The present "Short Textbook of Electrical Machines" is intended as an introduction to the behavior, calculation, and measurement of electrical machines and transformers. It is perhaps the first time that an attempt has been made to cover this extensive subject in a compact textbook. The task was facilitated by my books on electrical machines, Volume I to V, and on armature windings, which are also published by Springer-Verlag (Volume V is still in print). These books provide a very detailed treatment of the behavior of electrical machines and transformers, as well as their calculation and experimental investigation. Individual studies in these books, while important for electrical machine engineers, complicate the overall overview of the entire field. Therefore, this textbook is intended as an introduction for students at technical institutions and beginners.