Strength Against Weakness: The Campaign in Western Europe, May-June 1940.
Abstract
This monograph is a campaign study in the practice of operational art, as viewed through the prism of military theory. The following aspects of military theory are among those considered: center of gravity, decisive and objective points, deception, doctrine, friction, fog of war, theater of operations, zone of operations, theater of battle, combinations, and offensive and defensive culminating points. In addition, the following related aspects of campaign planning and execution are analyzed: the use of operational reserves, branches and sequels to campaign plans, planning assumptions, synchronization in space and time, synergism of combat power, approach to command and control, and mess and concentration. The Campaign in Western Europe was really two separate campaigns conducted sequentially. The first, popularly known as the Battle of Flanders and Northern France (10 May-5 June), is the central focus of this study. In this campaign the Germans broke the back of the Allied armies so completely that victory in the follow-on campaign was virtually assured. This first campaign thus offers richer insights into the practice of operational art. For this reason, the second campaign, usually called the Battle of France, will be treated only as an epilogue.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 08, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA184718
Entities
People
- John T. Nelsen Ii
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College