Blitzkrieg to Desert Storm: The Evolution of Operational Warfare

When Germany launched its blitzkrieg invasion of France in 1940, it forever changed the way the world waged war. Robert Citino's book analyzes military campaigns from the second half of the twentieth century to demonstrate the difficulty of achieving decisive results at the operational level. He offers detailed operational analyses of actual campaigns, such as the UN forces in Korea, Israel's operational victories in successive wars, and the Vietnam debacle. Citino also considers the evolution of U.S. doctrine and assesses the success of Desert Storm in dismantling an entrenched defending force with virtually no friendly casualties. He points to the importance of mobility—especially mobilized armor—in modern operational warfare and assesses the respective roles of firepower, training, doctrine, and command and control mechanisms.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 430 pages
Publication date: 25 May 2022
Publisher: University Press of Kansas

When Germany launched its blitzkrieg invasion of France in 1940, it forever changed the way the world waged war. Although the Wehrmacht ultimately succumbed to superior Allied firepower in a two-front war, its stunning operational achievement left a lasting impression on military commanders throughout the world, even if their own operations were rarely executed as effectively.

Robert Citino analyzes military campaigns from the second half of the twentieth century to further demonstrate the difficulty of achieving decisive results at the operational level. Offering detailed operational analyses of actual campaigns, Citino describes how UN forces in Korea enjoyed technological and air superiority but found the enemy unbeatable; provides analyses of Israeli operational victories in successive wars until the Arab states finally grasped the realities of operational-level warfare in 1973; and tells how the Vietnam debacle continued to shape U.S. doctrine in surprising ways. Looking beyond major-power conflicts, he also reveals the lessons of India's blitzkrieg-like drive into Pakistan in 1971 and of the senseless bloodletting of the Iran-Iraq War.

Citino especially considers the evolution of U.S. doctrine and assesses the success of Desert Storm in dismantling an entrenched defending force with virtually no friendly casualties. He also provides one of the first scholarly analyses of Operation Iraqi Freedom, showing that its plan was curiously divorced from the realities of military history, grounded instead on nebulous theories about expected enemy behavior. Throughout Citino points to the importance of mobility—especially mobilized armor—in modern operational warfare and assesses the response.

The German blitzkrieg invasion of France in 1940 marked a significant turning point in the history of warfare, as it showcased the effectiveness of rapid and coordinated military operations. Despite facing superior Allied firepower, the Wehrmacht's blitzkrieg tactics and strategy had a profound impact on military commanders worldwide. One of the most notable military analysts to examine the challenges of achieving decisive results at the operational level is Robert Citino. In his book, "The Operational Level of War," Citino analyzes military campaigns from the second half of the twentieth century, including the Korean War, the Israeli-Arab Wars, and the Vietnam War.

Through detailed operational analyses, Citino demonstrates the complexities and challenges of achieving decisive results at the operational level. He highlights the importance of technology, air power, and mobility in modern warfare, as well as the challenges of countering enemy tactics and strategies. Citino also examines the evolution of U.S. doctrine and assesses the success of operations such as Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. While these operations were successful in achieving their objectives, Citino argues that they were often based on flawed assumptions about enemy behavior and lacked a clear understanding of the operational environment.

One of the key themes in Citino's book is the importance of mobility, particularly mobilized armor. He argues that the ability to move quickly and strike at the enemy's weak points is essential for achieving decisive results at the operational level. Citino provides examples of successful campaigns that relied on mobility, such as the Israeli victory in the 1967 Six-Day War and the U.S. victory in Desert Storm. However, he also highlights the limitations of mobility, particularly in urban environments and against well-defended enemy positions.

In conclusion, "The Operational Level of War" by Robert Citino is a valuable contribution to the study of military history and strategy. Through detailed operational analyses and thoughtful analysis of doctrine, Citino demonstrates the challenges and complexities of achieving decisive results at the operational level. He highlights the importance of technology, air power, mobility, and understanding the operational environment in modern warfare, and provides insights into the successes and failures of past campaigns. This book is essential reading for military professionals, students of history, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of war.

Weight: 259g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780700634019