Learning from Foreign Wars : Russian Military Thinking 1859-73

This study examines how the Russian army interpreted, and what lessons it learned from wars in Europe between 1859 and 1871, and the American Civil War. By raising the question of learning from foreign wars the book attempts to fill a gap in the historiography of the Russian army. Gudrun Persson's text is largely based on extensive research in Russian archives. Special attention is given to the military attaches. Russian military attache reports from the European Great Powers 1859-71 and the observer reports from different wars are also examined. In addition, extensive use has been made of the military press and contemporary military literature.