Arts and Humanities Commons^™

“It Was Like A Dream”: War Pilgrimages In The Canadian War Museum’S Collections, Michael Petrou

Canadian Military History

This article uses material culture and oral histories held by the Canadian War Museum to explore war-related pilgrimages undertaken by veterans and their loved ones. The artwork, scrapbooks, mementos and recorded interviews reveal how meaningful pilgrimages can be for their participants. These are emotional or spiritual journeys as much as they are temporal ones. A pilgrim travels to a liminal space where the past appears closer and the dead are not beyond the reach of the living, and is transformed by it.

Cet article utilise la matérielle ethnographique et les histoires orales détenues par le Musée canadien de la guerre …

The 2024 Defence Policy Update And Its Predecessors: Why The Caf Is In A “Death Spiral”, Allan English

Canadian Military History

In March 2024 the Minister of National Defence characterised the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) inability to attract new members as a “death spiral” for the force. While the latest defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence, recognises the seriousness of the CAF’s personnel crisis, it provides no concrete actions to solve it. However, this defence policy update is just the latest in a series of actions used by the CAF to manage perceptions of its personnel problems rather than addressing their root causes. This article examines the latest defence policy in the …

On National Defence: A Contemporary Evaluation Of The Canadian Armed Forces, Kyle Pritchard, Paul Esau

Canadian Military History

This article examines the contemporary history of the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) from peacekeeping to the most recent update to Canadian defence policy, highlighting their historical roles and contemporary challenges. It discusses the evolving purpose of the CAF, which has shifted from conventional defence to supporting and reinforcing a western-led international order. It explores issues such as defence spending, procurement challenges, peacekeeping endeavors, veterans’ support, diversity and inclusion within the CAF. Moreover, it explores emerging threats in cyber, space and Arctic domains, including the rise of artificial intelligence threats, and emphasises the need …

“My Kingdom For A Horse!” The Development Of Equestrian Influence In Early Modern Europe, Jane Goode

Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History

Humanity has always had a close relationship with horses, from using them for work to warfare to recreation. The era of early modern Europe is especially telling because of the transition of horsemanship underwent during that period. The horse has been used as a symbol of status and power that can be seen strongly throughout the culture of the 17th and 18th centuries with the development in breeding, the impact on different courts throughout Europe, and their elevation in art.

Dangerous Ambition: Character Analysis Of Major General Horatio Gates, Harold Allen Skinner Jr.

Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History

Historian Robert Middlekauff describes Revolutionary War-era America as a society of the twice-born, people profoundly influenced by both radical English Whig ideology and the reformed Protestantism of the Great Awakening.[1] Historians have studied the influence of Christianity on many of the leading figures of the American Revolution, with the notable exception of Major General Horatio Gates. Gates’ military career presents a paradox to military historians: how could the victor at Saratoga in 1778 suffer ignominious defeat at Camden in August 1780? This paper will argue that Horatio Gates’ misfortunes during the American Revolution were due principally to his unregenerate …

Raven Sentry: Employing Ai For Indications And Warnings In Afghanistan, Thomas W. Spahr

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article examines Raven Sentry, a project that employed artificial intelligence to provide advance warning of insurgent attacks in Afghanistan. During 2019 and 2020, the Resolute Support Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (J2) benefited from a command culture open to innovation, the urgency created by the US drawdown, and a uniquely talented group of personnel that, aided by commercial sector experts, built an AI system that helped predict attacks. The war’s end cut Raven Sentry short, but the experience provides important lessons on AI and the conditions necessary for successful innovation.

From The Editor In Chief, Antulio J. Echevarria Ii

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Summer 2024 issue of Parameters. We open this issue with a special “In Memoriam” by General Charles A. Flynn, Commander US Army Pacific, honoring the life and legacies of our director and consummate colleague, Carol V. Evans. We dedicate this issue to her. General Flynn’s memoriam is followed by an In Focus commentary on China’s Belt and Road Initiative. We then feature three forums covering the Russia-Ukraine War, the Middle East, and Professional Development. This issue also contains special essays on the role of professional writing, the US Army War College’s Civil-Military Relations Center, …

The Combat Path: Sustaining Mental Readiness In Ukrainian Soldiers, Oleh Hukovskyy, James C. West, Joshua C. Morganstein, Eugene F. Augusterfer, David M. Benedek, Oleg Boyko, Robert J. Ursano, Amy B. Adler

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

In Ukraine, soldiers’ psychological resilience is of paramount concern. Therefore, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have developed a new intervention, Combat Path Debriefing, designed to address combat stress and promote unit readiness for soldiers returning to combat. This article outlines the components of Combat Path Debriefing and discusses how it is rooted in principles of combat and operational stress control and the unique characteristics of Ukrainian military life. This perspective offers US and allied leaders real-world experience that can inform future efforts to support soldiers’ mental health and combat performance.

