The Worst Military Leaders in History

'This is a stimulating collection of essays - pithily written and persuasively argued.' - Saul David, The Times

'The editors argue that much can also be learned from exploring the faults and disastrous decisions of those who have let down their forces and their countries.' - Sir Lawrence Freedman, International Affairs

For this book, fifteen distinguished historians were given a deceptively simple task: identify their choice for the worst military leader in history, and then explain why theirs is the worst.
From the clueless Conrad von Hötzendorf and George A. Custer to the criminal Baron Roman F. von Ungern-Sternberg and the bungling Garnet Wolseley, this book presents a rogues' gallery of military incompetents. While there are plenty of books that analyse the keys to success, this collection offers lessons of failure to avoid. In other words, The Worst Military Leaders in History, now in paperback, is a 'how-not-to' guide to leadership.