Rommel's Desert War: The Impact of Logistics on Operational Art.
Abstract
This paper analyzes the German expedition in North Africa in World War II, with a specific focus on the impact of operational logistics. The central premise is that the German inability to properly assess the consequences of theater geometry, as well as the failure to respect the vast expanse of the African desert, yielded an operational design whose aims outpaced both available resources and the ability to sustain them. Specifically, the paper asserts that the Axis decision not to seize Malta resulted in a Theater sustainment plan that was tenuous and inconsistent. It further asserts that within the North African Area of Operations, Rommel's decision to exceed the scope of his mission, and his inability to achieve an effective balance between operations and logistics, contributed decisively to defeat.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 13, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA348413
Entities
People
- Paul K. Schreiber
Organizations
- Naval War College