultimately survive. Furthermore, the influence of foreign wars on Russian strategic war planning is analyzed with the use of the first Russian war plan of 1873 and the proceedings from the strategic conference, chaired by Alexander II, in 1873. The influence of foreign wars on the General Staff officer education is also investigated.

This book is largely based on extensive research in Russian archives. Special attention is given to the military attachés and, thus, the author fills a gap in the historiography of the Russian army. It uncovers the development of the military attaché institution with the use of new archival material. The Russian military attaché reports from the European Great Powers 1859-71 and the observer reports from the different theaters of war are also examined. In addition, extensive use has been made of the military press and contemporary military literature with regard to the wars.

• Cover
• Contents
• Foreword by Professor Dominic Lieven
• Acknowledgements
• A Note on Transliteration and Dates
• 1 The Nation in Arms: Military Development 1859–1871
  • 1.1 From Peace to War in Europe
  • 1.2 Armies and Warfare in Transition
• 2 Reforming the Russian Army
  • 2.1 Lessons from the Crimea
  • 2.2 Miliutin and the Military Reforms
• 3 The Eyes of the Tsar: The Russian Military Attachés
  • 3.1 Gathering Intelligence through Attachés
  • 3.2 Men in High Places
  • 3.3 At the Prussian Court
  • 3.4 The Observers
• 4 Lessons from Foreign Wars: the Military Debate and the General Staff Academy
  • 4.1 Military Reporting
  • 4.2 Observing Foreign Wars
  • 4.3 Studying Foreign Wars at the General Staff Academy
• 5 Facing the Enemy – the Strategic Conference in 1873
  • 5.1 Strategy and War Plans in Russia
  • 5.2 Russia and Europe in 1870 – the View of the Army
  • 5.3 Lessons from Prussia and America
  • 5.4 Stand Firmly in the West – the War Plan of 1873
  • 5.5 Between Victory and Defeat – the Strategic Conference
• Conclusions
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