Mortal Failings
Abstract
This essay presents a fictitious conversation between the God of War, Mars, and Italian General Giulio Douhet, one of the 20th century's foremost strategic air power theorists. Douhet understood that the technological advances in weaponry made during World War I were not fully utilized by Allied commanders. So Douhet spent the decade after the war devising a theory that would facilitate the strategic use of what he believed to be the most important technological breakthrough in weaponry up to that time, namely, the airplane. In this conversation, Mars has Douhet reiterate his theories on air power, and then he analyzes three air battles conducted by the German Luftwaffe during World War II (i.e., Poland, Holland, Great Britain) and how Douhet's theories were applied, or not applied, in each case. Topics discussed include strategic bombing, night bombing, the use of radar by the British military during the Battle of Britain, and the British resolve not to give up like the Poles and Dutch did.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA440967
Entities
People
- Foster Bitton
Organizations
- National War College