Air Powers Missed Opportunity: The German Transportation System

Abstract

U.S. and Allied bombing of Germany during World War II affords an invaluable case study in target systems analysis. An examination of the German transportation system reveals that it grew ever-more important within the German war economy. Integral to the German economy from the wars beginning, its importance grew due to German wartime adaptations. Despite this growth of importance, the U.S. and Allies continued to assign it an ever-lower priority. This is attributable to Allied difficulties in collecting and analyzing the German transportation system, as well as operational considerations driving a higher prioritization of other target systems. This case study reveals relevant lessons for modern target system analysts and operational planners

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 27, 2018
Accession Number
AD1062159

Entities

People

  • Patrick W Mcmorrow

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Engineered Resilient Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Bombing
  • Case Studies
  • Electric Power
  • Electric Power Production
  • Geography
  • Munitions
  • Rail Transportation
  • Second World War
  • Surveillance
  • Transportation
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design