Die Kriegsbaukunst im Felde: ein Leitfaden fuer den Unterricht in Militair-Schulen, und als Handbuch fuer die Officiere aller Waffen

Die Kriegsbaukunst im Felde

Die Kriegsbaukunst im Felde. Ein Leitfaden für den Unterricht in Militair-Schulen, und als Handbuch für die Officiere aller Waffen (Dresden & Leipzig, 1832, Arnoldische Buchhandlung) is a German military engineering manual focused on field fortification and applied military construction (Kriegsbaukunst im Felde). It was written as both an instructional textbook for military academies and a practical reference for officers of all branches of service.

The work belongs to the early 19th-century tradition of professionalizing officer education in the German states, where increasing emphasis was placed on engineering knowledge, standardized instruction, and the scientific study of warfare. It covers the principles of constructing field fortifications, entrenchments, defensive positions, and temporary military works, as well as the organization of labor and materials required in campaign conditions.

A key feature of such manuals is their practical orientation. Rather than focusing on abstract theory, they aim to prepare officers for real operational conditions—how to quickly fortify positions under enemy pressure, how to adapt terrain for defense, and how to coordinate infantry, artillery, and engineer troops in constructing battlefield works. This reflects the influence of Napoleonic-era warfare, where rapid movement and field engineering became essential components of military success.

The intended audience includes cadets in military schools and serving officers across different arms, which is reflected in its systematic and didactic structure. It likely includes diagrams, step-by-step instructions, and standardized procedures for constructing works such as redoubts, trenches, abatis, and bridges. In this sense, it functions as both a teaching aid and a field handbook.

Geschichte des Deutschen Freiheitskrieges vom Jahre 1813 bis zum Jahre 1815 by Friedrich Richter

Friedrich Richter’s Geschichte des Deutschen Freiheitskrieges vom Jahre 1813 bis zum Jahre 1815 is a multi-volume military history in four parts that covers the campaigns of the Wars of Liberation against Napoleonic rule from 1813 to 1815.

The work is structured as a chronological operational history of the coalition wars in Central Europe following the collapse of French dominance after the Russian campaign of 1812. It traces the transition of the German states from Napoleonic client systems into allied forces participating in the wider European struggle against France, including the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and the reorganization of German military structures under coalition command.

Volume I typically covers the outbreak of the 1813 campaign, including early mobilization, the formation of coalition armies, and the initial battles in Saxony and surrounding regions. It sets the strategic and political background for the War of Liberation and describes the rebuilding of Prussian and allied forces after earlier defeats.

Volume II continues with the main 1813 operations, including the major engagements around Dresden and Leipzig. This volume focuses heavily on troop movements, battlefield coordination between allied armies, and the escalation of fighting that culminated in the decisive confrontation at Leipzig.

Volume III generally addresses the 1814 campaign in France, when coalition forces advanced westward after the collapse of Napoleon’s position in Germany. It follows the penetration of French territory, siege operations, and the gradual erosion of French military capacity.

Volume IV covers the final phase of the conflict in 1815, including the brief return of Napoleon during the Hundred Days and the concluding operations that ended with his final defeat. It also typically includes reflections on the political and military consequences of the wars for the German states and Europe more broadly.

Across all four volumes, Richter emphasizes operational detail—orders of battle, troop movements, and campaign chronology—within a narrative framework that presents the Wars of Liberation as a formative struggle in modern German history. The work reflects 19th-century historiography, in which the conflict is interpreted not only as a military campaign but also as a step toward national consolidation and identity formation.

Erster Band

(1st Volume)

Zweiter Band

(2nd Volume)

Dritter Band

(3rd Volume)

Vierter Band

(4th Volume)

"Uniformenkunde" by Richard Knötel

 "Uniformenkunde" by Richard Knötel

Bands 1-18

Richard Knotel was born in Glogau, Germany in 1857. He was a German artist and expert in the study of European Military Uniforms History. Richard Knötel developed an interest in military fashion and history at a very young age. His strong interest in European military history has motivated him to research military installations of different empires and its uniforms. “Uniformenkunde by Richard Knotel” is a huge collection of illustration plates of the armies of Europe from the 17th century to 1914. The Uniformenkunde book is still an important piece of reference on the subject of military attire up to today.

Richard Knötel (January 12, 1857 – April 26, 1914)

Briefe des westfälischen Stabsoffiziers, Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg vom russischen Feldzug des Jahres 1812.

Briefe des westfälischen Stabsoffiziers, Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg vom russischen Feldzug des Jahres 1812.

