ABSTRACT

How do we plan under conditions of uncertainty? The perspective of military planners is a key organizing framework: do they see themselves as preparing to administer a peace, or preparing to fight a future war? Most interwar volumes examine only the 1920s and the 1930s. This new volume goes back, and forward in time, to draw on a greater expanse of history in order to tease out lessons for contemporary planners.

These chapters are grouped into four periods: 1815-1856, 1871-1914, 1918-1938, and post-Second World War. They progress from low-tech to high-tech concerns, for example, the first period examines armies, while the second period examines navies, the third asseses navies combined with air forces, and finally for the Kaiser chapter explores nuclear issues and decision-making.

chapter 6|26 pages

Command Decision Making

Imperial Germany, 1871–1914

chapter 7|13 pages

British Pre Paration for Global Naval War, 1904–14

Directed Revolution or Critical Problem Solving?

chapter 9|20 pages

Cat Ching the Wave

The RAF Pursues a RMA, 1918–39

chapter 10|26 pages

Transforming to Victory

The US Navy, Carrier Aviation, and Preparing for War in the Pacific

chapter 12|25 pages

From the Fall of France to the Force De Frappe

The Remaking of French Military Power, 1940–62

chapter 13|12 pages

Conclusion

Seven Lessons About the Fog of Peace