After the Peace of Westphalia, several German states developed a disciplined 'Military' that produced outstanding armies. Germany supplied mercenary troops to major and minor powers in Europe, and the military state, usually exemplified by Prussia, became a crucial part of German history. However, Germany was apparently weak and internally divided into a multitude of states that constantly faced a hostile environment formed by belligerent great powers. Moreover, the German 'Military' was the resultant system of collective security, internal conflict and resolution that allowed a rich variety of political traditions to coexist relatively harmoniously. This system tried to preserve Germany against formidable attacks without making it a danger to the security of its neighbors. In contrast to the political culture of later German states, that of the 'Reich' was inherently defensive, preferring peace to war in both domestic politics and external relations. The book deals with the armies of the German Empire for the first time in a single book, with unpublished iconography and after extensive research in the German archives. AUTHOR: Bruno Mugnai was born in Florence in 1962 and still lives there with Silvia, Chiara and Eugenio. Active for years as a divulger of history and illustrator, he has published several titles for publishers such as the Historical Office of the Italian Army and Helion & Company in the UK, concerning to the periods and geographical areas of his interest, as the Ancient Italian States, central and eastern Europe in 16th, 17th and 18th century and South America after the conquest. As an illustrator he is collaborating with important Italian and foreign specialists and with the Stibbert Museum of Florence. Bruno is a Rugby Football Union enthusiast, who is still trusting in the Italian Grand Slam in the Six Nations Tournament. 120 b/w illustrations & maps, 16pp colour plates