Philip W. Blood, what first attracted you to the period or periods you work in?
My fascination with twentieth-century warfare was ignited by several memorable moments in childhood. My father, an aircraft design engineer with Avro, introduced me to the fascinating world of military aviation by attending air shows. However, it wasn’t until my great grandfather’s hundredth birthday that I realized the full extent of the family’s history of service in both World Wars. In 1968, I met Field Marshal Montgomery and later that year, Noble Frankland, director of the Imperial War Museum, further fuelling my interest. A year later I attended the premier of the film Battle of Britain (a picture of my programme) when several fighter aces were present. During a Summer holiday in 1970, I met a party of Afrika Korps veterans, and they talked about the Desert War. Returning home, my father gifted me with Shirer’s The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and Höhne’s The Order of the Death’s Head, constant companions that reinforced my growing fascination. Even during my A’ levels, I paid my respects at Montgomery’s funeral in Windsor, standing alongside Afrika Korps and Desert Rat veterans who honoured his memory.
In 1978 I went to university with the intention of studying history and was taught war studies by Professor John Gooch. During this time, I discovered an interest for civil-military relations, strategic studies and genocide taught by the late Professor Martin Edmonds who arranged for me to join the Royal United Services Institute in 1981. I also attended electives in Soviet and Eastern European history and during my gap year spent an extended period in East Germany (DDR) and Poland. It was during these visits that I began to take a particular interest in military occupation and security.
After wrapping up my career in the City of London, I transitioned into part-time teaching and guiding historical tours across Europe and America. It was during the 90s that I had the privilege of meeting Henry Metelmann, a German army veteran, whose insights into studying the ordinary soldier left a lasting impact. In 1996, I delved into historical research, laying the groundwork for what would become my passion. The following year, I approached the late Professor Richard Holmes with a proposal for a PhD project. With Richard and Chris Bellamy as my supervisors, I embarked on a thesis examining Bandenbekämpfung (bandit-hunting) and the concept of security warfare, culminating in the award of a doctorate. In 1999, I made the move to Germany, initially for work in academia, but eventually settling to immerse myself in German and European history. My journey culminated in the publication of my first book in 2006, marking a significant milestone in a path that began in the 60s.
Can you tell us a little about how you research? Has the process changed over the years?
My approach to research was heavily influenced by my tenure assessing and investigating insurance claims for Lloyds of London. The skills were honed toward reconstructing evidence from incomplete records to discern the ‘train of events’ of a claim proved invaluable. It was under the guidance of Richard Holmes that I refined these techniques, incorporating tweaks to enhance my research methodology, such as rigorous validation of documents before their inclusion in analyses.
A pivotal evolution in my research methodology came with the incorporation of Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping. This revolutionary tool allowed for a granular examination of soldiers in combat, by meticulously reprofiling military reports and mapping multiple troop movements, synchronizing them to specific actions. This scientific approach serves as a potent tool for advanced research across various projects, facilitating rapid assessment of ordinary soldiers’ intent and purpose. Moreover, it significantly diminishes uncertainty in war crimes cases, bolstering the integrity of investigations.
The common phrase is that history is written by the victors. Do you think this is true?
Nations write their own histories, whether they win or lose. Sometimes scholars have been able to shape foreign opinions through conference and translations of publications. Cultures have different interpretations of history, for example British military history still retains the classical ‘drum and musket’ tales, whereas in Germany social-military history often synthesises cultural anthropology. Lately, European scholars have expressed growing concern over the impact of social media, and the narrowing of history by political nostalgia and national exceptionalism.
Are there any historians who helped shape your career? Similarly, can you recommend three history books which budding historians should read?
During my first university, the works of Sir John Keegan and Sir Michael Howard were fundamental to our studies. Before embarking on my PhD, I was profoundly influenced by the writings and lectures of the late Eric Hobsbawm, particularly in shaping my understanding of social history.
Collaborating with Richard Holmes and Chris Bellamy proved to be a transformative experience. They eschewed formal titles like ‘military historian,’ instead fostering an environment of student empowerment and input. Richard’s emphasis on writing skills, critical analysis, and historical interpretation was unparalleled. His meticulous academic planning set the stage for intensive writing and structural refinement throughout my studies. Meanwhile, deciphering Chris’s notes, written in Russian shorthand, added an extra layer of challenging fun.
While their methods may have seemed rigorous at first, the gradual transformation and burgeoning self-confidence were palpable. Following the publication of my first book, Richard became a dear friend and graciously penned the foreword. Our discussions ranged from his military tour in Iraq to his acclaimed work Dusty Warriors (2007), which remains a personal favourite of mine. In a testament to our collaboration, Chris co-authored Putin’s War: Russian Genocide (2023), underscoring the enduring impact of our working relationship alongside Richard.
A recommendation for three books that I have worked with, not easy since there have been so many – (1) something from earlier research, (2) something from present research, and (3) something fun:
- Richard Holmes, Firing Line, (1985).
- Gerhard P. Gross, Die Vergessene Front. Der Osten 1914/15, (2006).
- Sellar and Yeatman, 1066 and All That, (193).
If you could meet any figure from history, who would it be and why? Also, if you could witness any event throughout history, what would it be?
Percy Wyndham
Perhaps a conversation with Percy Wyndham (picture attached). An Englishman of dubious record, he trained as an Austrian cavalry officer in the 1850s, fought with distinction for Garibaldi against the Austrians, and later became a cavalry commander in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
I would choose to witness the US Army’s occupation of Mexico 1846-8, as experienced from the Mexican standpoint.
If you could add any period or subject to the history curriculum, what would it be?
A general course of British political history, from feudalism to democracy. Perhaps it might grant young persons a better appreciation of the importance of voting participation and the collective value of democracy.
If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, either as a student or when you first started out as a writer, what would it be?
Enjoy history, find a supervisor who encourages and pushes, and don’t fear writing.
Can you tell us a little bit about the project you are currently working on?
I have two new projects set to begin in September 2024. One is a discourse about the influence of history on western politics. The second involves a return to Białowieża Forest (in Poland) the setting for my second book Birds of Prey in 2021. This time the research focuses upon Imperial Germany’s occupation of Poland during the Great War.
Philip Blood is a historian and editor of the Putin’s War, Russian Genocide: Essays about the First Year of the War in Ukraine.
