DOCSLIB.ORG

The Normandy Battlefields: Bocage and Breakout: from the Beaches to the Falaise Gap'

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Normandy Battlefields: Bocage and Breakout: from the Beaches to the Falaise Gap' H-War Clark on Forty and Marriott and Forty, 'The Normandy Battlefields: Bocage and Breakout: From the Beaches to the Falaise Gap' Review published on Thursday, June 4, 2020 Simon Forty, Leo Marriott, George Forty. The Normandy Battlefields: Bocage and Breakout: From the Beaches to the Falaise Gap. Havermate: Casemate Books, 2016. 192 pp. $29.95 (cloth),ISBN 978-1-61200-419-8. Reviewed by Toby Clark (Independent Scholar) Published on H-War (June, 2020) Commissioned by Margaret Sankey (Air University) Printable Version: http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showpdf.php?id=54941 Printed in gold, the title The Normandy Battlefields Bocage and Breakout is contrasted against the stunning aerial photograph that adorns the front cover. Aside from helping this book to stand out amongst an already packed market, the image has didactic properties. Printed in full color, this shot features storm clouds against a blue sky, with undulating fields and woodland in various shades of green. The first of many, this aerial photo shows the typical terrain through which the British, American, Canadian, Polish, Free French, and Germans battled in the summer of 1944. In this way the front cover foregrounds the method by which the authors have chosen to tell the Normandy story: each aspect will be explained with the judicious use of excellent photographs. This book has been written by Leo Marriott, Simon Forty, and George Forty and leads on fromThe Normandy Battlefields: D-Day and the Bridgehead, which in turn joins Leo Marriott and Simon Forty’s extensive output of books on Normandy. It is precisely this literary record that explains why the many facts in this book, including a reminder of the number of German tanks and anti-tank guns on the Verriѐres Ridge during Operation Spring, reflect the author’s immersion in this subject over many years. In their introduction the authors quickly explain how Operation Overlord went ahead on June 6, 1944, and succeeded in securing a foothold in Europe. Once ashore the British, Canadians, and Americans stopped and consolidated, mopping up German resistance and building hospitals, airbases, camps, and storage dumps. Interestingly, the authors pause at this point and explore a selection of miscellaneous subjects: “Opposing Forces,” “Timeline June 7-August 28,” “Airpower by Leo Marriott,” “Mulberry A” and “Mulberry B,” “Artillery,” “Communications,” “Traffic Management,” “Tiger!,” and finally, “Collateral Damage.” I didn’t feel like these subjects belonged together and the interruption to the narrative so early in the story was a shame. That being said, these are important aspects of the Normandy Campaign and have featured in recent academic debate. The psychological superiority enjoyed by the Panzerwaffen over their allied opponents as dealt with in “Tiger!” and the civilian casualties explored in “Collateral Damage” have both been explored inThe Normandy Campaign 1944: Sixty Years On edited by leading Normandy historian John Buckley. In factThe Normandy Battlefields engages with many more historiographical arguments so perhaps these individual Citation: H-Net Reviews. Clark on Forty and Marriott and Forty, 'The Normandy Battlefields: Bocage and Breakout: From the Beaches to the Falaise Gap'. H-War. 06-04-2020. https://networks.h-net.org/node/12840/reviews/6181526/clark-forty-and-marriott-and-forty-normandy-battlefields-bocage-and Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. 1 H-War matters could have been placed in the book at later points as their importance to the Normandy story becomes apparent. Having secured their beachhead, the authors follow the American 1st Army as it turned westward into the Cotentin Peninsular. To their credit the authors show American VII Corps’ drive on Carteret, which cut the Cotentin off from the rest of France as well as the largely forgotten coastal defenses to the west of the Cotentin Peninsular. Capturing Cherbourg was the first victory of the Normandy Campaign and it is afforded pride of place in this first chapter. Of special interest are the photographs showing the German efforts to destroy the port installations, which were completed with a thoroughness which astounded the American engineers. Following their success at Cherbourg, the American 1st Army headed southward towards St Lo. Unfortunately, the Americans became