The German Way of War in the North Africa Campaign : A Lesson in Tactical Management

Much has been written about the Second World War and certainly about the campaigns in North Africa. While often a historical perspective is chosen, this book chooses a more organisational approach in addition to a historical perspective. The reason for this is that the course and outcome of military actions can only be understood if one has a clear picture of the organisational dimensions of the armies involved. After all, the combinations of the number of men and weapons is vital when considering the way the war will be fought and the outcome of the confrontation. This includes elements such as the organisational structure, the degree of decentralisation, the leadership style, the training level of the troops, team building, the command, control and intelligence structure, etc. When we talk about North Africa, we of course also talk about Rommel, a central figure in the events described. Other names that are for ever connected with North Africa are El Alamein, one of the turning points of the Second World War, and Montgomery, the British general who managed to turn the tide. This book begins with a sketch of the organisational dimensions of the German and British armies, but also looks at the dynamics of the fighting in North Africa and the demands it placed on men, officers, equipment, leadership, training, logistics, planning etc.