CONTENTS
Foreword v The Author vi Preface vii Introduction 1 Chapter Page I. The Planner 5 The Development of a Strategic Thinker 6 Student of Applied Strategy: The Reading Program of a Professional Officer 14 II. The Requirement 35 The Military in 1941 44 Marshall Orders a New Plan 50 III. Strategic Estimates 55 The First Steps: Outlining the Problem 59 Question One: The National Objective 61 Question Two: The Military Strategy 63 Question Three: The Military Forces 77 IV. Detailed Planning 81 At Issue: How Many Divisions? 81 Structure of the Division: Planning Considerations 84 Organizing the Force: Influence of the War Plan 91 Mission One: Hemisphere Defense 92 Mission Two: Defend the Outlying Possessions 93 Mission Three: Overseas Task Forces 95 Recapitulation 100 V. Assessments 103 Limitations of the Plan--Total Divisions 103 Limitations of the Plan--Type Divisions 107 Limitations of the Plan--Replacement Problem 111 Successes of the Plan--Total Army Strength 114 Successes of the Plan--Operational Fit 115 Successes of the Plan--Political and Military Reality 116 Successes of the Plan--The Planning Process 118 Successes of the Plan--Competence in Planning 120 What Was the Victory Plan? 121 APPENDIX: The Army Portion of the Victory Plan 125 Bibliography 139 Index 153 Illustrations General Albert C. Wedemeyer frontispiece Grant Hall, Command and General Staff School 15 Early Construction at Fort Benning 15 Brig. Gen. Paul Malone 16 Maj. Gen. Stanley D. Embick 16 German Attaché Friedrich von Boetticher 17 Captain Wedemeyer at the Kriegsakademie 17 Mothballed Destroyers 67 Chief of Staff George C. Marshall and Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson 67 Under Secretary of War Robert Patterson 68 The Munitions Building 68 Brig. Gen. Leonard Gerow 69 Princpal Staff of the War Plans Division, 1941 69 Col. Truman Smith 70 General Thomas T. Handy 70 Brig. Gen. Leven C. Allen 70
Transcribed and formatted by Patrick Clancey, HyperWar Foundation