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    Field Marshal Slim - Theoretical Thinking And The Impact Of Theory On Campaign Planning
    Field Marshal Slim - Theoretical Thinking And The Impact Of Theory On Campaign Planning
    Field Marshal Slim - Theoretical Thinking And The Impact Of Theory On Campaign Planning
    Ebook95 pages45 minutes

    Field Marshal Slim - Theoretical Thinking And The Impact Of Theory On Campaign Planning

    By Major Shawn P. Steele

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    About this ebook

    Field Marshall Viscount Slim holds a special place in modern military history. He soundly defeated the Imperial Japanese Army in Burma in 1945, retaking the strategically important Burma Road, and safeguarding the Chinese Theater from sure culmination. By all accounts, Slim is a military genius, having achieved this notable victory even after the Japanese 15th Army pushed Allied troops all the way back to India. The historical records attribute Slim’s success to his superior ability to lead soldiers in combat, but they tell only half the story. By tracing Slim’s implicit process of theoretical thinking, using an observe, interpret, hypothesize, test, and prescribe action framework, this story demonstrates that Slim’s genius came from a combination of his abilities to lead and think theoretically. Specifically, in the case of Slim, his ability to think theoretically afforded him the opportunity to develop a new operational approach-a paradigm shift of sorts-and his leadership made it possible to motivate his men to employ that approach. The author asserts that it is the presence of these two abilities in a single man that make him a superior military commander.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherVerdun Press
    Release dateAug 15, 2014
    ISBN9781782898221
    Field Marshal Slim - Theoretical Thinking And The Impact Of Theory On Campaign Planning

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      Book preview

      Field Marshal Slim - Theoretical Thinking And The Impact Of Theory On Campaign Planning - Major Shawn P. Steele

      This edition is published by PICKLE PARTNERS PUBLISHING—www.picklepartnerspublishing.com

      To join our mailing list for new titles or for issues with our books – picklepublishing@gmail.com

      Or on Facebook

      Text originally published in 2012 under the same title.

      © Pickle Partners Publishing 2014, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

      Publisher’s Note

      Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

      We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

      Field Marshal Slim—Theoretical Thinking and the Impact of Theory on Campaign Planning

      By

      Major Shawn P. Steele U.S. Army

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Contents

      TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

      Abstract 5

      Acknowledgements 6

      Introduction 7

      Background 7

      The Problem 7

      Purpose of the Study 8

      Importance 8

      Theoretical Framework 8

      Research Questions 10

      Hypothesis 10

      Organization of Study 11

      Extant Literature 12

      Introduction 12

      Current Military Doctrine 12

      Mission Command 12

      Army Design Methodology 13

      Military Leadership 14

      Methodology 15

      Introduction 15

      Research Method 15

      Selection of Case 15

      Data Sources 16

      Autobiographical 16

      Biographical 16

      Military Campaign Text 17

      Scope 17

      Summary 18

      Case Study: Slim’s Burma Campaign 19

      Introduction 19

      Strategic Context 20

      Initial Observations: December 1941 to May 1942 22

      A Calcutta Hillside: Mid-May 1942 25

      The Second Arakan Campaign: December 1943 to March 1944 28

      Retaking the Initiative: March 1944 to March 1945 31

      Conclusions 34

      Findings 34

      Implications 35

      Recommendations for Further Research 35

      Summary 35

      Appendix A: — Burma 1941 Japanese Offensive and Allied Retreat 37

      Appendix B: — Burma November 1943–May 1944 38

      Appendix C: — Burma June 1944– March 1945 39

      REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 40

      BIBLIOGRAPHY 41

      Books 41

      Journals and Magazines 44

      Internet Sites 45

      Abstract

      Field Marshall Viscount Slim holds a special place in modern military history. He soundly defeated the Imperial Japanese Army in Burma in 1945, retaking the strategically important Burma Road, and safeguarding the Chinese Theater from sure culmination. By all accounts, Slim is a military genius, having achieved this notable victory even after the Japanese 15th Army pushed Allied troops all the way back to India. The historical records attribute Slim’s success to his superior ability to lead soldiers in combat, but they tell only half the story. By tracing Slim’s implicit process of theoretical thinking, using an observe, interpret, hypothesize, test, and prescribe action framework, this story demonstrates that Slim’s genius came from a combination of his abilities to lead and think theoretically. Specifically, in the case of Slim, his ability to think theoretically afforded him the opportunity to develop a new operational approach—a paradigm shift of sorts—and his leadership made it possible to motivate his men to employ that approach. The author asserts that it is the presence of these two abilities in a single man that make him a superior military commander.

      Acknowledgements

      I would like to acknowledge the following people for their heartfelt dedication and selfless sacrifice in assisting in the completion of this project:

       Bonnie Joranko

       Major Eric S. Fowler, US Army

       Major Evans Hanson, US Army

      Introduction

      Background

      Between 1939 and 1945, much of the world’s attention focused on the conflict between the Axis and Allies on the battlefields of Eastern Europe. However, during this same time, men were also fighting in the lesser-known Far East Theater of Burma. The Burma campaign was a vital component in the Allied strategy to stop the advancing Imperial Japanese Army, maintaining strategic supply routes to China and causing Japan to divert forces from other locations in the Pacific.{1} The man whose actions turned this campaign to victory from the brink of total defeat was Field Marshal William Joseph Slim.

      Most people know Slim as an inspirational leader; some even consider

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