Is it wrong for me to study military history?

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Minh

Puritan Board Freshman
Recently several months ago, I began to have a strong interest in studying military history, particularly strategies, tactics, and weapon systems. Since wars, no doubt, involve innumerable violations of the 6th commandment, or murder, is it wrong for me to have fascination with the mentioned subject?
 
No. War is necessary in some cases for keeping the Sixth Commandment. It’s also a reality of our world. Doesn’t hurt to understand it.
 
Of course not. Military history, after all, is nothing more than a particular slice of world history, which is God's theatre of redemption, and is itself filled with the bumps, bruises, and warts of wicked men.
 
No. As I type this, I am listening to Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. It is unmatched, in my opinion, in the study of its subject.
 
No. As I type this, I am listening to Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. It is unmatched, in my opinion, in the study of its subject.

Really. I admit I love the Wehrmacht for its efficiency, though I never condone its atrocity.

If you like to listening to such, I recommend "War Stories with Mark Felton". His channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR3L1IGpxPDuHWQjqfz608g/featured

I would rather listen or watch Mark Felton than Pawn Star show on supposedly "History Channel".
 
Really. I admit I love the Wehrmacht for its efficiency, though I never condone its atrocity.

If you like to listening to such, I recommend "War Stories with Mark Felton". His channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR3L1IGpxPDuHWQjqfz608g/featured

I would rather listen or watch Mark Felton than Pawn Star show on supposedly "History Channel".
The Wehrmacht was the army, so I do not usually bundle them in with atrocities committed by National Socialists. Many Wehrmacht were not party members. There were African and even Jewish Wehrmacht enlisted and officers. The Schutzstaffel is the one you should not condone. They took an oath in blood to Hitler and National Socialism.
 
Unjust wars violate the 6th commandment. Just Wars do not. In fact, failing to defend innocent life, which sometimes may require killing, is a violation of the 6C.
 
The Wehrmacht was the army, so I do not usually bundle them in with atrocities committed by National Socialists. Many Wehrmacht were not party members. There were African and even Jewish Wehrmacht enlisted and officers. The Schutzstaffel is the one you should not condone. They took an oath in blood to Hitler and National Socialism.

Es lebe das heilige Deutschland!
 
Really. I admit I love the Wehrmacht for its efficiency, though I never condone its atrocity.

You really do need to study some military history. A whole lot fewer atrocities than the average of those committed by the Allies.

And a second vote for Felton. Accessible history in small bites.
 
As others have commented: no, it isn't wrong for you to have a fascination with military history. These are events that happened in the past.

If you (Minh) don't mind me tacking onto your OP -- what do folks think about playing video games that are set in a historical military conflict that involves killing and destroying the enemy? Is it permissible for little Johnny (or I guess today even adult Johnny) to play a violent video game that glorifies the horrors of war?
 
I have played war video games for a few years now (17 now, used to play a lot more than I do now) and I think they can be instructive. It depends on how accurate the game is, but the WW2 and other games set in older periods teach you loads about the weapons and gear used at the time. The games set in modern times teach you the same for modern militaries. I have yet to play a game where it portrays war as a good thing, and you are often confronted with the humanity of your allies and enemies. I suppose one could say some desensitize you to shooting and warfare. They are meant to be played by adults though. People that complain little kids are being corrupted by war games fail to realize the box of the games says it is not for kids.
 
By general consent of historians, the two greatest war autobiographies, so to speak are Julius Caesar's Commentaries and Ulysses S. Grant's Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.

On Grant's book: "Universally regarded as the greatest military memoirs since Caesar's Commentaries, and among the genuine masterpieces of American literature." - John Steele Gordon

"Best book ever written by an American politician." - Kevin D. Williamson

". . .the honesty, beauty, and power of these memoirs." - Jay Nordlinger

"the greatest military memoir in the English language, and the finest book published by any U. S. president." - George F. Will
 
As others have commented: no, it isn't wrong for you to have a fascination with military history. These are events that happened in the past.

If you (Minh) don't mind me tacking onto your OP -- what do folks think about playing video games that are set in a historical military conflict that involves killing and destroying the enemy? Is it permissible for little Johnny (or I guess today even adult Johnny) to play a violent video game that glorifies the horrors of war?

I just bought Ultimate General: Civil War after playing the lite version on iPad. The way the game plays is very instructive of how actual battles were planned and fought. It also works my own mind in trying to plan and react and I find it an excellent use of my time because I’m basically playing chess while learning history.


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I just bought Ultimate General: Civil War after playing the lite version on iPad. The way the game plays is very instructive of how actual battles were planned and fought. It also works my own mind in trying to plan and react and I find it an excellent use of my time because I’m basically playing chess while learning history.


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Where does one obtain this game?
 
"a time for war and a time for peace." -Eccelesiastes 3:8b

Any study of any kind of history involves studying sin as well.
 
I just finished Victor Davis Hanson's The Second World Wars. It is excellent and I learned so much from it. He has also written many books on the ancient Greek military history. Also, Basil Liddell Hart is supposed to be good; I just bought one of his books. Also, John Keegan is highly regarded. Bruce Catton, Shelby Foote, and James MacPherson on the Civil War.
 
Recently several months ago, I began to have a strong interest in studying military history, particularly strategies, tactics, and weapon systems. Since wars, no doubt, involve innumerable violations of the 6th commandment, or murder, is it wrong for me to have fascination with the mentioned subject?
No.
 
I just finished Victor Davis Hanson's The Second World Wars. It is excellent and I learned so much from it. He has also written many books on the ancient Greek military history. Also, Basil Liddell Hart is supposed to be good; I just bought one of his books. Also, John Keegan is highly regarded. Bruce Catton, Shelby Foote, and James MacPherson on the Civil War.

They are great authors, especially B.L Hart who inspired German commanders to develop the doctrine of "Lightning War". But I would also direct you to another author by the name of David Glantz who is a historian specializing on the Eastern Front (1941-1945). He is fluent in Russian and he once had a brief access to Soviet archive shortly after the collapse of the USSR in 1991. I am currently reading his work on the Soviet offensive in Manchuria, which can be found in one of the Leavenworth Papers (https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Books/Browse-Books/Leavenworth-Papers/).
 
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