DOC Military Innovation in the Interwar Period by Williamson R. Murray in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Much Information and many AnalysesBy Patrick C. RoeThis books contains examples and analyses of innovations which have changed the conduct of World War II. For any career military person understanding how new devices and new idea cause the evolution of tactics; operations and strategy is fundamental to understanding military art. It is the basis on which the tactical doctrine is built. That being so; and since this book consists of ten different essays by six different authors; it is a crying shame that both the best examples and the best analyses are scattered here and there through the book. Never the less a dedicated student will dig out the pearls. The obvious pearls in the book are the RAF's development of an early warning and a fighter direction system; the U. S. Navy's development of carrier operation; and the German development of what came to be called the Blitzkrieg. The German armor successes were actually an innovation base on an innovation. Early in World War I the Germans began developing; and training troops; in the "infiltration attack;" a method in which small groups; squads; advancing by fire and maneuver; and bypassing strong point for following troops to deal with. It was the method Ludendorff used to accomplish a limited breakthrough in the 1918 offensive. It was the method that Von Seekt established as the basic infantry tactic of the Reichwehr in the post war army. Replacing the squads with tanks was the innovation that created the Blitzkrieg. It took the Allied armies; including our own; another twenty years to adopt both innovations.Military Innovation in the Interwar Period0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great Read; in-depth studyBy Vince FraustoThis book was written as a study to draw attention to the decisions at the various levels of warfare (tactical; operational; and strategic) that led to success and failure of those countries involved in WWII. Before reading this book I would watch WWII movies wondering why certain tactics were not being utilized. Well; this book answers many of those questions and a whole lot more. Great Read; in-depth study; and well researched as it provides invaluable incite of how innovation influenced operations on land; in the air; and at sea.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Analyzing Military InnovationBy Retired ReaderPerhaps the most important insight this book offers is that military innovation is considerably more complex than simply building better mouse traps. The authors clearly demonstrate that the research; development; testing and evaluation (RDTE) process needed to create a new or improved military system is only the first step in a complex process. For such a military system to be effective; there must be corresponding changes in the tactical and strategic doctrines; training; and organizational structures that reflect the capabilities and limitations of the new system.The history of military innovation in the twenty year period between WWI and WWII then is a complicated one filled with successes; failures; missed opportunities and brilliant theorizing. To begin with few soldiers really believed that WWI was a "war to end all wars" as did some of the more idealistic politicians of the time. They therefore begin a scramble to understand the lessons and innovations that were the result of that war. Within the ground forces serious efforts were made to understand the implications of mechanization; especially armored fighting vehicles (AFV) and motor transport; for a future war. In a similar manner the air forces struggled to understand the demonstrated capabilities of the airplane for close ground support; air superiority; and most importantly strategic bombing. The navies of the world had to struggle with the role of submarines in future wars as well as the challenges and opportunities of naval aviation as represented by aircraft carriers; float planes and the need for long range reconnaissance. All services were deeply affected as well by the clear utility of wireless radio and soon other electronic breakthroughs.Perhaps the most interesting chapter of the book is titled ; "Assault from the Sea" which really concerns the efforts by the U.S.; Japan; and to a lesser extent the UK to develop the doctrines; technology; and organizational structure to conduct large scale amphibious warfare. In this case the examples from WWI served only as the starting points for some very original work. And it was the U.S. Marine Corp that took the lead in this work; in spite of severe fiscal restraints.In spite of some weak spots this book provides valuable information on the thinking of the military and civilian visonaries of the principal participants of WWII as they attempted to build modern military forces.