Command and Control in North African Battles, World War II, 1941-1943
Abstract
The North African Battles in World War II raised tremendous command and control problems which were very influential on battlefield results. This paper reviews two different styles of command: The German, as represented by General Rommel; and the British, as represented by Generals Cunningham, Ritchie, and Auchinlick. The paper concentrates on three topics: 1) The preparation of commanders for war; 2) The senior leader's place in the battlefield; and 3) The commander's relationship with his subordinates and his staff. The paper examines how the selected German and British generals prepared for and conducted the war in North Africa. This historical analysis remains relevant today because, despite enormous technological developments aimed at solving the problems of command and control, we are still dealing with the same basic issue in a more complex battlefield environment. We must look to the past to capture the lessons learned and apply them to the current and future technological environment. The central goal of a command and control system is to provide the commander with the essential information he needs for decision-making and to allow him to transmit his orders to subordinates in a timely and effective manner to achieve victory on the battlefield.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 19, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA210956
Entities
People
- Eyal Ben-reuven
Organizations
- United States Army War College