caught in the green tendrils of the Bocage and were trapped. By sticking rigidly to a US focus in this chapter and a British focus in the next, the authors do not show that while US 1st Army became stuck at St. Lo, so too did the British 2nd Army around Caen. It was this slow progress during June and July that deeply concerned the Allies. However, this book does concede that the slow and costly progress—as German strength was drawn to Normandy—was proof that victory was being achieved. Here might also have been a better place to include the essay on air power and the discussion of Tiger tanks because it was at this point in the campaign that these matters gained new importance as the British 2nd and American 1st Armies became stuck. Following the breakout by General Bradley’s 1st US Army during Operation Cobra and the subsequent exploitation by General Patton’s 3rd US Army, it would be understandable for the authors to have focused on the gradual formation of the Falaise Pocket. Interestingly, the attention passes on to the campaign to clear Brittany, and I for one had not considered the importance of the ports on this coastline with their potential for unloading supplies from America and Britain. As I mentioned at the outset, this book makes good use of photographs to explain the Normandy Campaign. Aside from the photograph and caption system which we are all familiar with, the authors have used another method to help portray battles and engagements. It is best described as a system and is exemplified in the author’s treatment of the battle at La Haye-du-Puits. First, a modern aerial photograph shows the location today and important details are highlighted with numbers that correspond to detailed captions. Second, the same numbers are placed onto an aerial photograph taken during the war. There may also be a map to orientate the reader as to the general area of fighting. In this way the reader is shown a modern aerial view of a village or bunker and is then guided through black-and-white photographs showing the fighting in 1944, with perhaps a photograph of the weapons or men involved. The system is completed with a photograph taken on the ground in recent years. I anticipate using this book during my next visit to Normandy because the descriptions of battle, the excellent aerial and archive photos, and fascinating biographies suit the tourist. It also doesn’t matter about your previous knowledge of the Normandy Campaign; this book has you covered. For those with a long-held interest or academics with a focus on Normandy, this book will clarify the well- known arguments and rekindle interest without ruffling feathers. All the important components of the Normandy story are here and even some lesser-known areas, too. Citation: H-Net Reviews. Clark on Forty and Marriott and Forty, 'The Normandy Battlefields: Bocage and Breakout: From the Beaches to the Falaise Gap'. H-War. 06-04-2020. https://networks.h-net.org/node/12840/reviews/6181526/clark-forty-and-marriott-and-forty-normandy-battlefields-bocage-and Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. 2 H-War Citation: Toby Clark. Review of Forty, Simon; Marriott, Leo; Forty, George,The Normandy Battlefields: Bocage and Breakout: From the Beaches to the Falaise Gap. H-War, H-Net Reviews. June, 2020. URL: http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=54941 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Citation: H-Net Reviews. Clark on Forty and Marriott and Forty, 'The Normandy Battlefields: Bocage and Breakout: From the Beaches to the Falaise Gap'. H-War. 06-04-2020. https://networks.h-net.org/node/12840/reviews/6181526/clark-forty-and-marriott-and-forty-normandy-battlefields-bocage-and Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. 3.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Canadian Infantry Combat Training During the Second World War
    SHARPENING THE SABRE: CANADIAN INFANTRY COMBAT TRAINING DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR By R. DANIEL PELLERIN BBA (Honours), Wilfrid Laurier University, 2007 BA (Honours), Wilfrid Laurier University, 2008 MA, University of Waterloo, 2009 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in History University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario, Canada © Raymond Daniel Ryan Pellerin, Ottawa, Canada, 2016 ii ABSTRACT “Sharpening the Sabre: Canadian Infantry Combat Training during the Second World War” Author: R. Daniel Pellerin Supervisor: Serge Marc Durflinger 2016 During the Second World War, training was the Canadian Army’s longest sustained activity. Aside