An Italian View on the Anglo Boer War

An Italian view on the Anglo Boer War, from October 1899 to June 1900. 

Few observers of the Anglo-Boer War were as qualified to judge its early campaigns as Count Luchino dal Verme – Italian general, parliamentarian and Undersecretary of State for War, renowned for his cool strategic insight and meticulous research. In An Italian View on the Anglo-Boer War: October 1899 – June 1900, he describes the first nine months of the conflict, offering a masterful contemporary analysis that is both precise and unexpectedly readable.

Drawing on the habits of a lifetime in high command and on the General Staff, Dal Verme dissects the war phase by phase: the opening clashes and “Black Week” of late 1899, the grinding campaign of January–February 1900, the turning of the tide in March–April, and the British advance to Bloemfontein and Pretoria. Each chapter combines hard data – troop strengths, lines of communication, geography, logistics – with lucid explanations of why decisions were taken and how they played out on the ground.

Writing as a neutral but deeply informed European soldier and diplomat, he weighs the strengths and weaknesses of both Boer and British leadership with striking fairness. His analysis illuminates not only what happened, but what might have happened had different options been chosen, making this volume invaluable for anyone interested in operational strategy and the “what-ifs” of the war.

For historians, serious students of military history and readers who want more than a simple narrative, this book offers something rare: a clear, rigorous, first-hand strategic reading of the Anglo-Boer War by a highly respected military thinker. It is the kind of study you will find yourself returning to again and again.

The Preface can be downloaded here.

Pages:   95

Format: Downloadable PDF (±4Mb)

An Italian view on the Anglo Boer War, from October 1899 to June 1900.

Min waarnemers van die Anglo-Boereoorlog was so bevoeg om die vroeë veldtogte te beoordeel as graaf Luchino dal Verme – Italiaanse generaal, parlementslid en Ondersekretaris van Oorlog. As outeur was hy bekend vir sy koel strategiese insig en noukeurige navorsing. In An Italian View on the Anglo-Boer War: October 1899 – June 1900 beskryf hy die eerste nege maande van die konflik en bied ’n meesterlike, tydgenootlike ontleding wat tegelyk presies én verrassend leesbaar is.

Baseer op die insae en ondervindinding van ’n leeftyd in hoë bevel en in die Generale Staf, ontleed Dal Verme die oorlog fase vir fase: die openingskermutselings en die sogenaamde “Swart Week” laat in 1899, die uitputtende veldtog van Januarie–Februarie 1900, die kentering in Maart–April, asook die Britse opmars na Bloemfontein en Pretoria. Elke hoofstuk kombineer harde feite – troepesterkte, verbindingslyne, geografie, logistiek – met helder verduidelikings oor waarom sekere besluite geneem is en hoe dit op die grond afgespeel het.

As neutrale maar diep ingeligte Europese soldaat en diplomaat, weeg hy die sterk- en swakpunte van sowel Boer- as Britse leierskap met opvallende billikheid. Sy analise lig nie net uit wat gebeur het nie, maar ook wat kon gebeur het as ander opsies gekies is. Dit maak hierdie klein volume van besondere waarde vir enigiemand wat belangstel in operasionele strategie en die “wat-as”-vrae van die oorlog

Vir historici, ernstige studente van militêre geskiedenis asook lesers wat meer as net ’n eenvoudige verhaal soek, bied hierdie boek iets skaars: ’n helder, duidelik uiteengesette en eerstehandse strategiese beskrywing van die Anglo-Boereoorlog deur 'n hoogs-gerespekteerde militêre strateeg. Dit is die soort studie waarna jy keer op keer sal terugkeer.

Die voorwoord kan hier afgelaai word.

Bladsye:   95

Formaat: Aflaaibare PDF (±4Mb)