inter war years

Inter War YearsInter War Years

Major RasconMajor Rascon

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Comprehend why the interwar period Comprehend why the interwar period represented only an armistice rather than represented only an armistice rather than genuine peace or international stability by genuine peace or international stability by describing attempts at peace and why they describing attempts at peace and why they failed failed

Know and explain the bases of American Know and explain the bases of American isolationism in 1920’s - 30’s, and the isolationism in 1920’s - 30’s, and the resultant impact on defense preparedness resultant impact on defense preparedness

Know and explain the “doctrine of defense”, Know and explain the “doctrine of defense”, with emphasis on the Maginot philosophy with emphasis on the Maginot philosophy and the thoughts/contributions of Liddell Hartand the thoughts/contributions of Liddell Hart

ReferenceReference

Dupuy and Dupuy, Dupuy and Dupuy, The Encyclopedia of The Encyclopedia of Military HistoryMilitary History, pp. 1027 – 1050, pp. 1027 – 1050

Preston and Wise, Men in Arms, pp. 278 – Preston and Wise, Men in Arms, pp. 278 – 294294

Ropp, Ropp, War in the Modern WorldWar in the Modern World, pp. 275 – , pp. 275 – 313313

Weigley, Weigley, The American Way of WarThe American Way of War, pp 223 - , pp 223 - 265265

Attempts at PeaceAttempts at Peace

The AftermathThe Aftermath- High costs of War in human and material- High costs of War in human and material- New attitude of revulsion against war- New attitude of revulsion against war- Need to recover and build a system to - Need to recover and build a system to prevent war againprevent war again

Out come of peacemaking endeavors;Out come of peacemaking endeavors;- League of Nations; principle of collective - League of Nations; principle of collective securitysecurity- Disarmament; not total, but a limit on Arms- Disarmament; not total, but a limit on Arms

Attempts at Peace Cont’dAttempts at Peace Cont’d

True peace or a 20-year cease-fireTrue peace or a 20-year cease-fire-Temporary, shallow peace-Temporary, shallow peace- No practical solutions- No practical solutions

Americans WithdrawAmericans Withdraw

Isolationism Isolationism - Avoid being dragged into war again- Avoid being dragged into war again- Return to prewar strengths- Return to prewar strengths- US its own best guarantor of peace- US its own best guarantor of peace

Isolationism deepens as the Depression years Isolationism deepens as the Depression years unfoldunfold- Economic problems- Economic problems- Reduction of military- Reduction of military- Anti-military service sentiment appears- Anti-military service sentiment appears

Defense preparedness takes a back seatDefense preparedness takes a back seat

Doctrine of DefenseDoctrine of Defense

An outgrowth of post-World War 1 reactionAn outgrowth of post-World War 1 reactionPassive security dominates military thoughtPassive security dominates military thought

- Maginot Line in France- Maginot Line in France- Fortified with integrated firepower- Fortified with integrated firepower- Created false sense of security- Created false sense of security- Stifled offensive planning- Stifled offensive planning

Composition of ForcesComposition of Forces

Land ForcesLand Forces Interwar Armies adjusted according to results Interwar Armies adjusted according to results

of WWIof WWIReforms made by losers to avoid previous Reforms made by losers to avoid previous

failures failures Victors - returned to pre-1914, colonial type Victors - returned to pre-1914, colonial type

forces forces Vanquished Countries developed new Vanquished Countries developed new

weaponsweapons

Composition of ForcesComposition of Forces

Sea ForcesSea Forces Principle Navies; United States, Britain, Japan, Principle Navies; United States, Britain, Japan,

France and ItalyFrance and Italy Adopted attitudes towards new weapons was Adopted attitudes towards new weapons was

conditioned by traditional position and potential conditioned by traditional position and potential enemiesenemies

Future roles of battleships, aircraft, and submarines Future roles of battleships, aircraft, and submarines obscured by technological uncertainty obscured by technological uncertainty – Confusion reflected in naval conferences Confusion reflected in naval conferences – Washington - 1921, Geneva - 1927, London - Washington - 1921, Geneva - 1927, London -

