Introduction

The forces of the rear with which this study is concerned are the airborne troops, the Special Forces, the partisans, and certain elements of the air forces of the belligerents of the last war. The war in the enemy rear from 1939 to 1945 was not conducted in accordance with a recognized general doctrine because no such doctrine had then been developed, nor has any attempt been made since to present a study of the theoretical aspects of the war in the rear as a whole and of front and rear warfare as an entity. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the duties assigned to the various—unconventional and conventional —forces of the rear. It also discusses how the rear operations are interrelated with those of the front and outlines the control structure which the integration of front and rear effort requires.