Military History Commons^™

Guerres, Individus, Systèmes : Problématiques De L’Écriture Martiale Dans Le Roman Américain Du Xxème Siècle, Julien Brugeron

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

This article aims at reassessing the long 20^th century American war novel and its inherent and hitherto seldom addressed problematics. Borrowing from both French, American and English critical standpoints, it aims at clarifying the definitional, ethical, political and aesthetic aspects of war writing by putting on an equal footing classic works of the genre (Dos Passos, Mailer, Heller, Herr) and left-aside writers (La Motte, Boyd, Hasford) as well as contemporary novelists (Powers). It is critical in American literary history, and to literary history in general, to seize what is at stake in war writing, as this particular kind of ...

A Distinction Without A Difference: Vietnam, Sir Robert Thompson, And The Policing Failures Of Vietnam, Mark J. Rothermel

Madison Historical Review

The scholarship analyzing the failure of the American involvement in Vietnam began even before the war finished. Whether the Orthodox School which considered the war unwinnable or the revisionist which argued there was a path to victory for the Americans, there have been libraries of tomes arguing who or what was to blame for the American defeat. An increased amount of scholarship recently has been written regarding the influence of British officer Sir Robert Thompson and his attempt to advise both the South Vietnamese and American war efforts.

Thompson, who gained fame as one of the key leaders for the ...

Actions Above Words: A Biography Of Vice Admiral Clifton “Ziggy” Sprague, John Kirwan

Undergraduate Theses

Among the many larger than life and fascinating figures of the Second World War, one who is seldom spoken of is the late Vice Admiral Clifton A.F. "Ziggy" Sprague. A quiet man from New England, Admiral Sprague was an accomplished pilot, administrator, and commander. From service during the First World War to assisting in the testing of nuclear devices following the end of the Second World War, Sprague was a force behind the scenes. He was devoted to his profession and refused to play the political game those above him did, preferring that his actions speak greater volumes than ...

Scribes And Soldiers: A Brief Introduction To Seventeenth-Century Military Manuscripts, Lucian Staiano-Daniels

Manuscript Studies

The history of early-modern European manuscripts has rarely focused on the use of manuscripts in armies. Some historians have even presented early-modern armies as unconcerned with daily records of the common soldiers under their command. Others have used early-modern handwritten documents as sources of information, without examining them as artifacts. But these documents are interesting works of vernacular art, created under difficult circumstances. They also provide clues to things like the literacy rate of some common soldiers. This article introduces early-modern military manuscripts. The focus is on the army of Electoral Saxony during the Thirty Years War (1618-1648).

Philistia And Israel: The Role Of The Philistines In State Formation Processes, Eduard Burcea

Campus Research Day

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Military Command System: Technological And Social Influences, Holden James Armstrong

Honors Theses

The development of a military command system is a complex and lengthy process that involves the interplay of many different factors. With that being said, I argue that the single most important factor in the development of a modern military command structure in western democratic states is social political. The impact of technology is ever-present, however, social political factors limit, check, and control the use of technology in warfare. Take for instance the use of chemical weapons, society and international law has banned its use, even if militarily it is quite effective. In this paper, I use the American Civil ...

Pacification Gone Awry: The U.S Failure To Underpin Hearts And Minds In South Vietnam, 1966–1968, Simon Mai

Phi Alpha Theta Pacific Northwest Regional Conference

Abstract: Throughout the escalation of American involvement in Vietnam from 1964 – 1968, one key strategy focused on pacification – the winning of the allegiance of South Vietnamese civilians to the Saigon-based Government of Vietnam (GVN). This paper will argue that American/GVN implementation of pacification programs at the provincial and village level revealed three fundamental factors that proved fatal and counterproductive. These factors were the political and social entrenchment of the Viet Cong or National Liberation Front (NLF), the provincial cronyism and corruption of GVN, and the indiscriminate application of American firepower in support of General William Westmoreland’s strategy of ...

