A Perspective on Infantry

New York: Praeger, 1981. First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. xxi, [1], 345, [1] pages. Maps. Tables. List of Abbreviations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Cover has minor wear and soiling. Lt.Col.-Dr. John A. English (born 12 October 1940) is a Canadian Army veteran and a writer on historical and military topics. English was educated at Royal Roads (1958–60) and the Royal Military College (1960–62), he went on leave without pay to attain an MA in history from Duke University in 1963-64. He passed final promotion exams in 1966 and graduated from Canadian Forces Staff College in 1972. He first joined the King's Own Calgary Regiment and from 1962 served in the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada until 1970, when he moved to Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. In 1980 he attained an MA in war studies from RMC, and a Ph.D. from Queen's University in 1989 while still in service. English served as a NATO war plans officer, Chief of Tactics of the Combat Training Centre, instructor at the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, and curriculum director of the National Defence College. English retired from the Canadian army after 37 years of service in 1993. In 1992 English accepted a professorship at Queen's University. For five years between 1997 and 2002 English served as a Professor of Strategy with the US Naval War College. On return to Canada he was employed until November 2003 as director of the Defence Minister's Monitoring Committee on Change. On 19 October 2004 the Minister appointed him Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Brockville Rifles and from 2010-2013 he served as Honorary Colonel. Another volume in Praeger's The Military Profession series, this Praeger classic tells the story of infantry in the 20th century and its impact on the major conflicts of our time. Its purpose is to provide the reader--whether infantryman or not--with hitherto unavailable insights on the role that infantry plays in the larger battle and how that has helped shape the world that we live in today. Unique aspects of the book include the treatment of technical issues in non-technical language, the extensive use of German and French sources generally unavailable to the English-speaking reader, and the shattering of some long-cherished myths. Combat motivation and combat refusal, the role played by small units (such as the squad and fire team), the role of infantry in the Blitzkrieg, and many other issues often papered over in the literature of infantry are discussed and analyzed in detail. Condition: Very good / No DJ present.

Keywords: Infantry, Tactics, Military History, Blitzkrieg, Land Forces, Armored Warfare, Combat Operations, Battle Drill, Military Training, Trench Warfare, Liddell Hart, Machine Guns, Marching, Marksmanship, Mechanization, Motorization, Platoon, Small Units

ISBN: 0030596998

[Book #84368]

Price: $175.00