Lessons from the Past for NATO
Abstract
In some respects it does not appear that NATO, nor the US Army, has taken full advantage of the Wehrmacht's experience in confronting large Soviet forces during World War II. That, in a nutshell, is the inference that may be drawn from the recent reflections at the US Army War College of several high-ranking German officers who served in the Wehrmacht and had the occasion to observe NATO's military forces, in some cases as officers of the Bundeswehr. The key to the Wehrmacht's success was responsiveness-they were able to make good decisions and execute them rapidly. Several factors are responsible for the Wehrmacht's ability to do so, some of which are applicable to NATO today. But to understand the German war machine's superb defense of the Eastern Front, one must understand the context; it will be useful, the, to consider first some of the characteristics of the Red Army in the middle years of World War II.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA523895
Entities
People
- Richard F. Timmons
Organizations
- United States Army War College