Briefe des westfälischen Stabsoffiziers Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg vom russischen Feldzug des Jahres 1812 (Letters from the Westphalian Staff Officer Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg on the Russian Campaign of 1812) is a published collection of correspondence written by Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg, a Westphalian staff officer serving during the 1812 invasion of Russia. The letters were edited and issued in Berlin in 1910 by R. Eisenschmidt, with editorial work associated with Christian Meyer.

The source consists of first-person wartime letters written during the Napoleonic campaign of 1812, one of the most catastrophic military operations of the era. Lossberg served in the forces of the Kingdom of Westphalia, a state created under French influence and integrated into the wider imperial system of Napoleon’s coalition armies. His correspondence reflects the experience of officers serving in allied contingents within the Grande Armée during the invasion of Russia.

The letters typically describe operational movement, logistical breakdowns, environmental hardship, and the progressive deterioration of discipline and supply during the campaign. As the army advanced deeper into Russian territory, the correspondence captures the increasing strain on manpower, transport, and coordination, culminating in the collapse of the retreat from Moscow. These firsthand accounts provide insight into both tactical conditions and the psychological experience of officers during one of the most devastating campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars.

A key feature of the source is its immediacy. Unlike later narrative histories, the letters were written in real time and reflect uncertainty, fatigue, and evolving perceptions of the campaign’s progress. They also illustrate the position of Westphalian officers operating within a French-dominated command structure, highlighting the complexities of loyalty, obligation, and military hierarchy in Napoleonic satellite states.

As a 1910 edited publication, the collection reflects early 20th-century archival editorial practices, aiming to preserve and present personal wartime documentation for historical study. It is primarily used as a primary source for research on the 1812 campaign, particularly regarding German participation in Napoleon’s Russian expedition and the operational experience of allied contingents.

The von Lossberg Regiment: A Chronicle of Hessian Participation in the American Revolution.

THE VON LOSSBERG REGIMENT: A CHRONICLE OF HESSIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

The von Lossberg Regiment: A Chronicle of Hessian Participation in the American Revolution is a modern historical study of a German auxiliary infantry regiment drawn from the landgravial forces of the Electorate of Hesse, focusing on its service in North America during the American Revolutionary War.

The work traces the regiment’s origins within the Hessian military system, its recruitment and organization under the subsidy framework, and its deployment to serve under British command in the American colonies. Like many Hessian units, the von Lossberg Regiment functioned as part of the broader contractual arrangement in which Hesse-Kassel provided trained troops to Britain in exchange for financial subsidies and political support.

A central focus of the book is the operational history of the regiment in North America. It follows the unit through key campaigns, including garrison duty, expeditionary operations, and combat engagements against Continental Army and militia forces. The narrative typically emphasizes marching conditions, supply difficulties, disease, and adaptation to unfamiliar terrain and warfare styles, all of which were significant factors in the experience of German auxiliary troops.

The study also pays attention to leadership, discipline, and regimental identity. Officers such as Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg are often highlighted for their command roles and correspondence, which provide insight into the challenges of maintaining cohesion and effectiveness in a transatlantic theater of war far removed from the regiment’s homeland.

Historiographically, the work situates the regiment within the larger phenomenon of German participation in British service during the Revolution. It examines how Hessian units were perceived both by contemporary American observers and by later historical scholarship, addressing long-standing debates about the nature of “Hessian” involvement as professional military service versus mercenary activity.

The History of the Hessian Hussar

The History of the Hessian Hussar

"The History of the Hessian Hussar," authored by Carl von Kossecki and Robert Freiherr von Wrangel, is a meticulously researched chronicle of the Royal Prussian 2nd Hessian Hussar Regiment No. 14 and its ancestral Hessian troops from 1706 to 1886. This historical account traces the evolution of the Hessian Hussars of Hesse-Cassel, beginning from the early formation of the Husaren-Compagnie, through its development into the Husaren-Corps, and ultimately culminating in the establishment of the Husaren-Regiment as it stood in 1821.

The book provides an in-depth look at the origins, transformations, and significant milestones of this renowned military unit. It delves into the intricate details of the regiment's organization, tactical developments, and the role it played in various military engagements throughout its history. The authors, with their detailed narrative and comprehensive analysis, bring to life the valor and discipline of the Hessian Hussars, highlighting their contributions to the military history of the region.

Rich in historical detail and analysis, "The History of the Hessian Hussar" is an invaluable resource for historians, military enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the evolution of cavalry tactics and the legacy of the Hessian military tradition in European warfare. 478 pages. 

PURCHASE

True Presentation and Report of the English-Dutch and Grand Alliance Generals, Chiefly the Duke of Marlborough, Fieldmarshal D’Ouwerkerck and His Serene Highness the Crown Prince of Hessen-Cassel Breaking of the Enemy Lines on the Maas River on July 18, 1705

This title refers to a contemporary-style campaign report describing an episode in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), specifically Allied operations on the Meuse (Maas) River in 1705.