1930 & 1935 1930 & 1935

Air ForcesAir Forces

Sought to achieve independent Roles Sought to achieve independent Roles Air demonstrations of potential military value Air demonstrations of potential military value

at every opportunity at every opportunity Technological advances slow until early ‘30’s Technological advances slow until early ‘30’s Deterrence not practical until after 1935Deterrence not practical until after 1935

TheoristsTheorists

Britain- where strongest against the incompetent Britain- where strongest against the incompetent way the war was fought on the Western Frontway the war was fought on the Western Front

Theorists included:Theorists included:- Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond- Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond- Major General J.F.C Fuller- Major General J.F.C Fuller- Captain B. H. Liddell Hart- Captain B. H. Liddell Hart

General Mitchell, U.S.- air powerGeneral Mitchell, U.S.- air power Major C.D. Barrett, U.S – first manual for landing Major C.D. Barrett, U.S – first manual for landing

operationsoperations Colonel DeGaulle, France – armor in FranceColonel DeGaulle, France – armor in France

National Armed Forces, U.S. (Land)National Armed Forces, U.S. (Land)

Machine Gun recognized, Truck, Tank and Machine Gun recognized, Truck, Tank and Plane not fully appreciatedPlane not fully appreciated

National Defense Act of 1920 - reverted to National Defense Act of 1920 - reverted to mobilization plans of 1927mobilization plans of 1927

Infantry Army envisioned, but no selective Infantry Army envisioned, but no selective service service

Isolationism - Army cut to 119,000 menIsolationism - Army cut to 119,000 men

National Armed Forces, U.S. (Sea)National Armed Forces, U.S. (Sea)

Navy revived 1916 program - rendered most Navy revived 1916 program - rendered most ships under construction obsolete ships under construction obsolete

Navy concentrated on Carriers and Air Ships Navy concentrated on Carriers and Air Ships - conference limitations on Battleships - conference limitations on Battleships

Later returned to building battleships to Later returned to building battleships to balance fleet balance fleet

Amphibious Warfare developed by USMCAmphibious Warfare developed by USMC

National Armed Forces, U.S. (Air)National Armed Forces, U.S. (Air)

Army Air Service championed by General Army Air Service championed by General Billy Mitchell (wartime hero)Billy Mitchell (wartime hero)

Mitchell ahead of times - eventually sacked Mitchell ahead of times - eventually sacked for disobediencefor disobedience

Later, Mitchell’s claims were evaluated and Later, Mitchell’s claims were evaluated and Army Air Corps was established Army Air Corps was established

Strategic Bombing Doctrine DevelopedStrategic Bombing Doctrine Developed and the B-17 prototype testedand the B-17 prototype tested

National Armed forces, Britain National Armed forces, Britain (Land)(Land)

British Army followed colonial heritage, British Army followed colonial heritage, fought mechanization fought mechanization

Growth extremely slow, despite Fuller and Growth extremely slow, despite Fuller and Hart publication in 1929 of army field manualHart publication in 1929 of army field manual

Result - British tanks technically superior to Result - British tanks technically superior to Germans, but were attached to trenched Germans, but were attached to trenched infantry that they were quickly destroyed by infantry that they were quickly destroyed by GermansGermans

National Armed Forces, Britain National Armed Forces, Britain (Sea)(Sea)

Royal Navy reduced by politicians and Royal Navy reduced by politicians and disarmament treatiesdisarmament treaties

Little effort to submarines, carriers, or Little effort to submarines, carriers, or antisubmarine Warfareantisubmarine Warfare

New dimensions in Naval Warfare were New dimensions in Naval Warfare were disregardeddisregarded

National Armed Forces, Britain National Armed Forces, Britain (Air)(Air)

RAF used to police primitive tribal areas RAF used to police primitive tribal areas Home defense handled better by RAF than Home defense handled better by RAF than

by older two servicesby older two services Counter-strike deterrent force developed Counter-strike deterrent force developed Stress of fighters for home defense came Stress of fighters for home defense came

just in time to save Britain in 1940just in time to save Britain in 1940

National Armed Forces, FranceNational Armed Forces, France

Fear of revived Germany dominated Paris Fear of revived Germany dominated Paris France retained most powerful army and air France retained most powerful army and air

force in Europeforce in EuropeCordon Sanitaire attempted around Germany Cordon Sanitaire attempted around Germany

by Franceby FranceMaginot Line constructed Maginot Line constructed By 1940 - political struggles crippled militaryBy 1940 - political struggles crippled military