from isolated engagements at Hong Kong and Dieppe, the Canadians did not fight in a protracted campaign until the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. The years that Canadian infantry units spent training in the United Kingdom were formative in the history of the Canadian Army. Despite what much of the historical literature has suggested, training succeeded in making the Canadian infantry capable of succeeding in battle against German forces. Canadian infantry training showed a definite progression towards professionalism and away from a pervasive prewar mentality that the infantry was a largely unskilled arm and that training infantrymen did not require special expertise. From 1939 to 1941, Canadian infantry training suffered from problems ranging from equipment shortages to poor senior leadership. In late 1941, the Canadians were introduced to a new method of training called “battle drill,” which broke tactical manoeuvres into simple movements, encouraged initiative among junior leaders, and greatly boosted the men’s morale.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Report No. 131 HISTORICAL OFFICER CANADIAN MILITARY
    HISTORICAL OFFICER CANADIAN MILITARY HEADQUARTERS ---------- OPERATION "NEPTUNE" AND ITS SEQUEL: CANADIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE OPERATIONS IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 6 JUN - 31 JUL 44 (PRELIMINARY REPORT) ---------- CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTORY 1 CONCEPTION AND PLAN 2 GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE OPERATIONS 8 THE ASSAULT 10 THE DEFENCE OF THE BRIDGEHEAD 20 THE GENERAL SITUATION AT 30 JUN 22 OPERATION "WINDSOR" - THE CAPTURE OF CARPIQUET 24 OPERATION "CHARNWOOD" - THE CAPTURE OF CAEN 25 OPERATION " ATLANTIC" - CLEARING THE EAST BANK OF THE ORNE 27 OPERATION "SPRING" - THE ABORTIVE THRUST UP THE FALAISE ROAD 31 FIRST CDN ARMY BECOMES OPERATIONAL 34 APPENDICES APPX "A" - ORDER OF BATTLE FOR ASSAULT PHASE (6 JUN 44) APPX "B" - GROUPING OF FORCES (29 JUN 44) 1 Report No. 131 APPX "C" - TOTAL CANADIAN ARMY CASUALTIES - Normandy Battle Area, 6 Jun - 31 Jul 44 and 6 Jun - 24 Jun 44 APPX "D" - SITUATION 3 CDN INF DIV, LAST LIGHT, 6 JUN 44 (Map) APPX "E" - SITUATION 3 CDN INF DIV, 2200 HRS, 11 JUN 44 (Map) APPX "F" - SITUATION FIRST CDN ARMY FRONT, 2000 HRS, 31 JUL 44 (Map) APPX 'G' - SECTION OF 1: 100,000 MAP (AREA OF CANADIAN OPERATIONS, JUNE - JULY, 1944) 2 Report No. 131 REPORT NO. 131 HISTORICAL SECTION CANADIAN MILITARY HEADQUARTERS REVISED Operation "NEPTUNE" and its Sequel: Canadian Participation in the Operations in North-West Europe, 6 Jun - 31 Jul 44 (Preliminary Report) 1. This report is a strictly preliminary outline of the early operations of the Canadian component of the Allied Force which began landing in Normandy in the early hours of 6 Jun 44, and which in an eleven-month campaign thereafter liberated western Europe from German domination.
    [Show full text]
  • Operation Overlord 1944
    Operation Overlord, 6 June 1944 Nottinghamshire The landings on five beaches in northern France on the morning of 6 June 1944 by upwards of 156,000 troops of 14 allied countries marked the beginning of Operation Overlord. These were contemporary with successes in other theatres of the Second World War in 1944, in Italy at Monte Casino and in Northeast India at Kohima. It heralded the last phase of the conflict and the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe. The invasion was the result of long and meticulous planning as well as a triumph of combined operations between all the arms of the services in the sea, on the land and in the air, with the support of the civilian population including industry and agriculture which provided the armaments, ordnance, equipment, rations etc Men and women from all backgrounds and walks of life were involved and many paid with their lives. Men and women from Nottinghamshire served in all branches of the Armed Forces during this conflict and it is not possible to say how many people were involved except it would be many thousands. We can however identify some examples specifically from our own county: Royal Navy Whilst there were no ships specifically linked to Nottinghamshire, as the largest amphibious operation ever seen, the contribution of both the Royal Navy, Royal Marine Commandos and the Merchant Navy cannot be overstated with sailors from Nottinghamshire serving in all three services. Guards Armoured Division The Guards Armoured Division which trained for D Day at Thoresby and was among the earliest to land on D Day.
