Episode 83– Nance on WW2 Strategy Part 1: 1930-1942

Dr. Jonathan Abel talks with Dr. Bill Nance about strategy in World War II. They detail the strategic approaches going into the war of the major powers. They discuss why Germany, Japan, and Italy took the paths they did to begin the war. They explain the various Allies’ approaches and why the were so incoherent. They take the strategy up to early 1942, when the Axis peak and the Allies begin to turn the tide of the war. Special thanks to J.R. Howard and Andy Mack of the Department of Sustainment and Force Management “History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance Artwork: Daniel O. Neal Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance talk with Dr. Lori Henning about how American and British cavalry reacted to the development of air power. They begin by outlining the rise of air power before and during World War I. They discuss how both countries’ cavalry services incorporated air power in the 1920s. They continue to examine how developments in technology threatened horse cavalry in the 1930s. They conclude by noting that stories of techno-futurist prophets being oppressed by old recidivists in historiography are often exaggerated or outright false. “History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of ChesterfieldHost: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMHDMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill NanceArtwork: Daniel O. NealMusic: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Bill Nance are joined by Dr. Sean Kalic, Director of DMH, and Dr. Ethan Rafuse to talk about their project on U.S. presidents in wartime. They discuss the themes and trends that emerge from a study of the topic. They dissect the human dimension of the task before the presidents. They conclude with lessons for today’s warfighters. “History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMHDMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill NanceArtwork: Daniel O. NealMusic: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by Dr. Bill Nance to talk to LTC Andy Whitford, PhD, Department of Distance Education, about how the British rebuilt their shattered army after the initial combats in World War I. They outline the British army and its institutions before World War I. They detail the practice of the soldier and manpower policy throughout the war. They conclude by examining how the war and manning policies created a significant legacy in British politics.

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance talk with Dr. John Hosler about command and control in medieval armies, particularly in Western Europe between c700 and 1450. They begin at the strategic level, characterizing armies and their compositions. They discuss muster, equipment, and pay. They then zoom in to discuss the operational and tactical levels. They conclude by noting that C2 has not much changed in many ways in 1,500 years, despite common belief to the contrary. “History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMHDMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill NanceArtwork: Daniel O. NealMusic: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Bill Nance are joined by Dr. John Kuehn to reassess Admiral Ernest King, commander of U.S. Navy forces during World War II. They outline his background and broad experience in the interwar years, and how he got to the offices he occupied during the war. They discuss his attitudes towards sea power and war planning. They detail his command of the war, including how he handled difficult subordinates like Chester Nimitz and William Halsey. Finally, Dr. Kuehn offers his reassessment of King as a solid and creative war leader for the Navy. “History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMHDMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill NanceArtwork: Daniel O. NealMusic: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Bill Nance are joined by Dr. Zach Fry to reassess George Meade. They begin with the popular image of him as having commanded only in name at Gettysburg before being superseded by Grant. They explore his background and antebellum career. They detail his war, particularly the leadup to Gettysburg, and the difficulty 1864 campaign. They conclude by determining that Meade was a good, if unspectacular, commander. “History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMHDMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill NanceArtwork: Daniel O. NealMusic: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Bill Nance reassess Dwight Eisenhower as a commander in World War 2. They discuss his background, his qualifications, and how he got his job as SHAEF commander. They detail his role as the most prominent Allied commander in Europe during most of the war and its challenges. They conclude with some lessons from Eisenhower’s career. History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMHDMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill NanceArtwork: Daniel O. NealMusic: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Dr. Bill Nance hosts a reassessment of Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, future King Karl XIV Johan of Sweden, with Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Mike Bonura of DJIMO. They explain why Bernadotte is often seen negatively. They explore if that is an accurate assessment of his career. They conclude with their own thoughts on the topic.

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance host special guest COL. Ethan Diven, Provost and Command and General Staff College Deputy Commandant. They discuss his favorite story from history, the importance of history in the CGSC curriculum, and how students should approach military history. Finally, he offers advice to students entering the course and graduates returning to the force. “History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMHDMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill NanceArtwork: Daniel O. NealMusic: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band