Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Military structure and change (4): The significance of high turnover at the top

One of the drivers of change in the French military in the late 18th century and early 19th century was that a whole lot of generals were killed.

Reorganisation
Reorganisation

Another thought on how militaries adjust to new realities:

One of the drivers of change in the French military in the late 18th century and early 19th century was that a whole lot of generals were killed. “During the Republic, 80 generals were killed in action, and during the Napoleonic wars 139 more suffered the same fate,” writes Gunther Rothenberg.

Trying to respond to French victories, enemy militaries found they also had to get new blood. Out of the 142 generals in the Prussian military in 1806, the year it suffered a debacle, only 22 were still on active duty in 1809. This began a period of swift overhaul. When the Prussian army sallied out in 1813, Rothenberg writes, “it was animated by a new spirit, led by new commanders, and fought according to new combat doctrines.”

Of course, they had to confront the fact that they needed to change. I don’t think our military today has gotten that message. There are days when I despair.

Carl Röchling/Wikimedia Commons 

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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