How to remove selected commit log entries from a Git repository while keeping their changes?

Question

I would like to remove selected commit log entries from a linear commit tree, so that the entries do not show in the commit log.

My commit tree looks something like:

R--A--B--C--D--E--HEAD

I would like to remove the B and C entries so that they do not show in the commit log, but changes from A to D should be preserved. Maybe by introducing a single commit, so that B and C become BC and the tree looks like.

R--A--BC--D--E--HEAD

Or, ideally, after A comes D directly. D' representing changes from A to B, B to C and C to D.

R--A--D'--E--HEAD

Is this possible? if yes, how?

This is a fairly new project so has no branches as of now, hence no merges as well.

Answer 1

git-rebase(1) does exactly that.

$ git rebase -i HEAD~5

git awsome-ness [git rebase --interactive] contains an example.

1. Don't use git-rebase on public (remote) commits.
2. Make sure your working directory is clean (commit or stash your current changes).
3. Run the above command. It launches your $EDITOR.
4. Replace pick before C and D by squash. It will meld C and D into B. If you want to delete a commit then just delete its line.

If you are lost, type:

$ git rebase --abort