So, the Ukrainians took out a U.S. Cavalry Brigade in a War Game.
That most likely was the plan. We all can be pretty sure that from SOCOM, commanded from my neighbor house, to West Point and Big Red One, me being the Godfather of, everyone in the U.S. military is having a close look at Ukrainian war tactics.
The reporters smile... and do not consider for one second that the soldiers came back to Command and reported that everything went down as expected.
Military planning includes strategic theory. Those need to be tested.
Interested? Enjoy, maybe with a Matcha or Black Tea with Milk and Sugar..
Yes, West Point publishes both official educational text series and curated professional reading lists for its cadets and officers. Rather than using third-party textbooks, the United States Military Academy faculty writes and updates its own rigorous curricula through the [West Point Press](https://dhc.westpoint.edu/). [1, 2, 3, 4]
To educate future officers in the art of war, West Point relies primarily on its landmark digital text series: the [West Point History of Warfare] supplemented by specialized standalone titles like [The West Point History of the Civil War](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+west+point+history+of+the+civil+war&kgmid=/g/11b5m6zbym) and The West Point History of World War II. Additionally, the academy’s Modern War Institute regularly updates specialized reading guides, such as the War Books: Reading List for New Lieutenants, featuring modern leadership, strategy, and doctrine. [5, 6, 7]
------------------------------
Expanding beyond Napoleon's dictated papers, this list captures the foundational timeline of global military theory, strategic philosophy, operational art, and irregular warfare.
Ancient & Classical Foundations (Pre-1500)
* [The Art of War](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+art+of+war&kgmid=/m/0hg02) by Sun Tzu: The quintessential treatise on deception, asymmetric advantage, and winning without fighting.
* [The Book of Lord Shang](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+book+of+lord+shang&kgmid=/m/0c43rh2) by Shang Yang: Foundational Legalist text mapping total state mobilization for agricultural output and warfare.
* [The Methods of the Sima](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+methods+of+the+sima&kgmid=/m/03cwrpl) (Sima Fa): Ancient Chinese text balancing statecraft, military rituals, and strict tactical discipline.
* [Wuzi](https://www.google.com/search?q=wuzi&kgmid=/m/025wtc9) by Wu Qi: Classical Chinese text detailing command psychology, troop discipline, and countering specific state styles.
* [The Peloponnesian War](by Thucydides: Landmark historical analysis foundational to modern international relations and geopolitical realism.
* [Anabasis](https://www.google.com/search?q=anabasis&kgmid=/m/0brcvwb) by Xenophon: Classic operational account detailing leadership, tactical retreat, and unit cohesion under duress.
* [Stratagems](https://www.google.com/search?q=stratagems&kgmid=/m/0gh7nrf) by Frontinus: A Roman collection of tactical ruses, psychological ploys, and operational expedients.
* [De Re Militari](https://www.google.com/search?q=de+re+militari&kgmid=/m/06tyv_0) (Concerning Military Affairs) by Vegetius: The definitive Roman guide on discipline, legion organization, and siegecraft that anchored medieval European warfare.
* The Book of Military Strategy (Strategikon) attributed to Emperor Maurice: Byzantine manual framing combined-arms, regional threat assessments, and defense of an empire.
* [The Alexiad](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+alexiad&kgmid=/m/03w_dz) by Anna Komnene: Critical Byzantine text analyzing medieval regional strategy, Crusader tactics, and military diplomacy. [8]
Early Modern & Age of Sail (1500–1800)
* The Art of War by Niccolò Machiavelli: Renaissance reappraisal prioritizing citizen militias, classical Roman discipline, and state-driven armies. [9]
* [The Prince](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+prince&kgmid=/m/0prr3) by Niccolò Machiavelli: Essential treatise on political realism, structural state survival, and the enforcement of hard power.
* [The Book of Five Rings](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+book+of+five+rings&kgmid=/m/016zvy) by Miyamoto Musashi: Zen-infused Japanese treatise on personal combat philosophy, mindset, and individual strategy.
* The Art of War by Marshal Maurice de Saxe: Enlightened French text introducing structured military units (legions) and the psychological dynamics of combat.
* [Instructions to His Generals] by Frederick the Great: Practical Prussian manual outlining calculated maneuver, strict discipline, and obliqued attacks.
* Secret Art of War (Secret de l'art de la guerre) by Raimondo Montecuccoli: Baroque-era theory introducing strict mathematical principles and logistical foundations to modern warfare.