The Dynamics Of Us Retrenchment In The Middle East, Paul K. Macdonald, Joseph M. Parent

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that conditions favor American retrenchment from the Middle East because the United States can shift burdens to capable states in the region, there are few areas where US commitments are interdependent, and the local conquest calculus favors defense. Forward military deployments do not positively influence potential threats in the Middle East, and maintaining deployments there will detract from meeting challenges from China. Through comparisons to prior cases of great-power ordinal decline, this article puts America’s modest decline in historical perspective and finds that retrenchment policies will likely have positive consequences.

Exploring The Nexus Of Military And Society At A 50-Year Milestone, Patricia M. Shields

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

There is an ongoing dependence and tension between the military and the society it protects. This article examines the relatively new “military and society” field using the 50-year anniversary of the journal Armed Forces & Society as a focal point. This dynamic field is influenced by world events, cultural trends, and politics. Civil-military relations is at the heart of the discourse. An international and interdisciplinary journal, Armed Forces & Society reflects the changing nature of the field over the last 50 years. I have edited the journal since 2001 and bring this experience to the discussion.

Contributor Guidelines, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Guard Duty For The Garries: Soldiers, Internees And The History Of Pow Camp R, David K. Ratz, Michel S. Beaulieu

Canadian Military History

With the outbreak of the Second World War, Winnipeg’s Fort Garry Horse (or Garries as they call themselves), like many units across Canada, found themselves mobilising and preparing to go overseas. However, when the order to embark on a train to Quebec was received in June 1940, it was not what many had hoped or expected. Instead of boarding a ship bound for England, they were instead sent to meet the first German prisoners of war sent to Canada to escort them to a newly established camp in northwestern Ontario at Red Rock. Using a series of interviews with veterans …

Review Of “Varsity’S Soldiers: The University Of Toronto Contingent Of The Canadian Officers’ Training Corps, 1914-1968” By Eric Mcgeer, Joel Watson

Canadian Military History

Review of Varsity’s Soldiers: The University of Toronto Contingent of the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps, 1914-1968 by Eric McGeer

Review Of “Bombs And Barbed Wire: Stories Of Acadian Airmen And Prisoners Of War, 1939-1945” By Ronald Cormier And “The Captain Was A Doctor: The Long War And Uneasy Peace Of Pow John Reid” By Jonathon Reid, Jean-Michel Turcotte

Canadian Military History

Review of Bombs and Barbed Wire: Stories of Acadian Airmen and Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 by Ronald Cormier and The Captain Was a Doctor: The Long War and Uneasy Peace of POW John Reid by Jonathon Reid.

Review Of “A Different Track: Hospital Trains Of The Second World War” By Alexandra Kitty, Cynthia Toman

Canadian Military History

Review of A Different Track: Hospital Trains of the Second World War by Alexandra Kitty.

Review Of “Part Of Life Itself: The War Diary Of Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller, Cef” Edited By Graham Broad, Gary Sheffield

Canadian Military History

Review of Part of Life Itself: The War Diary of Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller, CEF edited by Graham Broad.

Review Of “French Generals Of The Great War: Leading The Way” Edited By Jonathan Krause And William Philpott, Roy A. Prete

Canadian Military History

Review of French Generals of the Great War: Leading the Way edited by Jonathan Krause and William Philpott.

Review Of “Lifesavers And Body Snatchers: Medical Care And The Struggle For Survival In The Great War” By Tim Cook, Adam Montgomery

Canadian Military History

Review of Lifesavers and Body Snatchers: Medical Care and the Struggle for Survival in the Great War by Tim Cook.

Review Of “Treasuring The Tradition: The Story Of The Military Museums” By Jeff Keshen And David Bercuson, Craig Leslie Mantle

Canadian Military History

Review of Treasuring the Tradition: The Story of The Military Museums by Jeff Keshen and David Bercuson.

Review Of “Material Traces Of War: Stories Of Canadian Women And Conflict, 1914- 1945” By Stacey Barker, Krista Cooke And Molly Mccullough, Susan R. Grayzel

Canadian Military History

Review of Material Traces of War: Stories of Canadian Women and Conflict, 1914- 1945 by Stacey Barker, Krista Cooke and Molly McCullough.

