The Decisiveness of the Battle of Midway

Abstract

Since the end of the Pacific War, scholars have commonly viewed the Battle of Midway as both a decisive battle, as well as the turning point, of that war. The historiography of Midway has evolved over time, yet the vast majority of research has sought to improve the common understanding of the tactical details of the battle itself. Few authors have questioned the assertion that Midway was either decisive, or at the least the turning point of the war. Scholarship based on newly discovered information has sought to overturn commonly held myths surrounding the battle. This thesis attempts to examine the broader implications of the battle within the context of the Pacific War by analyzing the affects that the battle had at the strategic and operational level decision making for both the Allies (and in particular the United States) and the Japanese. Analyzing these changes will either point towards the decisiveness of the battle, towards its validity as the turning point of the war, or finally as an important milestone in the long progression of the conflict.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 12, 2015
Accession Number
ADA623052

Entities

People

  • Andres J. Aviles

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Power
  • Aircraft Carriers
  • Aircrafts
  • Literature Surveys
  • Military Art
  • Military History
  • Military Strategy
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • New York
  • Personnel Management
  • Second World War
  • Students
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Strategic Security Studies