* Treatise on the Defense of Fortresses by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban: The definitive text on geometrical engineering, star forts, and siege operations.
* [The Naval Chronicle](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+naval+chronicle&kgmid=/g/11fk19qsxp) (Historical Compilation): Formative logs documenting the foundational doctrines of global British blue-water naval superiority.
The Napoleonic Era & 19th Century Industrial Shift
* [On War](https://www.google.com/search?q=on+war&kgmid=/m/05q4s) (Vom Kriege) by Carl von Clausewitz: Masterwork defining war as an extension of politics, exploring "the fog of war," and the concept of absolute violence.
* [Summary of the Art of War](https://www.google.com/search?q=summary+of+the+art+of+war&kgmid=/m/0c1ts4l) by Antoine-Henri Jomini: Pragmatic rival to Clausewitz, categorizing warfare into geometric lines of operation and concentration of force.
* The Gay de Vernon Treatise by Simon François Gay de Vernon: The foundational engineering and science manual [endorsed by Napoleon](https://historynet.com/french-lessons-west-point/) and translated to shape early West Point doctrine.
* [The Influence of Sea Power Upon History](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+influence+of+sea+power+upon+history&kgmid=/m/0bth6x) by Alfred Thayer Mahan: Pivotal study arguing that naval supremacy dictates global geopolitical dominance.
* [The Command of the Air](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+command+of+the+air&kgmid=/m/0c1tsm7) by Giulio Douhet: First major text detailing strategic airpower, population demoralization, and total aerial bombardment.
* The Art of War on Land by Colmar von der Goltz: Late 19th-century German analysis mapping total mobilization and industrial-scale operational maneuver.
* Attack of Entrenched Positions by James Mercur: Essential late 19th-century West Point textbook handling the tactical realities of early industrial trench fighting. [10, 11]
Total War, Armored Maneuver & Nuclear Age (1900–1980)
* [Strategy: The Indirect Approach](https://www.google.com/search?q=strategy:+the+indirect+approach&kgmid=/g/11f1rm0ky4) by B.H. Liddell Hart: Influential doctrine urging psychological dislocation of the enemy over costly direct attrition.
* [The Foundations of the Science of War](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+foundations+of+the+science+of+war&kgmid=/m/06fhrdc) by J.F.C. Fuller: Formative text establishing mechanized armored doctrine and the principles of modern mobile warfare.
* [Achtung – Panzer!](https://www.google.com/search?q=achtung+%E2%80%93+panzer!&kgmid=/m/05zl96w) by Heinz Guderian: Explanatory manual implementing combined-arms armor tactics, speed, and Radio-driven battlefield command.
* Maneuver Warfare Doctrine by Richard Simpkin: Definitive exploration of modern high-tempo, mechanized, and operational-speed warfare.
* Strategy by Aleksandr Svechin: Soviet masterwork introducing "operational art" as the vital link between grand strategy and localized tactics.
* [Some Principles of Maritime Strategy](https://www.google.com/search?q=some+principles+of+maritime+strategy&kgmid=/m/06nb103) by Sir Julian Corbett: Nuanced maritime theory integrating naval operations with broader land strategy and political objectives.
* [On Escalation](https://www.google.com/search?q=on+escalation&kgmid=/m/067xb89) by Herman Kahn: Landmark Cold War framework charting the 44 distinct steps of potential nuclear escalation and deterrence.
* [The Strategy of Conflict](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+strategy+of+conflict&kgmid=/g/11byd5zgjq) by Thomas Schelling: Pioneering application of game theory to international security, coercion, and nuclear brinkmanship.
* Defense Strategy by Soviet Ministry of Defense (Sokolovsky): Formative Soviet manual on the integration of nuclear rockets into massive ground offensives. [12, 13, 14, 15, 16]
Insurgency, Revolutionary, & Guerilla Warfare
* [On Guerrilla Warfare](https://www.google.com/search?q=on+guerrilla+warfare&kgmid=/m/06cdc2j) by Mao Zedong: Foundational operational methodology for three-phase revolutionary warfare utilizing a sympathetic populace.
* Guerrilla Warfare by Che Guevara: Detailed implementation of foquismo focal-point theory to spark rural Marxist insurgencies.
* The War of the Flea by Robert Taber: Seminal modern study of successful asymmetric insurgencies against institutional armies.
