For this book, fifteen distinguished historians were given a deceptively simple task: identify their choice for the worst military leader in history, and then explain why theirs is the worst.

From the clueless Conrad von Hötzendorf and George A. Custer, to the criminal Baron Roman F. von Ungern-Sternberg and the bungling Garnet Wolseley, this book presents a rogues’ gallery of military incompetents. Rather than merely rehashing biographical details, the contributors take an original and unconventional look at military leadership in a way that will appeal to both specialists and general readers alike.

While there are plenty of books that analyse the keys to success, The Worst Military Leaders in History offers lessons of failure to avoid. In other words, this book is a ‘how-not-to’ guide to leadership.

John M. Jennings is Professor of History at the United States Air Force Academy, where he specializes in modern Japanese history. He is the author of The Opium Empire: Japanese Imperialism and Drug Trafficking in Asia, 1895–1945, and lives in Colorado.

Chuck Steele is Associate Professor of History at the United States Air Force Academy, and lives in Colorado.