Wars have played a fundamental part in modern German history. Although infrequent; conflicts involving German states have usually been extensive and often catastrophic; constituting turning-points for Europe as a whole. Absolute War is the first in a series of studies from Mark Hewitson that explore how such conflicts were experienced by soldiers and civilians during wartime; and how they were subsequently imagined and understood during peacetime; from Clausewitz and Kleist to Junger and Adorno. Without such an understanding; it is difficult to make sense of the dramatic shifts characterising the politics of Germany and Europe over the past two centuries. The studies argue that the ease - or reluctance - with which Germans went to war; and the far-reaching consequences of such wars on domestic politics; were related to soldiers' and civilians' attitudes to violence and death; as well as to long-term transformations in contemporaries' conceptualisation of conflict. Absolute War reassesses the meaning of military conflict for the millions of German subjects who were directly implicated in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Based on a re-reading of contemporary diaries; letters; memoirs; official correspondence; press reports; pamphlets; treatises; plays; and cartoons; this volume refocuses attention on combat and conscription as the central components of new forms of mass warfare. It concentrates; in particular; on the impact of violence; killing; and death on many soldiers' and some civilians' experiences and subsequent memories of conflict. War has often been conceived of as 'an act of violence pushed to its utmost bounds'; as Clausewitz put it; but the relationship between military conflicts and violent acts remains a problematic one.
#453769 in Books Ingramcontent 2017-07-01Original language:English 6.40 x 2.00 x 9.30l; #File Name: 0198722818576 pagesMartin Luther Rebel in an Age of Upheaval
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Critical Commentary; not another narrative (a student's review).By Dr CHUANG Wei PingHeinz Schilling’s 2013 critical analysis (translated 2017 Rona Johnston) is not a narrative. There is thankfully no retelling of the Luther story.There is a good 2017 narrative by Andrew Pettegree “Brand Luther†which I find memorable for its defence of Tetzel; while Schilling glosses over the indulgence controversy. Like Lyndal Roper’s 2017 MARTIN LUTHER Renegade and Prophet; Schilling’s references are mostly to binary alphabets like LW; WB; WT; WW; i.e. original sources.Heinz Schilling assumes that the reader has read all the Luther lore; and he then disabuses the reader of some embellished clichés. The retrospective anecdote of being thrown off a horse near Stotternheim may be balanced against Schilling’s observation that “As was usual; Luder’s return journey was undertaken largely or completely on foot.†(57)Heinz Schilling has instructed translator Rona Johnston to dumb down this version for English readers (Translator's Introduction). But not many will need German references or a 24 page bibliography of German publications: if you can read German; buy the 1983 original edition.Schilling carefully examines the context and significance of each event. It is unconventional to start a book on Martin Luther by drawing in Goethe’s enthusiasm for “ages ruled by faithâ€; Max Weber; slavery; Dominican monks Antonio de Montesinos and Bartolome de Las Casas; reformation by archbishops Hernando de Talavera; Pascual de Ampudia and Francisco Jiminez de Cisneros. Conquistadors; traders; Ottoman Turks; Charles VIII the French King crossing the Alps; Immanuel Wallenstin’s “Atlantic World Economyâ€; Tacitus; Erik H. Erikson…and there is a nod to Luther’s probable baptismal parish priest Bartholomaus Rinnebecher (9); appropriately opposing Luther’s insistence that he was born in the year 1484 (10).Schilling’s commentary then follows roughly chronological landmarks. Extracted short narratives set the stage for unexpected observations. “Here I stand; I cannot act otherwise; God help me†were as appropriate for Charles V as for Luther (188); Charles V was also prepared to live and to die according to his faith. Luther and Muntzer were both bloodthirsty. The notorious “stab; smite; slay†anticipated Muntzer’s words that the peasants were fighting for their own cause and not for the divine cause (261); thus the two rival modes of church renewal (265) mirrored each other; both blaming the peasants’ self interests.Occasionally; Schilling is informative. Luder changed to Luther by incorporating the Greek “Elueutheros†the free one; the liberator; in Luther’s early signatures in his letters to John Lang and Melanchthon (139).Schilling explains the out of joint timing of Luther’s marriage with the weirdest reason anybody gave to get married. As agents of the devil; the peasant armies had taken up arms against the rediscovered Gospel; and therefore Luther had to get married to "vex and spite the devil…†(271) Luther initially fancied Eva von Schonfeld. Katherina considered in succession Hieronymus Baumgartner; Caspar Glatz; and Nicholaus von Amsdorff (270). The wedding was a quiet clinically cool affair; with few in attendance: Bugenhagen; Lucus (sic) Cranach and wife; Justus Jonas and jurist Johannes Apel.James Reston Jr informs us in his epilogue of “Luther’s Fortress†[2015] that the organisers of the 2017 festivities will have this marriage re-enactment as a new item. From Schilling’s account; the organisers will have to embellish the re-enactment liberally.The central part of the volume deals with the development of the Church. It is difficult to review Schilling’s volume: Schilling’s is a critical review of published material; and comparing them with the original sources; with his own take. A finely tuned sense of humour will find It a refreshing read. The volume continues into Confessionalism. Schilling was Thomas A Brady Jr’s go to man on Confessional Europe in Volume 2 of “Handbook of European History; 1400-1600; (1995)â€.In the final part of the volume; Schilling observes that “Charles’ restraint at Luther’s grave was politically astute. The Emperor’s principal concern was to ensure that his victory brought lasting peace to Germany.†Schillling wryly suggests that “From Luther to Hitler†might make a suitable chapter heading for an academic text (471).There is a constellation of characters in Schilling’s book; but Schilling helpfully tells you who they are with every mention; even familiar characters like Konrad Peutinger; “Augsburg envoy†(181); and in case you started reading on page 191; Dr Peutinger is still titled “â€envoy of Augsburgâ€. The constant pairing of names/items with their descriptions et passim is an endearing style of Schilling’s writing.This pairing of description to its term is endearing as no memory is perfect. The following is a quiz to check how good your memory is:Levin von Emden: syndic in Magdeburg (496)Michael Coelius: Mansfield castle preacher (494)Sebastian Munster: cosmographer in Basel (483)Tola: rightfully hanged highwayman; i.e. Jesus; (477)Elizabeth von Rochlitz: sister of Philip of Hesse (427)Hans von Metzch: bailiff and town captain (304)Winand von Diedenhofen: prior at Erfurt (66)Johann von der Ecken: official of Electoral Trier (181) [frequently confused with Eck]Richard von Greiffenklau: archbishop of Trier (190)Maximilian von Zevenbergen: Austrian Habsburg chancellor (191)Johannes Aurifaber: Luther’s last secretary (289)Gerhard Westerburg: radical spiritualist (343)Villach: winter retreat of Charles V in 1552 (521)I received this pre-ordered book after I sat for my university paper on Church History. Bummer. This was a blessing as this book is clearly not for undergraduates who just want to achieve a pass grade. An excellent read is not necessarily a help in answering basic exam questions.Schilling’s work is totally non-partisan. Diarmaid MacCulloch’s comment; about Eamon Duffy being a Catholic historian and not a historian who happens to be Catholic; comes to mind. I spent some time looking up whether Heinz Schilling was Protestant or Catholic. I met with no success. Schilling does not take sides; and he can be read comfortably by both sides.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Darryl R StroupVery good0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A must read!By Torgeir E. FjærtoftAnalytic and entertaining narrative about both this seminal individual and his tumultuous time