* Defeating Communist Insurgency by Sir Robert Thompson: Formative counterinsurgency framework outlining hearts-and-minds security policies from the Malayan Emergency.
* Modern Warfare by Roger Trinquier: Explicit, controversial French analysis of urban counterinsurgency, intelligence gathering, and asymmetric networks.
* Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice by David Galula: Standard textbook explaining the human-centric pacification of localized revolutionary forces. [17, 18]
Modern, Asymmetric & Information Age (1980–Present)
* The Evolution of Strategy by Lawrence Freedman: Comprehensive historical sweep tracking the emergence of military, political, and corporate strategy.
* The Transformation of War by Martin van Creveld: Controversial post-Cold War thesis predicting the eclipse of state-versus-state conflict by tribalism and asymmetric actors.
* The Utility of Force by Rupert Smith: Modern classic detailing the shift from industrial interstate war to "war amongst the people."
* Makers of Modern Strategy by Peter Paret: Critical anthology tracking strategic thought from Machiavelli to the nuclear era.
* The Accidental Guerrilla by David Kilcullen: Crucial post-9/11 look at globalized Islamic insurgencies and local resistance dynamics.
* Warfighting (MCDP 1) by U.S. Marine Corps: Concise, definitive operational manual emphasizing decentralization, speed, and adaptive intent.
* The Starfish and the Spider by Ori Brafman & Rod Beckstrom: Structural exploration of decentralized, leaderless organizational networks versus rigid hierarchies.
* Unrestricted Warfare by Qiao Liang & Wang Xiangsui: Chinese military text advocating economic, cyber, and legal warfare to neutralize high-tech adversaries.
* Modern Strategy by Colin S. Gray: Theoretical framework linking cultural identity, geopolitics, and technological change to strategic outcomes.
* Ghost Fleet by P.W. Singer & August Cole: A near-future technological thriller utilizing active Pentagon research to map out cyber-kinetic great power conflict. [8, 19, 20, 21, 22]
------------------------------
Would you like to narrow this list down? I can:
* Focus strictly on naval strategy texts (Mahan, Corbett, Till)
* Dig deeper into the operational Soviet deep battle theory (Svechin, Tukhachevsky)
* Detail West Point’s digital cartography tools and maps used in class today
Let me know what you'd like to explore next.
[1] [https://ssfpl.bibliocommons.com](https://ssfpl.bibliocommons.com/list/share/604650727/1025957748)
[2] [https://press.westpoint.edu](https://press.westpoint.edu/digital-textbooks/)
[3] https://dhc.westpoint.edu
[4] [https://ssfpl.bibliocommons.com](https://ssfpl.bibliocommons.com/list/share/604650727/1025957748)
[5] [https://mwi.westpoint.edu](https://mwi.westpoint.edu/war-books-a-reading-list-for-new-lieutenants/)
[6] [https://books.google.com](https://books.google.com/books/about/The_West_Point_History_of_the_Civil_War.html?id=BfxtAwAAQBAJ)
[7] [https://books.google.com](https://books.google.com/books/about/West_Point_History_of_World_War_II_Vol_1.html?id=MLj_BgAAQBAJ)
[8] [https://www.quora.com](https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-military-strategy-books-which-are-taught-in-military-schools)
[9] [https://battlefieldtravels.com](https://battlefieldtravels.com/recommended-reading/theory-strategy-books/)
[10] [https://historynet.com](https://historynet.com/french-lessons-west-point/)
[11] [https://thestrategybridge.org](https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2015/12/7/what-would-clausewitz-do)
[12] [https://saass.fandom.com](https://saass.fandom.com/wiki/Fuller,_The_Foundations_of_the_Science_of_War_%28XXI%29)
[13] [https://battlefieldtravels.com](https://battlefieldtravels.com/recommended-reading/theory-strategy-books/)
[14] [https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu](https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/race-to-the-swift/)
[15] [https://mwi.westpoint.edu](https://mwi.westpoint.edu/war-books-the-operational-level-of-war/)
[16] [https://mwi.westpoint.edu](https://mwi.westpoint.edu/war-books-best-book-read-2018/)
[17] [https://bradtaylorbooks.com](https://bradtaylorbooks.com/j2-database/)
[18] [https://dss.missouristate.edu](https://dss.missouristate.edu/required-books-archive.htm)
[19] [https://mwi.westpoint.edu](https://mwi.westpoint.edu/war-books-major-general-mick-ryans-2020-reading-list/)
[20] [https://militarymachine.com](https://militarymachine.com/best-military-books-2026)
[21] [https://mwi.westpoint.edu](https://mwi.westpoint.edu/war-books-maj-james-king-us-army/)
[22] [https://muse.jhu.edu](https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/419/article/869955)
So, there is not that much time to get wasted in the U.S. military than in the Bundeswehr notorious for alcohol excess parties.
