The Brain of an Army: A Popular Account of the German General Staff

The author analyzes the organization, functions, and development of the Prussian general staff, explaining its core principle of separating administrative duties from the direction of operations and training officers specifically for strategy and tactics. He contrasts this systematic model with the more accidental grouping of staff roles elsewhere, describes how peacetime preparation and close confidence between a staff and its commander are cultivated, and cautions against uncritical imitation. Institutional description is supported by historical illustration and correspondence from senior military figures to show how a permanent, professional staff shapes operational decision-making.