The Art of War: A History in Four Volumes

In the four-volume work by Delbruck, the first volume examines the art of war from the Greco-Persian Wars through the height of Roman military achievements under Caesar.

The second volume focuses mainly on the early Germanic peoples, while also discussing the decline of the Roman military machine, the military organization of the Byzantine Empire, and the origins of feudalism.

The third volume traces the decline of medieval tactics and strategy, nearly to the point of their disappearance. Its final section shows how tactical formations were revived during the Swiss-Burgundian Wars.

The fourth volume follows the development of tactical methods and strategic thought through the Napoleonic era.

The work's fundamental aim is to establish a link between systems of government and strategy and tactics. It traces the collapse of the Roman military system and the Germanic invasions. The author discusses the social, political, and military organization of early Germanic tribes, comparing them with the early Roman legions. He examines how Roman tactics and strategy changed as the Goths, Vandals, and Burgundians settled within the Roman Empire, how the Romans formed an unstable alliance, and how the Roman-Germanic military system declined as feudalism rose.