The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) operate under strict service guidelines and the concept of Innere Führung (internal leadership / civil citizenship in uniform). However, excessive alcohol consumption has repeatedly intersected with hazing rituals (Aufnahmerituale), sexual misconduct, right-wing extremism, and operational failures, triggering major domestic political scandals. [1, 2, 3]
A historical timeline of the most prominent alcohol excess scandals within the Bundeswehr highlights these systemic issues:
## 1. The Historic "Saufschule der Nation" Crisis (1979)
In the late 1970s, a series of severe hazing incidents, injuries, and tragic accidents caused by heavy drinking leaked to the public. This prompted [Der Spiegel](https://www.spiegel.de/politik/bundeswehr-saufschule-der-nation-a-243c96ff-0002-0001-0000-000040349455) to run a definitive cover story dubbing the Bundeswehr the "Boosing School of the Nation" (Saufschule der Nation). The expose detailed how junior officers and NCOs systematically used alcohol to abuse, humiliate, and bully conscripts, leading to a major parliamentary push to overhaul discipline. [4]
## 2. The Mittenwald Mountain Infantry Hazing ("Edelweiß-Rituale") (2010)
A whistleblower at the elite Gebirgsjägerbataillon 233 in Mittenwald exposed brutal, alcohol-fueled initiation ceremonies forced upon newcomers. [5]
* The Excess: Trainees were forced by senior soldiers to drink large quantities of alcohol and eat raw pork liver, yeast, and rollmops until they vomited. [2]
* The Fallout: The Parliamentary Military Commissioner (Wehrbeauftragter) condemned the degrading practices, which triggered a nationwide investigation into similar "Fux-Tests" (rookie trials) across multiple barracks. [2, 6]
## 3. The Afghanistan Deployment Glut & Banning (2007, 2013, 2021)
During NATO's long-standing ISAF and Resolute Support missions in Afghanistan, the German army's permissive culture regarding alcohol frequently clashed with its allies (such as the strictly dry U.S. military).
* 2007 (The KSK & Elite Troops): Reports surfaced detailing heavy drinking, bad behavior, and elite soldiers openly mocking alcohol limitations. Inebriated unit commanders allegedly set a poor example while deployed. [3, 7]
* 2013 (The "Two-Can" Crackdown): Following an increase in alcohol-related security lapses and camp incidents, the Bundeswehr was forced to implement strict ration cards in northern Afghanistan, strictly limiting soldiers to a maximum of two cans of beer a day. [8, 9]
* 2021 (The Repatriation Logistical Crisis): As the final withdrawal from Camp Marmal neared, commanders imposed a total alcohol ban due to rising security threats. This left a massive surplus of unconsumed booze. Because it could not be sold or given to locals for religious/cultural reasons, the German military had to hire a civilian contractor to fly 22,500 liters of beer (including 65,000 cans) and hundreds of bottles of wine back to Germany. [3, 10, 11, 12]
## 4. The Pfullendorf Special Operations Training Center (2017)
At the Ausbildungszentrum Spezielle Operationen in Pfullendorf, an internal whistleblower exposed sadistically motivated training practices. [6, 13]
* The Excess: Investigators found a common room heavily stocked with hard liquor where female recruits were pressured into alcohol-fueled compliance, including being forced to pole dance.
* The Fallout: Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen intervened directly, leading to the immediate reassignment of several officers and a structural reorganization of training methods. [13, 14]
## 5. The Rukla NATO Deployment Party in Lithuania (2021)
Soldiers from a Panzergrenadier (mechanized infantry) unit deployed to Lithuania as part of NATO's "Enhanced Forward Presence" hosted an off-duty party in a hotel that spiraled out of control. [15, 16]
* The Excess: Following excessive alcohol consumption, a massive brawl broke out between soldiers. During the chaos, troops shouted antisemitic, racist slurs and reportedly sang a birthday song for Adolf Hitler. Sexual assault claims were also investigated.