    [Show full text]
  • History 3385 D-Day: Operation OVERLORD & Europe's
    History 3385 D-Day: Operation OVERLORD & Europe's Liberation A Travel Course for Students, Alumni & Friends of SMU May 19-29, 2020 Southern Methodist University’s (SMU’s) Center for Presidential History’s Jeffrey A. Engel and Essential History Expeditions’ Brian DeToy are pleased to partner for an on-site exploration of London, Shrivenham, Portsmouth, Normandy and Paris, walking the cities and beaches where Churchill schemed, Ike commanded, and soldiers fought for Europe’s liberation. This intergenerational tour offers three credits for students, and for alumni and friends the opportunity to see the places history took place — and to relive a bit of college life. This fully guided and immersive tour will explore the people and places of Operation OVERLORD, the June 1944 invasion of Normandy that began Europe’s liberation from Nazi rule. We will walk the beaches and cliffs, learn from local experts and guest lecturers, and be assigned a renowned (or reviled) figure from history to investigate and role-play. Plus, we’ll have plenty of time to explore these iconic sites on your own and to reconnect with SMU friends and students in some of Europe’s most scenic sites. This trip will also provide opportunities to connect with current SMU students through meaningful discussions and mentorship. 1 Long before they launched across the Channel, the Allies transformed Great Britain into a vast armed camp, with millions of soldiers, sailors and airmen poised to assault Hitler’s Fortress Europa. We begin in London, examining the War Rooms of Winston Churchill’s Cabinet along with centuries of history and culture in the capital of the British Empire, including a tour of Westminster Abbey and an optional night of London theater.
    [Show full text]
  • Additional Units
    TM Additional Units s our range grows, we might be adding to the Bolt AAction game system a few units that are not covered by the already vast list of units in our ‘Armies of …’ supplements. To allow you to field such units in your reinforced platoons, we have collected their rules in this free-to-download document, which we will continuously update as new units are released. The following rules are as official and tournament- worthy as any included in the “Armies of…” series of Bolt Action supplements. Written by: Alessio Cavatore Frontispiece artwork: Peter Dennis Production and Photography: Mark Owen Miniatures painted by: Andrés Amián, Jose Bustamante, Big Gazza, Troop of Shewe & Darek Wyrozebski ospreypublishing.com warlordgames.com Bolt Action Additional Units Armies of germany additional units INFANTRY SQUADS & TEAMS GOLiatH DEMOLITION TEAM (ANTI-tanK TEAM) fired as normal, except that instead of rolling to hit, roll on the The Goliath was used by the German engineer units in a variety following chart. Note that if a Recce vehicle reacts to the Goliath of roles. It was essentially a radio-controlled tracked bomb, attack by moving, the mine automatically scores a result of 1-4. carrying a big charge of high explosives direct to where it was needed – commonly a pillbox, minefield or disabled enemy Dice Effect tank. The controller steered the robot tank by using a wire 1–4 The Goliath breaks down, or is damaged or connected to a simple control box. prematurely detonated by enemy fire. The Goliath model is removed and has no effect.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigating the Memory of Operation Spring the Inquiry Into the Black Watch and the Battle of St
    Canadian Military History Volume 21 Issue 2 Article 3 2015 Investigating the Memory of Operation Spring The Inquiry into the Black Watch and the Battle of St. André-sur-Orne, 1944-46 Alexander Fitzgerald-Black Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Alexander Fitzgerald-Black "Investigating the Memory of Operation Spring The Inquiry into the Black Watch and the Battle of St. André-sur-Orne, 1944-46." Canadian Military History 21, 2 (2015) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. : Investigating the Memory of Operation Spring The Inquiry into the Black Watch and the Battle of St. André-sur-Orne, 1944-46 Investigating the Memory of Operation Spring The Inquiry into the Black Watch and the Battle of St. André-sur-Orne, 1944-46 Alexander Fitzgerald-Black “In memory of the men of the Black Watch of Canada and their comrades who fought for the liberation of Europe and the hope of a better world.” – Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada Association plaque, Point 67 peration Spring, the ill-fated 25 upon: the battalion “was ordered to July 1944 attack by II Canadian Abstract: The scholarly literature for begin Phase 2 of Operation ‘Spring,’ O the Black Watch role in Operation Corps against German defences on Spring is largely based on survivor the advance to Fontenay-le-Marmion.
