Through in-depth research on a large amount of data and documents, the book compares and analyzes the similarities and differences in the professional military education systems of the United States and German military systems in the first half of the 20th century, which was a critical period before World War II, in terms of talent selection, teaching concepts and methods, training systems and promotion procedures, as well as the resulting differences in military effectiveness. The author believes that there is a paradox between the two: although the United States is known for its freedom and democracy, its military training is backward in concept, rigid in system, and emphasizes obedience, which led to many American officers during World War II lacking courage and often needing to rely on logistics to make up for the shortcomings of combat command capabilities, but its command system has advantages at the overall strategic level; although Germany is relatively closed, its command culture characterized by "mission-based command" has cultivated personal initiative and offensive awareness, but it is precisely this
书稿通过对大量资料文献的深入研究，比较剖析了美国和德国军队系统在20世纪上半叶，也即二战前的关键时期，在人才选拔、教学理念与方法、培养制度和晋升程序等职业军事教育体系的异同，以及由此而导致的军事效能的差异。作者认为两者之间存在悖论：虽然美国以自由民主著称，其军事培养却理念落后、制度僵化、强调服从，导致二战期间的许多美国军官缺乏胆识，经常需要依靠后勤力量来弥补作战指挥能力的缺陷，但其指挥系统却具有整体战略层面的优势；德国虽然相对封闭，其“任务式指挥”为特征的指挥文化却培养了个人主动性和进攻意识，然而也正是这
书稿通过对大量资料文献的深入研究，比较剖析了美国和德国军队系统在20世纪上半叶，也即二战前的关键时期，在人才选拔、教学理念与方法、培养制度和晋升程序等职业军事教育体系的异同，以及由此而导致的军事效能的差异。作者认为两者之间存在悖论：虽然美国以自由民主著称，其军事培养却理念落后、制度僵化、强调服从，导致二战期间的许多美国军官缺乏胆识，经常需要依靠后勤力量来弥补作战指挥能力的缺陷，但其指挥系统却具有整体战略层面的优势；德国虽然相对封闭，其“任务式指挥”为特征的指挥文化却培养了个人主动性和进攻意识，然而也正是这
