Book Reviews : Staatskunst und Kriegshandwerk, Das Problem des "Militarismus" in Deutschland. Vol. I: Die altpreussische Tradition (1740-1890). By GERHARD RITTER. (München: R. Oldenbourg Verlag. 1954. Pp. 403. DM 27.)

• Published date: 01 December 1955
• Date: 01 December 1955
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/106591295500800415
• Subject Matter: Articles

644
German Federal Republic. The author is not blind to the danger involved
in according to the civil service a right and duty of resistance. However,
the danger of a civil service obediently following the orders any government
as long as it has succeeded to power legitimately, irrespective of what it
commands, is a far greater threat to freedom.
What has been stated above is the message of the book. It is developed
against the background of two interesting historical surveys, the one dealing
with the civil service within western civilization -
but with no reference to
the Anglo-Saxon world - the other with the problem of resistance to
political authority. These surveys in themselves are worth reading. Too
bad, therefore, that the author finds it necessary to write in such an in-
volved style. Even a reader whose mother tongue is German has to read
sundry passages several times, and still remains in doubt as to their precise
meaning.
GEORGE V. WOLFE.
The College of Idaho.
Staatskunst und Kriegshandwerk, Das Problem des "Militarismus" in
Deutschland. Vol. I: Die altpreussische Tradition (1740-1890). By
GERHARD RITTER. (München: R. Oldenbourg Verlag. 1954. Pp. 403.
DM 27.)
Dr. Ritter could hardly have chosen a more abstract title to cover a
more concrete book. He did not call his book &dquo;Staatskunst and Krieg-
skunst&dquo; (Statesmanship and the Art of War), but by speaking of military
artisanship (Kriegshandwerk) he skillfully introduces a distinctive grada-
tion making clear to the prospective reader that, according to his convic-
tion, true statesmanship rates higher than even the highest and most
accomplished military craftsmanship.
Under the impact of the last war Professor Ritter intensified his study
of the relationship of statesmanship and military artisanship pondering the
question whether and how the demoniacal and senseless ferocity of mili-
tary technique in modern warfare could be restrained and guided by a
true raison de’etat. He limited himself...