Concepts of Information Warfare in Practice: General George S. Patton and the Third Army Information Service, August-December, 1944

Abstract

This monograph looks for historical examples of information warfare in order to gain insight into its current practice. It first describes key elements of the concept of information operations, particularly as they relate to battle command. It then explores how George S. Patton and his Third Army Information Service demonstrated those ideas, and how their example offers direction for current developments in information warfare. Key sources used in research included emerging doctrinal literature on information warfare, biographical information on the professional development and command qualities of Patton, and after action reports of the Third Army and 6th Cavalry Group, the unit that constituted the Army Information Service. This monograph found that Patton aggressively sought information advantage as a battle commander, and that he demonstrated the key qualities of vision and intuition. The Third Army Information Service developed a relevant common picture of the battlefield by the expanding the instrument of directed liaison. What needs emphasis in current concept of information warfare is the improving the ability of commanders and staffs to process information. We must reemphasize the human dimensions of information operations through refined professional development.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 03, 1995
Accession Number
ADA301155

Entities

People

  • Dean A. Nowowiejski

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Battlefields
  • Combat Areas
  • Information Operations
  • Information Warfare
  • Literature
  • Military Operations
  • Professional Development
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Geospatial Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence Analytics
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.