    [Show full text]
  • Download a PDF Version of the Firestorm Overlord
    1 21 ARMY GROUP PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE C-in-C To be read out to all Troops 1. The time has come to deal the enemy a terrific blow in Western Europe. The blow will be struck by the combined sea, land and air forces of the Allies-together constituting one great Allied team, under the supreme command of General Eisenhower. 2. On the eve of this great adventure I send my best wishes to every soldier in the Allied team. To us is given the honour of striking a blow for freedom which will live in history; and in the better days that lie ahead men will speak with pride of our doings. We have a great and a righteous cause. Let us pray that “ The Lord Mighty in Battle “ will go forth with our armies, and that His special providence will aid us in the struggle. 3. I want every soldier to know that I have complete confidence in the successful outcome of the operations that we are now about to begin. With stout hearts, and with enthusiasm for the contest, let us go forward to victory. 4. And, as we enter the battle, let us recall the words of a famous soldier spoken many years ago:- “He either fears his fate too much, Or his deserts are small, Who dare not put it to the touch, To win or lose it all.” 5. Good luck to each one of you. And good hunting on the main land of Europe. B.L. Montgomery General C.inC. 21 Army Group Acknowledgements This campaign is the result of a constructive collaboration between the Canberra Flames of War Group and the extended Battlefront community.
    [Show full text]
  • Villers Bocage Campaign
    VILLERS BOCAGE CAMPAIGN HISTORY Under the command of Brigadier William "Loony" Hinde, the 22nd Armoured Brigade The Battle of Villers‐Bocage took place during group reached Villers‐Bocage without serious the Second World War on 13 June 1944, one incident in the morning of 13 June. The leading week after the Normandy Landings by elements advanced eastwards from the town on the Western Allies to begin the conquest the Caen road to Point 213, where they were ambushed by Tiger I tanks of the 101st SS Heavy of German‐occupied France. The battle was the Panzer Battalion. In fewer than 15 result of a British attempt to improve their minutes numerous tanks, anti‐tank guns and position, by exploiting a gap in the German transport vehicles were destroyed, many by SS‐ defences west of the city of Caen. After one day Obersturmführer Michael Wittmann. The of fighting in and around the small town Germans then attacked the town and were of Villers‐Bocage and a second day defending a repulsed, losing several Tigers and Panzer IV. After six hours Hinde ordered a withdrawal to a position outside the town, the British force more defensible position on a knoll west of retired. Villers‐Bocage. Next day the Germans attacked The Allies and the Germans regarded control of the defensive "Brigade Box" in the Battle of the Caen as vital to the Normandy battle. In the days Island. The British inflicted a costly repulse on the Germans and then retired from the salient. following the D‐Day landings on 6 June, the The Battle for Caen continued east of Villers‐ Germans rapidly established strong defences in Bocage, which was captured in ruins on 4 front of the city.
    [Show full text]
  • Der Gegenangriff Vor Verrieres: German Counterattacks During Operation “Spring,” 25–26 July 1944
    Canadian Military History Volume 2 Issue 1 Article 6 1993 Der Gegenangriff Vor Verrieres: German Counterattacks during Operation “Spring,” 25–26 July 1944 Roman Johann Jarymowycz [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Recommended Citation Jarymowycz, Roman Johann "Der Gegenangriff Vor Verrieres: German Counterattacks during Operation “Spring,” 25–26 July 1944." Canadian Military History 2, 1 (1993) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Jarymowycz: German Counterattacks during Operation “Spring” Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1993 1 Canadian Military History, Vol. 2 [1993], Iss. 1, Art. 6 Der Gegenangriff vor Verrières German Counterattacks during Operation "Spring": 25-26 July 1944 Roman Johann Jarymowycz In the area of Panzer Group West the enemy attempted and Operations "Charnwood," "Atlantic" and on the 25th and 26th July with 2 Canadian InfDiv "Goodwood," the German formations facing II and 1 Armoured Brigade to penetrate between Canadian Corps continued to create strong Bourquebus and the Orne on a 7 km wide front. After panzer reserves, but they were seldom the hard fighting and counterattacks, 1 st SS Panzer equivalent of a weak Canadian brigade group Korps gained a complete defensive victory. and more often comprised a strongly reinforced battalion. Field Marshal von Kluge, 31 July 1944 "Spring": Canadian Plans he Canadian effort in Operation "Spring" ieutenant-General Simonds planned has been well-documented by Canadian L"Spring" as a three-phase operation.