The work presents a “true report” of the actions of the Anglo-Dutch forces and their allies, focusing on leading commanders such as the Duke of Marlborough, the Dutch field commander Godert de Ginkell, Earl of Athlone (often rendered as Ouwerkerk/‘d’Ouwerkerck’), and the Hereditary Prince of Hesse-Kassel, who later became Landgrave Charles I of Hesse-Kassel. These figures were key leaders in the Grand Alliance’s campaigns against France under Louis XIV.

The central event described is the Allied maneuvering and engagement along the Meuse River in July 1705, when Marlborough’s forces conducted a series of strategic movements designed to threaten French positions in the Spanish Netherlands. The report frames this as a successful Allied “breaking” or penetration of enemy lines, reflecting the operational style of early 18th-century campaigning—where maneuver, supply lines, and fortress networks were often more decisive than large set-piece battles.

Within the broader context of the War of the Spanish Succession, these operations were part of Allied efforts to pressure French frontier defenses and maintain momentum after earlier campaigns in Flanders and the Rhine theater. The emphasis on coordination between English, Dutch, and German contingents highlights the multinational nature of the Grand Alliance and the role of German princes such as Hesse-Kassel in providing auxiliary forces under subsidy agreements.

As a genre, the text belongs to early modern campaign reporting or commemorative military narration. Such works often blend operational description with political justification and celebratory framing of success, especially regarding prominent commanders like Marlborough, whose reputation was actively shaped through printed accounts during and after the war.

Wahrhaffte Vorstellung und Relation von der English-Holländisch und hohen Alliirten Generals en Chef, Duc de Marlborough, Feldmarschals d'Ouverkerck und Herrn Erb-Printzens von Hessen Cassel Hoch-Fürstliche Durchl. [et]c. bey Forcirung der feindlichen Linien an der Maas den 18. Julii 1705 durch Göttliche Fügung erhaltenen so grossen Victori und darauf erfolgten glücklichen Successen.

Birds-eye view print shows plan of the battlefied with troop locations between Mechelen and Loeven. Depiction of the battle outside of Hallishem, Belgium between the Gete and Meus (Maas) rivers. Key activities in the print are labeled 1-5. On July 18, 1705, the Duke of Marlborough and allied generals successfully broke through the French forces holding the Lines of Brabant at the small village of Elixham in Belgium. The Lines of Brabant were a strategic arc of defensive fieldworks stretching from Antwerp to Namur in Belgium.

Anno Dreizeh : Der Uebergang Der Beiden Westphälischen Husarenregimenter Unter Oberst v. Hammerstein UND Major v. Pentz Zu Den Fahnen Der Verbündeten in Der Nacht Vom 22. Zum 23. August 1813

Anno Thirteen: The Transition of the two Westphalian Hussar Regiments under Colonel v . Hammerstein and Major v . Pentz to the flags of the allies in the night from 22 . to 23 . August 1813

Anno Thirteen: The Transition of the Two Westphalian Hussar Regiments under Colonel von Hammerstein and Major von Pentz to the Flags of the Allies in the Night of 22–23 August 1813 (Marburg: Koch, 1813) is a contemporary wartime pamphlet or report describing the defection of two cavalry regiments from the forces of the Kingdom of Westphalia to the anti-Napoleonic coalition during the German campaign of 1813.

The text focuses on the dramatic shift of allegiance by the two Westphalian hussar regiments commanded by Colonel von Hammerstein and Major von Pentz. In the night of 22–23 August 1813, during the broader collapse of Napoleonic control in Central Europe, these units are described as breaking from their assigned French-aligned command structure and joining the Allied forces opposing Napoleon. This event occurred during the wider War of Liberation phase of the War of the Sixth Coalition.

The pamphlet presents the defection as a decisive and symbolic moment, emphasizing loyalty shifts within German auxiliary forces that had previously served under Napoleonic satellite regimes. Such transitions were not uncommon in 1813, as military pressure increased following French setbacks in Russia (1812) and widespread unrest among German contingents serving under Westphalian administration.

The narrative likely highlights the coordination, secrecy, and timing of the move, framing it as a deliberate act of alignment with the “national” or “liberation” cause. It reflects the rapidly changing political and military landscape in which units raised under French influence began to reorient toward coalition forces, especially Prussia and its allies.

As a 1813 publication from Marburg, the work functions both as a report and as wartime propaganda, intended to document and legitimize the defection of troops from a Napoleonic client state. It is valuable today as a primary source illustrating the fragmentation of Westphalian military structures in the final year of its existence and the fluid loyalties of German units during the late Napoleonic Wars.