A military attaché or defence attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission, often an embassy. This type of attaché post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer, who retains a commission while serving with a diplomatic mission. Opportunities sometimes arise for service in the field with military forces of another sovereign state. The attache has the privileges of a foreign diplomat.
The Chilean defense attaché in Panama, at left, receiving a briefing on the armament of the USS Freedom from the ship's executive officer in 2010
An early example, General Edward Stopford Claremont, served as the first British military attaché (at first described as "military commissioner") based in Paris for 25 years from 1856 to 1881. Though based in the embassy, he was attached to the French army command during the Crimean War of 1853–1856 and later campaigns.
The functions of a military attaché are illustrated by actions of U.S. military attachés in Japan around the time of the Russo-Japanese war of 1904–1905. A series of military officers had been assigned to the American diplomatic mission in Tokyo since 1901, when the U.S. and Japan were co-operating closely in response to the Boxer Rebellion of 1899-1901 in China. The military attaché advised the United States Ambassador to Japan on military matters, acted as a liaison between United States Army and the Imperial General Headquarters, and gathered and disseminated intelligence. The military attaché's office in Tokyo usually had two assistants and a number of "language officers" who were assigned specifically to learn Japanese while attached to Imperial Japanese Army regiments as observers. These "language officers" translated training and technical manuals and reported on conditions in Japanese military units.[1]
During the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), military attachés from many Western military organizations served as observers with the land and naval forces of Russia and of Japan. The United States Army detailed eight officers to serve as military attachés with opposing forces in the field; and all served from the start of hostilities in 1904 through the signing of the peace protocols in September 1905.[2] After the war, the reports of British officers attached to the Japanese forces in the field were combined and published in four volumes.[3][4] During this conflict, some attachés served primarily in Manchuria, and others served primarily in Tokyo. Some, like Italian naval officer Ernesto Burzagli, saw service both at sea and in Tokyo.
The agreed conditions that allow military attachés to gather information can be misunderstood with fatal results. United States military attaché Maj. Arthur D. Nicholson was killed on March 24, 1985,[5] while photographing a military installation in East Germany 160 kilometres (100 mi) northwest of Berlin. He was reportedly observing from a point not marked off-limits, though near a place that was. According to Sgt. Jessie Schatz, Nicholson's driver, there were no warning shots and the Soviets refused to give Nicholson medical attention for nearly an hour. His role had been agreed to by the United States and the Soviet Union. Soviet liaison-teams were conducting similar missions in West Germany. These tours had evolved into a legalized form of intelligence-gathering, usually accepted by both sides. The killing became a diplomatic incident. In retaliation, the United States expelled Soviet military attaché Stanislav Gromov, who was selected for his effectiveness in collecting intelligence on the United States for the Soviet Union from his post in Washington.[6]
^_____. (1907). The Russo-Japanese War, Reports from British Officers Attached to the Japanese Forces in the Field, Vol. I; (1908). Vol. II.
^ Dobson, Sebastian, ed. (2000) [1906-1910]. The Russo-Japanese War: Reports from Officers Attached to the Japanese Forces in the Field. Modern Asian History Series. Vol. 1 to 3. Ganesha Publishing. ISBN9781862100145. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^Pear, Robert (September 18, 1987). "U.S. Serviceman Wounded By Russian in East Germany". The New York Times. Retrieved September 9, 2013. [...] the Soviets last shot at an American observer team on March 24, 1985, when Maj. Arthur D. Nicholson Jr., an Army officer, was killed by a Soviet sentry near the East German town of Ludwigslust. Major Nicholson had been observing a Soviet tank shed.
^ "U.S. Expels Soviet Attache In Retaliation For Shooting". United Press International. April 27, 1985. Retrieved September 9, 2013. A U.S. official said that Gromov was selected for expulsion on the advice of the Pentagon, which described him as 'very active' in collecting defense information for the Soviets.
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military attachés.
Craig, Gordon A. "Military diplomats in the Prussian and German service: the attachés, 1816-1914." Political Science Quarterly (1949): 65-94. online
_____, Office of the Chief of Staff, Second (military) Information Division. (1906). Reports of the Military Observers attached to the Armies in Manchuria during the Russo-Japanese War, Vol. I; (1907). Vol. II. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
Hadley, Tim. Military Diplomacy in the Dual Alliance: German Military Attaché Reporting from Vienna, 1879–1914 (Lexington Books, 2015).
Prout, John. "The origins of the military attaché corps." American Intelligence Journal (2002): 47-55. online
Sisemore, James D. (2003). "The Russo-Japanese War, Lessons Not Learned." 2009-03-04 at the Wayback Machine CGSC.
_____. (1907). The Russo-Japanese War, Reports from British Officers Attached to the Japanese Forces in the Field, Vol. I; (1908). Vol. II. London: General Staff.
