An unknown future and a doubtful present : writing the victory plan of 1941 / by Charles E. Kirkpatrick.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Kirkpatrick, Charles Edward.

Contributor:

John Penman Wood Fund.

Series:

CMH pub ; 93-10.

CMH pub

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World War, 1939-1945--United States.

World War, 1939-1945.

Strategy.

United States.

Physical Description:

x, 158 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Edition:

World War II 50th anniversary commemorative edition.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : Center of Military History, United States Army : For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 1990.

Summary:

An Unknown Future and a Doubtful Present: Writing the Victory Plan of 1941 covers the work of then Maj. Albert C. Wedemeyer, the principal author of the Victory Plan. In just forty-eight months America raised and equipped a modern army seemingly overnight, a feat that owed much to sound military planning. As Wedemeyer makes clear, mobilization transcends purely military matters and must be understood to embrace the capacity of nations. His work underscores the fact that even in 1941 warfare had become so vast in scope, so expensive, and so technologically complex that nations could never again afford to maintain in time of peace the armies needed in time of war. The conclusion seems inescapable: The United States Army must keep mobilization planning at the center of all its military planning. Military planners and all those studying mobilization and logistics will benefit from processes Wedemeyer and his colleagues used in reaching their decisions on the units and material needed. The Victory Plan provides a clear picture of how they approached the challenge of preparing for modern war.

Contents:

Introduction

The planner

The requirement

Strategic estimates

Detailed planning

Assessments

Appendix: The Army portion of the victory plan.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 139-151) and index.

OCLC:

21335557