A Historical Perspective of the USAWC Class of 1940
Abstract
The U.S. Army War College (AWC) course for the academic year 1939-40 was the last war college class prior to the United States entering World War II. The course began in September 1939 and continued until June 1940, coinciding with Germany's invasion of Poland and France. The basic question is what effect, if any, did the events in Europe have on the Class of 1940, and whether the course was effective in preparing the class for their wartime roles. Finally, the study questioned what could be learned today by reviewing the course of instruction and other archival records associated with this eventful AWC year. Archival records reviewed included lectures, committee reports, student papers, and oral histories available at the U.S. Army Military History Institute. It was concluded that the events in Europe did not have a direct effect on the conduct of the course, however, the course did effectively prepare the class for their wartime roles. Two-thirds of the class made general officer within six years of graduation and over ten percent commanded at the division level during the war.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA183148
Entities
People
- Charles F. Moler
- Trent N. Thomas
Organizations
- United States Army War College