Robert M. Citino
Encyclopedia
Robert M. Citino is an American
historian
, currently an Associate Professor at the University of North Texas
. He specializes in German military history and has earned acclaim by writing several historical books on the subject. He has appeared as a consultant on the History Channel several times on the subject of World War II
and German military tactics.
, Ohio
. After graduating with his Bachelor's degree in history from Ohio State University
, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1978, Citino then went on to earn his Master's and PhD from Indiana University
in 1980 and 1984, respectively. His PhD advisor was Barbara Jelavich
. He is married with three daughters, and has taught history at Eastern Michigan University since 1991, occasionally taking a sabbatical to write another book. He is fluent in German
and is a prolific reader of early 20th century German military literature, particularly the Militär-Wochenblatt, a professional German military periodical published from 1816 to 1942.
in December 1944, and on HistoryCENTER where he discussed the fall of Japan
in the last eight months of World War II. He has also authored numerous books, notably The Path to Blitzkrieg, Quest For Decisive Victory, Blitzkrieg to Desert Storm, and The German Way of War. His eighth book, The Death of the Wehrmacht
, was released on September 6, 2007. In 2005 his book The German Way of War was chosen as one of two selections of the month for the Military Book Club, competing with Oliver North
's War Stories III. He is currently writing a book on German combat operations during 1943.
on the cover of his books, he has always espoused the view that it should be called by its proper German military term, Bewegungskrieg, or maneuver warfare
. He has taught history classes at Eastern Michigan University for over a decade, mostly on German military history, stressing the doctrines of maneuver warfare to create a Kesselschlacht and the German doctrine of Auftragstaktik. Citino has also taught classes about Adolf Hitler
's Nazi Germany
, the Holocaust
, as well as American military history. In 1993 he won EMU’s Teaching I Award for his enthusiasm in the classroom and his ability to inspire student interest in history.
Dr. Citino was a visiting professor at the United States Military Academy
in West Point, NY for the 2008-09 academic year. He is also a fellow of the Barsanti Military History Center at the University of North Texas
. He is scheduled to be a visiting professor at the US Air Force Academy in 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, currently an Associate Professor at the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
. He specializes in German military history and has earned acclaim by writing several historical books on the subject. He has appeared as a consultant on the History Channel several times on the subject of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and German military tactics.
Background
Citino was born in ClevelandCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. After graduating with his Bachelor's degree in history from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1978, Citino then went on to earn his Master's and PhD from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in 1980 and 1984, respectively. His PhD advisor was Barbara Jelavich
Barbara Jelavich
Barbara Jelavich was an American professor of history at Indiana University.She was born as Barbara Brightfield and earned multiple degrees in history from the University of California at Berkeley. She received here A.B. honors degree in 1943, her M.A. in 1944, and her Ph.D in 1948...
. He is married with three daughters, and has taught history at Eastern Michigan University since 1991, occasionally taking a sabbatical to write another book. He is fluent in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and is a prolific reader of early 20th century German military literature, particularly the Militär-Wochenblatt, a professional German military periodical published from 1816 to 1942.
Scholarly Works
Citino is one of America's leading authorities on German military history. Having appeared repeatedly on the History Channel as a consultant on various related subjects, notably on Hard Target; where he discussed the failure of U.S. intelligence before the Battle of the BulgeBattle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
in December 1944, and on HistoryCENTER where he discussed the fall of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
in the last eight months of World War II. He has also authored numerous books, notably The Path to Blitzkrieg, Quest For Decisive Victory, Blitzkrieg to Desert Storm, and The German Way of War. His eighth book, The Death of the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, was released on September 6, 2007. In 2005 his book The German Way of War was chosen as one of two selections of the month for the Military Book Club, competing with Oliver North
Oliver North
Oliver Laurence North is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, political commentator, host of War Stories with Oliver North on Fox News Channel, a military historian, and a New York Times best-selling author....
's War Stories III. He is currently writing a book on German combat operations during 1943.
University career
Citino is a proponent of changing the current nomenclature of German military tactics. Although he uses the word BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg
For other uses of the word, see: Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg is an anglicized word describing all-motorised force concentration of tanks, infantry, artillery, combat engineers and air power, concentrating overwhelming force at high speed to break through enemy lines, and, once the lines are broken,...
on the cover of his books, he has always espoused the view that it should be called by its proper German military term, Bewegungskrieg, or maneuver warfare
Maneuver warfare
Maneuver warfare, or manoeuvre warfare , is the term used by military theorists for a concept of warfare that advocates attempting to defeat an adversary by incapacitating their decision-making through shock and disruption brought about by movement...
. He has taught history classes at Eastern Michigan University for over a decade, mostly on German military history, stressing the doctrines of maneuver warfare to create a Kesselschlacht and the German doctrine of Auftragstaktik. Citino has also taught classes about Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
, as well as American military history. In 1993 he won EMU’s Teaching I Award for his enthusiasm in the classroom and his ability to inspire student interest in history.
Dr. Citino was a visiting professor at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in West Point, NY for the 2008-09 academic year. He is also a fellow of the Barsanti Military History Center at the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
. He is scheduled to be a visiting professor at the US Air Force Academy in 2011.
Honors and awards
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Phi Kappa PhiPhi Kappa PhiThe Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society established 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study and to promote the "unity and democracy of education"...
- Phi Alpha ThetaPhi Alpha ThetaPhi Alpha Theta is an American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history.The society is a charter member of the Association of College Honor Societies and has over 350,000 members, with about 9,500 new members joining each year through 860 local chapters.-...
- Summa Award for Scholarship, 1976
- Magna cum laude 1978
- National Resource Fellowship, Indiana University 1982
- Susan O'Kell Memorial Award for Outstanding Associate Instructor, 1982
- Letter of Commendation, Crane Army Ammunition Activity, 1983
- Eastern Michigan University Teacher I Excellence Award 1993
- History Book Club "Book Of the Month" August 2002
- 2004 winner of the Paul Birdsall Prize, from the American Historical AssociationAmerican Historical AssociationThe American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
- 2005 co-winner of the Distinguished Book Award, Society for Military HistorySociety for Military HistoryThe Society for Military History is an United States-based international organization of scholars who research, write and teach military history of all time periods and places. It includes Naval history, air power history and studies of technology, ideas, and homefronts. It publishes the...
http://www.smh-hq.org/awards/awards/books.html - Voted 2007's #1 Professor in the Nation on RateMyProfessor.com
- The Charles Boal Ewing Distinguished Visiting Professor 2008/2009 West Point US Military Academy
External links
- Citino's books available for sale at Amazon
- Citino discusses "The German Way of War"
- Listing at EMU
- Consulting editor
- Questia: Germany and the Union of South Africa in the Nazi Period
- Questia: Armored Forces: History and Sourcebook
- Questia: The Path to Blitzkrieg: Doctrine and Training in the German Army, 1920-1939
- University of Kansas Press Authors By Last Name
- Professor Citino's "Rate My Professor" page
- Interview on Blitzkrieg to Desert Storm at the Pritzker Military LibraryPritzker Military LibraryThe Pritzker Military Library is a research library for the study of military history in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded in 2003 by COL James N. Pritzker, IL ARNG to be a non-partisan institution for the study of "the citizen soldier as an essential element for the preservation of...
- American Historical Review Article October 2007