Trumpener, Ulrich. "The Service Attachés and Military Plenipotentiaries of Imperial Germany, 1871–1918." The International History Review 9#4 (1987): 621-638. The Service Attachés and Military Plenipotentiaries of Imperial Germany, 1871–1918
December 21, 2023
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A military attache or defence attache is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission often an embassy This type of attache post is normally filled by a high ranking military officer who retains a commission while serving with a diplomatic mission Opportunities sometimes arise for service in the field with military forces of another sovereign state The attache has the privileges of a foreign diplomat The Chilean defense attache in Panama at left receiving a briefing on the armament of the USS Freedom from the ship s executive officer in 2010 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 Notes and references 4 ReferencesHistory editAn early example General Edward Stopford Claremont served as the first British military attache at first described as military commissioner based in Paris for 25 years from 1856 to 1881 Though based in the embassy he was attached to the French army command during the Crimean War of 1853 1856 and later campaigns The functions of a military attache are illustrated by actions of U S military attaches in Japan around the time of the Russo Japanese war of 1904 1905 A series of military officers had been assigned to the American diplomatic mission in Tokyo since 1901 when the U S and Japan were co operating closely in response to the Boxer Rebellion of 1899 1901 in China The military attache advised the United States Ambassador to Japan on military matters acted as a liaison between United States Army and the Imperial General Headquarters and gathered and disseminated intelligence The military attache s office in Tokyo usually had two assistants and a number of language officers who were assigned specifically to learn Japanese while attached to Imperial Japanese Army regiments as observers These language officers translated training and technical manuals and reported on conditions in Japanese military units 1 During the Russo Japanese War 1904 1905 military attaches from many Western military organizations served as observers with the land and naval forces of Russia and of Japan The United States Army detailed eight officers to serve as military attaches with opposing forces in the field and all served from the start of hostilities in 1904 through the signing of the peace protocols in September 1905 2 After the war the reports of British officers attached to the Japanese forces in the field were combined and published in four volumes 3 4 During this conflict some attaches served primarily in Manchuria and others served primarily in Tokyo Some like Italian naval officer Ernesto Burzagli saw service both at sea and in Tokyo The agreed conditions that allow military attaches to gather information can be misunderstood with fatal results United States military attache Maj Arthur D Nicholson was killed on March 24 1985 5 while photographing a military installation in East Germany 160 kilometres 100 mi northwest of Berlin He was reportedly observing from a point not marked off limits though near a place that was According to Sgt Jessie Schatz Nicholson s driver there were no warning shots and the Soviets refused to give Nicholson medical attention for nearly an hour His role had been agreed to by the United States and the Soviet Union Soviet liaison teams were conducting similar missions in West Germany These tours had evolved into a legalized form of intelligence gathering usually accepted by both sides The killing became a diplomatic incident In retaliation the United States expelled Soviet military attache Stanislav Gromov who was selected for his effectiveness in collecting intelligence on the United States for the Soviet Union from his post in Washington 6 See also editArms industry Defense Attache System US Defence diplomacy Diplomat Military attaches and observers in the Russo Japanese War Military attaches and war correspondents in the First World War Science attache United Nations Military ObserverNotes and references edit Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives King s College London US Military Intelligence Reports Japan Context Cullen Glen T 1999 Preparing for battle Learning Lessons in the US Army during World War I p 16 permanent dead link U S Army Command and General Staff College 1907 The Russo Japanese War Reports from British Officers Attached to the Japanese Forces in the Field Vol I 1908 Vol II Dobson Sebastian ed 2000 1906 1910 The Russo Japanese War Reports from Officers Attached to the Japanese Forces in the Field Modern Asian History Series Vol 1 to 3 Ganesha Publishing ISBN 9781862100145 Retrieved 19 October 2020 Pear Robert September 18 1987 U S Serviceman Wounded By Russian in East Germany The New York Times Retrieved September 9 2013 the Soviets last shot at an American observer team on March 24 1985 when Maj Arthur D Nicholson Jr an Army officer was killed by a Soviet sentry near the East German town of Ludwigslust Major Nicholson had been observing a Soviet tank shed U S Expels Soviet Attache In Retaliation For Shooting United Press International April 27 1985 Retrieved September 9 2013 A U S official said that Gromov was selected for expulsion on the advice of the Pentagon which described him as very active in collecting defense information for the Soviets References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military attaches Craig Gordon A Military diplomats in the Prussian and German service the attaches 1816 1914 Political Science Quarterly 1949 65 94 online Cullen Glen T 1999 Preparing for battle Learning Lessons in the US Army during World War I Archived 2009 03 04 at the Wayback Machine U S Army Command and General Staff College CGSC Combined Arms Research Library Office of the Chief of Staff Second military Information Division 1906 Reports of the Military Observers attached to the Armies in Manchuria during the Russo Japanese War Vol I 1907 Vol II Washington D C Government Printing Office Hadley Tim Military Diplomacy in the Dual Alliance German Military Attache Reporting from Vienna 1879 1914 Lexington Books 2015 Prout John The origins of the military attache corps American Intelligence Journal 2002 47 55 online Sisemore James D 2003 The Russo Japanese War Lessons Not Learned Archived 2009 03 04 at the Wayback Machine CGSC 1907 The Russo Japanese War Reports from British Officers Attached to the Japanese Forces in the Field Vol I 1908 Vol II London General Staff Trumpener Ulrich The Service Attaches and Military Plenipotentiaries of Imperial Germany 1871 1918 The International History Review 9 4 1987 621 638 The Service Attaches and Military Plenipotentiaries of Imperial Germany 1871 1918 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Military attache amp oldid 1182005910, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
