Lecture Notes: John Keegan on "A History of Warfare"

Introduction

• Speaker: John Keegan, historian and author.
• Book Discussed: "A History of Warfare."
• Purpose: Summarizes the story of war over the past 40,000 years.
• Original Air Date: May 1994.

Personal History and Interest in Warfare

• Keegan's Early Interest: Began at age 10 during WWII in 1944, living near American soldiers preparing for D-Day.
  • Notable memory: Riding in a Jeep, impression of American soldiers.
• Impact of War Environment: A hospital was built to treat expected casualties on D-Day.

Writing Career

• Total Books Written: About 28.
• Best-Known Work: "The Face of Battle" published in 1976, considered a classic.
• Success in Different Markets: Generally, U.S. market more receptive to his books, though "A History of Warfare" had significant success in Britain.
• Appeal to Americans: Keegan’s focus on practical and human elements of warfare resonates with American readers.

Health Background

• Personal Health Issues: Suffers from orthopedic tuberculosis, leading to a limp.
• Impact on Perspective: His health issues influenced his view on life and writing.

Historical Context

• Focus of the Book: Examines the evolution of warfare from a historical perspective.
• Significant Death Tolls:
  • WWI: ~20 million deaths, primarily military.
  • WWII: ~50 million deaths, including significant civilian casualties due to bombings and genocide.

Structure of the Book

• Timeframe: Covers the last 40,000 years of warfare.
• Approach: Organizes content by dominant technologies rather than strictly chronologically.

Influences and Research

• Research Sources: Primarily the library at Sandhurst (Britain's West Point), which has extensive historical resources.
• Teaching Background: Taught military history at Sandhurst for 25 years.

Philosophical Views on Warfare

• Pacifism: Identified as a 95% pacifist, allows for force against particularly wicked individuals (e.g., Hitler).
• Differentiation Between Soldiers and Politicians: Soldiers are uncompromising in duty, whereas politicians rely on compromise.

Discussion of Specific Wars

• Vietnam War:
  • Keegan viewed the U.S. involvement as justified, albeit poorly executed due to public opinion influence.
  • Noted that General Giap's strategy differed significantly from U.S. tactics.
• Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh: Noted the importance of their methods in military history but did not delve deeply into Ho Chi Minh in his book.

Reflections on Military History

• Clausewitz's Influence: Acknowledged as a dominant figure in military theory, but Keegan critiques his political-centric view of war.
• Dedication: The book is dedicated to Winter Bridgman, highlighting the significance of international military professionals in history.

Conclusion

• Future of Warfare: Expressed optimism despite current global tensions, citing nuclear weapons as a deterrent against large-scale wars.
• Literary Influence: Enjoys reading literature outside military history for personal enrichment.
• Current Work: Continues to write and is engaged as a defense editor for The Daily Telegraph.

Key Takeaways

• John Keegan emphasizes the complexity of military history and its relevance to contemporary issues.
• His unique perspective as an outsider in military service informs his historical analysis.
• The book aims to educate a general audience about the profound implications of warfare in human history.