2,000 views
The Encyclopedia Britannica defines it as a group of officers who assist a commander by formulating and disseminating his ideas, transmitting his orders, and supervising the execution of those orders. This body has its roots in antiquity, but it did not gain its clear and solid foundations until the early 19th century, when Gerhard von Scharnhorst realized that the Prussian army could defeat Napoleon's army only if it were thoroughly reorganized. The body that Scharnhorst laid the foundations for was perfected by Helmut von Moltke and turned into an institution that, with iron and blood, achieved German unification. What body is this? Listen to History on Thursdays.