Building Military Doctrine based on History and Experience: 20th century examples from Germany, France, Israel and the US Cover Image

Sõjalise doktriini loomine ajalookogemuse alusel 20. sajandi Saksamaa, Prantsusmaa, Iisraeli ja USA näitel
Building Military Doctrine based on History and Experience: 20th century examples from Germany, France, Israel and the US

Author(s): Łukasz Przybyło
Subject(s): Military history, Political history, Social history, Pre-WW I & WW I (1900 -1919), Interwar Period (1920 - 1939), WW II and following years (1940 - 1949), Post-War period (1950 - 1989)
Published by: Tallinna Ülikooli Kirjastus
Keywords: Military Doctrine; military history; Germany; France; Israel; US;

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses the role, or lack thereof, of military history and past experience in shaping military doctrine. The analysis is based on four case studies: the Reichsheer/Wehrmacht 1919–1940, the French Army 1919–1940, the Israel Defense Forces 1948–1973, and the US Army 1973–1991. In the synthesis, the author describes the role of military history in creating a workable military doctrine at the three levels of war: the tactical level, the operational level, and the strategic level. As cautionary examples for our modern politicians and decision-makers, some cases of abuse and misuse of military history are pointed out.

  • Issue Year: 10/2020
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 69-105
  • Page Count: 37
  • Language: Estonian