National Armed Forces, ItalyNational Armed Forces, Italy

1922 - Mussolini’s fascist government 1922 - Mussolini’s fascist government revived prestige of militaryrevived prestige of military

Army modernized and highly mechanized Army modernized and highly mechanized Air Force given full independence Air Force given full independence Forces exercised in Ethiopia (1935-36) and Forces exercised in Ethiopia (1935-36) and

Spain (1936 - 39)Spain (1936 - 39)However, as war began Italian armed However, as war began Italian armed

services were in decline (lack of modern services were in decline (lack of modern material, economic base or morale to fight)material, economic base or morale to fight)

National Armed Forces, Japan National Armed Forces, Japan (Land)(Land)

Dominated by Samurai tradition, developed Dominated by Samurai tradition, developed along German lines along German lines

Mechanization, mobility, and jungle Mechanization, mobility, and jungle operations operations

Fought in China from 1931 Fought in China from 1931 Army Air Force - rapid progress, but fought Army Air Force - rapid progress, but fought

second class enemies and technical second class enemies and technical developments neglecteddevelopments neglected

National Armed Forces, Japan (Sea National Armed Forces, Japan (Sea and Air)and Air)

Carriers - great strides in development Carriers - great strides in development (under British instruction)(under British instruction)

Cruisers and destroyers excellent, torpedoes Cruisers and destroyers excellent, torpedoes were highly potentwere highly potent

No strategic bombing force (no need for it) No strategic bombing force (no need for it) Suspicious of U.S. and the lack of a stand by Suspicious of U.S. and the lack of a stand by

the Allies in Manchuria led to East Asia Co-the Allies in Manchuria led to East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (expansion plan)Prosperity Sphere (expansion plan)

National Armed Forces, RussiaNational Armed Forces, Russia

Badly demoralized - 1917 failure of Czar leadership Badly demoralized - 1917 failure of Czar leadership Made mechanization the symbol of the revolution Made mechanization the symbol of the revolution German help, British thought, and American German help, British thought, and American

ingenuity; highly mobile, infantry carrying tanks ingenuity; highly mobile, infantry carrying tanks Supply Corps established Supply Corps established Compromise between military/communist party Compromise between military/communist party Military and political general staffs created Military and political general staffs created Air Force reborn with help from Germany Air Force reborn with help from Germany Hitler struck before work completeHitler struck before work complete

National Armed Forces, Germany National Armed Forces, Germany (Land)(Land)

Deprived of power by treaty Deprived of power by treaty Army experiments and remolds doctrine Army experiments and remolds doctrine Regular army became a cadre of officers Regular army became a cadre of officers Works of Fuller and Hart translated and Works of Fuller and Hart translated and

elaborated elaborated Hitler gave the army more support Hitler gave the army more support Mechanization proceeded and equipment Mechanization proceeded and equipment

tested in Spanish Civil Wartested in Spanish Civil WarGeneral staff openly resumed Pre-Versailles General staff openly resumed Pre-Versailles

powerpower

National Armed Forces, Germany National Armed Forces, Germany (Sea and Air)(Sea and Air)

Raeder developed new U-Boats Raeder developed new U-Boats Pocket battleships developed Pocket battleships developed Bismark and Tirpitz constructed Bismark and Tirpitz constructed Luftwaffe mushroomed under Goering Luftwaffe mushroomed under Goering Tactical Air Force only good for Blitzkrieg, Tactical Air Force only good for Blitzkrieg,

but not for long term warbut not for long term war

SummarySummary

Interwar years characterized by military Interwar years characterized by military peacetime problems (economy, cutbacks peacetime problems (economy, cutbacks and complacency)and complacency)

Major nations treated armed forces in the Major nations treated armed forces in the interwar years as diplomatic positioninterwar years as diplomatic position

Disarmament movement acted as a brake Disarmament movement acted as a brake until collapse in Geneva in 1934until collapse in Geneva in 1934

Then there was a universal shift or Then there was a universal shift or rearmament, especially in the airrearmament, especially in the air

Questions?Questions?

inter war years

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