Review Of “Haunted Britain: Spiritualism, Psychical Research And The Great War” By Kyle Falcon, Tim Cook

Canadian Military History

Review of Haunted Britain: Spiritualism, Psychical Research and the Great War by Kyle Falcon

Review Of “The Book At War: How Reading Shaped Conflict And Conflict Shaped Reading” By Andrew Pettegree, Tim Cook

Canadian Military History

Review of The Book at War: How Reading Shaped Conflict and Conflict Shaped Reading by Andrew Pettegree

Review Of “Small Stories Of War: Children, Youth And Conflict In Canada And Beyond” Edited By Barbara Lorenzkowski, Kristine Alexander And Andrew Burtch, Cynthia R. Comacchio

Canadian Military History

Review of Small Stories of War: Children, Youth and Conflict in Canada and Beyond edited by Barbara Lorenzkowski, Kristine Alexander and Andrew Burtch

Review Of “Four Colour Combat: Canadian Forces In War Comics” By Cord A. Scott, Matthew Barrett

Canadian Military History

Review of Four Colour Combat: Canadian Forces in War Comics by Cord A. Scott

Review Of “E. J. Hughes: Canadian War Artist” By Robert Amos, Matthew Barrett

Canadian Military History

Review of E. J. Hughes: Canadian War Artist by Robert Amos

Review Of “But I Live: Three Stories Of Child Survivors Of The Holocaust” Edited By Charlotte Schallié And “The Long Winter Of 1945: Tivari” By Anna Di Lellio And Dardan Luta, Matthew Barrett

Canadian Military History

Review of But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust edited by Charlotte Schallié and The Long Winter of 1945: Tivari by Anna Di Lellio and Dardan Luta

A Sense Of Loss: The Effect Of Prisoner Camp Conditions On German Pows’ Masculinity During The First World War, Analucia Lugo

The Purdue Historian

During the First World War, almost a million German soldiers became prisoners of war (POW) and held captive in enemy camps. The moment of capture and arrest caused these men to experience debilitating emotions, including guilt and fear. Varied conditions at POW camps bolstered these responses and often determined prisoner health and morale throughout the war. This article examines how camps in Britain, France, and Russia treated German POWs, and how German nationalism affected these soldiers' senses of masculinity and patriotism during and after the war.

143 Wing (Rcaf) Typhoons Over Normandy: Some Operational, Geographical And Archaeological Perspectives, David G. Passmore, David Capps-Tunwell

Canadian Military History

This article presents the first attempt to conduct a geographical analysis of every air-to-ground attack conducted by a tactical fighter-bomber wing over the period 1 May–31 August 1944 in support of Operation Overlord. Ninety-five per cent of the 606 attacks made by 143 Wing Typhoons on single or multiple targets can be resolved to a map reference or place name, and their chronology and distribution reveal new insights into the Wing’s operational history. Commemorative and heritage perspectives are also highlighted for attacks on targets in woodland settings where archaeological survey of bomb craters can be linked to specific raids.

A Canadian Civil Affairs Officer In Italy: Lieutenant-Colonel H. S. Robinson, Provincial Commissioner For Brescia In 1945, Janet Sanders, Rolando Anni, Maria Paola Pasini

Canadian Military History

This article provides an overview of one Canadian Civil Affairs Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Homer Smiley Robinson, and his contribution to the rebuilding of the province of Brescia in north Italy and its eponymous capital after liberation from Nazi occupation. Robinson, as Provincial Commissioner, led the Civil Affairs team from April to October 1945 as the first Canadian to be appointed to the position. Traditionally, Civil Affairs has been studied predominantly as a bureaucratic structure. The human element in terms of staff and stakeholders has been almost entirely neglected. It is hoped that this account of a soldier-turned-governor will prove to be …

Preaching Peace, Selling Arms: The Evolution Of Canadian Military Export Policy, 1946-49, Paul Esau

Canadian Military History

Recent sales of Canadian military equipment to Saudi Arabia have highlighted a contradiction between Canadian military export policy on paper and in practice. This contradiction is rooted in a series of policy decision made between 1946 and 1949, just after the Second World War. During this period Canadian policymakers accepted that military exports were economically and strategically necessary, and become an opportunistic exporter of military equipment to the non-communist world. The military export policies adopted during these years were flexible, pragmatic, and reactive; they incentivised risk-aversion and commercial competitiveness, but not internally consistency. Consequently, the defining principle of Canadian military …