* The Fallout: In a highly publicized move, Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer recalled the entire platoon back to Germany immediately, discharging the primary offenders and issuing a public apology to international partners. [15, 17, 18, 19, 20]
## 6. The Zweibrücken Paratrooper Scandal (2025–2026)
A massive investigation targeted Fallschirmjägerregiment 26 in Zweibrücken, uncovering deeply rooted toxic subcultures. [21, 22]
* The Excess: Investigators cataloged more than 200 individual offenses involving elite paratroopers. The core of the scandal involved neo-Nazi cliques hosting "Nazi parties" inside barracks, heavily characterized by massive alcohol and cocaine abuse, right-wing extremist chants, and sexual violence against female soldiers.
* The Fallout: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated he was "deeply disturbed". The scandal resulted in criminal prosecutions by public prosecutors and the immediate termination of dozens of soldiers. [22, 23]
------------------------------
If you would like to explore this topic further, I can:
* Detail the legal and disciplinary consequences a Bundeswehr soldier faces for alcohol infractions.
* Outline the principles of Innere Führung and how they are used to combat these behaviors.
* Examine how other NATO militaries regulate alcohol compared to Germany's policies.
*
Let me know how you would like to proceed.
[1] [https://www.spiegel.de](https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/misshandlungen-bei-der-bundeswehr-ekelrituale-unterm-edelweiss-a-677106.html)
[2] [https://www.spiegel.de](https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/misshandlungen-bei-der-bundeswehr-ekelrituale-unterm-edelweiss-a-677106.html)
[3] [https://www.thetimes.com](https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/take-the-beer-home-with-you-afghans-tell-german-army-9wkvgzbv5)
[4] [https://www.spiegel.de](https://www.spiegel.de/politik/bundeswehr-saufschule-der-nation-a-243c96ff-0002-0001-0000-000040349455)
[5] [https://www.zeit.de](https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/2010-02/bundeswehr-skandal-mutproben-mittenwald)
[6] [https://www.dw.com](https://www.dw.com/de/bundeswehr-exzesse-l%C3%B6sen-emp%C3%B6rung-aus/a-37313944)
[7] [https://www.spiegel.de](https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/beer-brats-and-bad-behavior-german-elite-troops-in-afghanistan-marred-by-reports-of-misconduct-a-508800.html)
[8] [https://taz.de](https://taz.de/Bundeswehr-in-Afghanistan/!5064560/)
[9] [https://www.welt.de](https://www.welt.de/print/welt_kompakt/print_politik/article117453448/Die-Bundeswehr-hat-ein-Alkoholproblem.html)
[10] [https://www.dw.com](https://www.dw.com/en/bundeswehr-has-to-ship-beer-back-from-afghanistan/a-57784761)
[11] [https://www.fox5ny.com](https://www.fox5ny.com/news/german-military-to-ship-surplus-booze-back-from-afghanistan)
[12] [https://www.bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57386704)
[13] [https://www.dw.com](https://www.dw.com/en/female-bundeswehr-soldiers-abused-and-forced-to-pole-dance/a-37571140)
[14] [https://www.deutschlandfunk.de](https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/bundeswehr-skandal-in-pfullendorf-voellig-unsoldatisches-100.html)
[15] [https://www.spiegel.de](https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundeswehr-in-litauen-ermittlungen-nach-party-exzess-im-hotel-a-fb5ae1ed-f438-433f-b736-71d06a5762a6)
[16] [https://www.dbwv.de](https://www.dbwv.de/ticker/spiegel-drei-soldaten-nach-fehlverhalten-aus-litauen-abgezogen)
[17] [https://www.bundeswehr-journal.de](https://www.bundeswehr-journal.de/2021/nach-skandal-in-litauen-zwei-soldaten-vorzeitig-entlassen/)
[18] [https://www.spiegel.de](https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/ein-geburtstagsstaendchen-fuer-hitler-a-58745675-a864-44cb-8be7-13c70d215337)
[19] [https://www.sueddeutsche.de](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/bundeswehr-litauen-akk-1.5324543)
[20] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweibr%C3%BCcken_scandal)
[21] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweibr%C3%BCcken_scandal)
[22] [https://www.wsws.org](https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2026/01/21/quqc-j21.html)
[23] [https://www.euronews.com](https://www.euronews.com/2025/12/30/german-paratrooper-unit-probed-over-alleged-abuse-antisemitism-and-violence)
I hate you! Get an attitude. Quicker!!
#cyberpunkcoltoure
