Strategy as exemplified in the Second World War; A Strategical Examination of the Land Operations
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1946. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Hardcover. Format is approximately 4.875 inches by 7.5 inches. [8], 89, [3] inches. Footnotes. Diagrams/maps. Index of Proper Names This is The Lees Knowles Lectures for 1946. Alfred Higgins Burne DSO (1886–1959) was a soldier and military historian. He invented the concept of Inherent Military Probability; in battles and campaigns where there is some doubt over what action was taken, Burne believed that the action taken would be one which a trained staff officer of the twentieth century would take. Burne introduced the concept of Inherent Military Probability (IMP) to the study of military history. He himself defined it thus: My method here is to start with what appear to be undisputed facts, then to place myself in the shoes of each commander in turn, and to ask myself in each case what I would have done. This I call working on Inherent Military Probability. I then compare the resulting action with the existing record in order to see whether it discloses any incompatibility with the existing facts. If not, I then go on to the next debatable or obscure point in the battle and repeat the operation. Burne's approach has been criticized on the grounds that his concept of Inherent Military Probability puts modern military thinking and doctrine into the minds of mediaeval monarchs. However, it does treat war leaders as intelligent, thinking creatures, and veteran mediaeval leaders were often likely to come to the same conclusion as British staff officers, albeit by different thought processes. The Lees Knowles Lectureship was established at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1912 and lectures are given by distinguished experts in military and naval history. Selection for this lectureship is considered one of the highest honors available to specialists in military history and affairs. The lectureship was established by a bequest by Trinity alumnus and military historian Sir Lees Knowles. This book comprises the Lees Knowles Lectures for 1946, originally delivered by A. H. Burne at the University of Cambridge. Burne begins by introducing the principles of military strategy, and then applies those principles to examples of land operations in Poland, Dunkirk and Russia, Africa and Italy, and Japan and north-west Europe during the Second World War. Condition: Good / No dust jacket present.
Keywords: Military Strategy, Military Training, Staff Officer, Second World War, Lees Knowles, Normandy, Falaise, Dunkirk, Dnieper Bend, Abyssinia, Ethiopia, Wavell, Alamein, Mareth Line, Malaya
[Book #84875]
Price: $60.00