Episode 10: The Captain who Taught Generals: Basil Liddell Hart

Basil Liddell Hart (1895-1970) was described by President John F. Kennedy as the “captain who taught generals”. 

The tools of strategy explored by Liddell Hart ranged from city bombing, manoeuvre warfare to diplomatic means to deflect war or a transition to lasting peace. The 'lasting peace' concept cost him dearly in terms of reputation as he was an appeaser of Hitler in the 1930s, but after the Second World War his reputation recovered. Liddell Hart was the father and grandfather of a particular family of strategic analysts, steeped in the study of history rather than ahistorical theories, and he was awarded RUSI's Chesney Gold Medal in 1963. His pupils include Brian Bond, Sir Michael Howard, the Australian Robert O’Neill and, arguably, General André Beaufre in France. Each in turn passed on the legacy of the Liddell Hartian approach to strategic studies to their subsequent disciples. Second generation heirs included strategic analysts such as Sir Lawrence Freedman (himself a Chesney Gold Medal recipient in 2006) and Azar Gat.

This podcast introduces Dr Bradley Potter, Adjunct Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

The views or statements expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by RUSI employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of RUSI.

Liddell Hart, Basil H.: Paris or the Future of War (London: Kegan Paul, 1925)

Liddell Hart, Basil Henry: The British Way of Warfare (London: Faber & Faber, 1932)

Liddell Hart, Basil Henry: The Strategy of Indirect Approach a new edition of The Decisive Wars of History of 1929 (London: Faber & Faber, 1941)

Liddell Hart, Basil Henry: Thoughts on War (London: Faber & Faber, n.d. - 1944)

Danchev, Alex: Alchemist of War: The Life of Basil Liddell Hart (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1998)

Bond, Brian: “Liddell Hart and the German Generals”, Military Affairs (Vol. XLI No.1 (Feb. 1977), pp. 16-20.

Searle, Alaric: “A Very Special Relationship: Basil Liddell Hart, Wehrmacht Generals and the Debate on West German Rearmament, 1945-1953”, War in History Vol. 5 No. 3 (1998), pp. 327-57.