    [Show full text]
  • Fifth Brigade at Verrieres Ridge
    Canadian Military History Volume 1 | Issue 1 Article 5 1-20-2012 Fifth rB igade at Verrieres Ridge Terry Copp Wilfrid Laurier University Recommended Citation Copp, Terry (1992) "Fifth rB igade at Verrieres Ridge," Canadian Military History: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 5. Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol1/iss1/5 This Feature is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized administrator of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Copp: Fifth Brigade at Verrieres Ridge FIFTH BRIGADE VERRIERES RIDGE Terry Copp he Fifth Canadian Infantry Brigade arrived crossing of the Orne opposite the race course T in France on 16 July 1944 during the worst in Caen. The next morning the Regiment de days of the battle of Normandy. The Allies had Maisonneuve and the Calgary Highlanders went expected heavy losses on the D-Day beaches into action and by the evening of the 21st all and then, once through the Atlantic Wall, three battalions held positions on the lower lighter casualties in a war of rapid movement. slope of Verrieres Ridge. On the night of the The opposite had happened. The coastal 22nd the Maisonneuves were assigned to clear defences had been quickly breached, but then the village of Etavaux as part of a British (43rd there were only slow movement and horrendous West Riding Division) operation to capture casualties. In one month more than 40,000 Maltot on the west bank of the Orne.
    [Show full text]
  • Russell, James A. : Innovation in the Crucible of War: the United States
    INNOVATION IN THE CRUCIBLE OF WAR: THE UNITED STATES COUNTERINSURGENCY CAMPAIGN IN IRAQ, 2005-2007 By James A. Russell War Studies Department King’s College, University of London Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of PhD, July 2009 ABSTRACT This dissertation critically examines the conduct of counterinsurgency operations in Iraq by a series of U.S. Army and Marine Corps units operating in Anbar and Ninewa provinces in Iraq from late 2005 through early 2007. The popular narrative of the American counterinsurgency campaign in Iraq is that military success followed the ‘surge’ of American troops in the spring 2007 and the appointment of General David Petraeus as the ground commander committed to counterinsurgency operations. While both factors were undoubtedly important in America’s counterinsurgency campaign in Iraq, the research in this book demonstrates that this narrative is somewhat misleading. I argue that by the time Petraeus took over command to “rescue” the counterinsurgency campaign in early 2007, American military units had already built successful counterinsurgency competencies and were experiencing battlefield success – most dramatically in the battle for Ramadi in the fall of 2006. The process of successful adaptation in the field began in late 2005 in Anbar and Ninewa provinces and did so with little direction from higher military and civilian authorities. I argue that that the collective momentum of tactical adaptation within the units studied here can be characterized as organizational innovation. I define innovation as the widespread development of new organizational capacities not initially present in these units when they arrived in Iraq and which had only tangential grounding in previous military doctrine.
    [Show full text]
  • The Development of Combat Effective Divisions in the United States Army
    THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMBAT EFFECTIVE DIVISIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY DURING WORLD WAR II A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree Master of Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University by Peter R. Mansoor, B.S. * * * * * The Ohio State University 1992 Master's Examination Committee: Approved by Allan R. Millett Williamson Murray ~~~ Allan R. Millett Warren R. Van Tine Department of History ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I express sincere appreciation to Dr. Allan R. Millett for his guidance in the preparation of this thesis. I also would like to thank Dr. Williamson Murray and Dr. John F. Guilmartin for their support and encouragement during my research. I gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Richard Sommers and Dr. David Keough at the United States Army Military History Institute in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and Dr. Timothy Nenninger and Dr. Richard Boylan at the Modern Military Records Branch of the National Archives in Suitland, Maryland. Without their professional assistance, I would not have been able to complete the research for this thesis. As always, my wife Jana and daughter Kyle proved to be towers of support, even when daddy "played on the computer" for hours on end. ii VITA February 28, 1960 . Born - New Ulm, Minnesota 1982 . B.S., United States Military Academy, West Point, New York 1982-Present ......... Officer, United States Army PUBLICATIONS "The Defense of the Vienna Bridgehead," Armor 95, no. 1 (Jan.-Feb. 1986): 26-32. "The Second Battle of Sedan, May 1940," Military Review 68, no. 6 (June 1988): 64-75. "The Ten Lean Years, 1930-1940," editor, Armor 96, no.
    [Show full text]