The Blood Logs: Factors In The U.S. Decision To Classify The Japanese Biological And Chemical Warfare Program, Linda R. Zhang

Phi Alpha Theta Pacific Northwest Regional Conference

Abstract: The Japanese Imperial Army maintained chemical and biological testing facilities during the Asian Pacific War where unwilling civilians and prisoners of war were subjected to human experiments regarding frostbite, germ warfare, syphilis, weapons testing, and human anatomy. As American forces began occupying Japan and restructuring the country, the Allied Powers established an international tribunal to prosecute Japanese leaders deemed responsible for the war. During this time period, American policymakers would classify the Japanese bio warfare program, essentially protecting Japanese participants in the warfare program from facing trial. My research analyzes why American policymakers would classify Japan’s Biochemical Warfare ...

The Stories Behind "Forever Changed", Britt Braaten, Tim Cook

Canadian Military History

This article explores the history behind the Canadian War Museum’s special exhibition Forever Changed – Stories From the Second World War. The curator and interpretive planner offer insight into the work underpinning the exhibition and some of the challenges and thinking behind the presentation. Forever Changed was the museum’s primary exhibition to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Through personal stories and artifacts, the exhibition provides a new way for Canadians to make connections to the Second World War and the part played by Canadians from many diverse communities, representing a range of ...

Historical Thinking And Visual Literacy: Exploring The Canadian War Museum With Graphic History, Matthew Barrett

Canadian Military History

This article investigates how graphic history, a visual process which uses different artistic styles, illustrated narratives and comic-page sequential drawing, can contribute to our study and understanding of the past. I examine the theories and practices that underpin this visual approach to scholarship and overview how some academic historians are beginning to embrace graphic histories when conducting historical inquiry, analysis and interpretation. I also address important critiques about the academic rigour, pedagogical value and intellectual foundation of graphic history. I conclude with a graphic article to show how drawing, perspective and artistic techniques can be used to unpack historical concepts ...

Killing Time, Not Germans: Reserve Positions In The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division During The Battle Of Normandy, Alex Souchen

Canadian Military History

Allied victory during the Battle of Normandy is often attributed to operational and strategic factors, but the high-level focus on command and combat effectiveness obscures the infantry’s lived experiences. Although combat was their primary purpose, soldiers killed time as often as they killed Germans. This article examines the significance of the reserve position and the “down time” that soldiers spent within its confines. It argues that the reserve position was critical to combat effectiveness and high morale because it provided defensive and offensive flexibility and surplus labour for work parties and logistical tasks, while officers used it to integrate ...

Warhorses Amongst War Machines: The German Army's Use Of Horses And Cavalry During World War Ii, Katherine V. Mcfarland

Senior Theses

This thesis explores the role of the horse as used by the German Army throughout the Second World War. Contrary to the propagandic image of a mechanized Germany and of the blitzkrieg, the reality of warfare at the time remained primarily dependent on the horse, as man and beast continued to engage in conflict side by side. Horses served a variety of uses within the German forces, from mounted cavalry to hauling artillery, with disasters and successes throughout the war. Employing vast numbers of horses, the Germans allocated extensive resources, and often found themselves relying on the animal when vehicles ...

A Historical Analysis Of The Causes Of The French And Indian War, Jake Althouse

Honors Theses, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The current study attempted to answer the following research question: what were the causes of the French and Indian War between Great Britain and France in 1754? To do so, the current study researched secondary sources from a historical perspective, political theories regarding the causes of war, and primary sources from individuals involved in the build-up to conflict. Previous research by historians and political scientists have mainly attributed the causes of the French and Indian War to a security dilemma and the spiral theory of war. The current study does not support this assertion. Instead, the current study asserts that ...

Managerial Aspects Of Command, John S. Kem, James G. Breckenridge

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Celebrating 50 Years, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Beyond Huntington: Us Military Professionalism Today, Risa Brooks

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

From The Commandant, David C. Hill

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Academe And The Military, C. Anthony Pfaff, Julia L. E. Pfaff

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

The Joint Force And Lessons From 1971, Jonathan P. Klug

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Soviet Economic Reform—Surprisingly Prescient, Robert E. Hamilton

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.