Command and Commanders in Modern Warfare; The Proceedings of the Second Military History Symposium, U.S. Air Force Academy, 2-3 May, 1968

xi, [1], 340 pages. Includes Preface and Introduction. Chapters include The United States Army's Experience in the Early Twentieth Century; British Naval Leaders in World War 1; The End of the Prussian Military Tradition in Germany; American Naval Leaders in World War II; and New Perspectives in Warfare. Also contains an index. William Geffen was born in Konigsberg, Germany, and came to the U.S. in 1941. He enlisted in the Armed Forces. He fought in World War II, and because of his natural skill in languages, was frequently stationed overseas. Education was always a priority for him, however, and he took advantage of the G.I. bill to obtain an undergraduate degree at University of California, Berkeley, and a graduate degree at Stanford University. Stationed in Washington DC, he worked for military intelligence in the Pentagon for several years. In 1960, he accepted appointment as a professor in military history and political science at the Air Force Academy. During this time, he also earned his Doctorate in Political Science from the University of Denver. He volunteered to serve in Viet Nam and was there for over a year as a liaison between the Asian countries and the U.S. Upon his return, he was promoted to Permanent Professor at the Air Force Academy, leading the Foreign Language Department. During his time of service with the military, he earned many honors, including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, the WWII Victory Medal and the Purple Heart. This book is comprised of essays and commentaries from the Second Annual Military History Symposium held in May 1968. The general purpose of the symposium series is to provide a forum in which recognized scholars may present the results of their research in the history of military affairs. This will, hopefully, enhance interest in the subject among both civilian and military historians, while encouraging a continuing interest among members of the armed forces of the United States and cadets of the United States Air Force Academy in the study of the history of their chosen profession. A basic objective of the annual symposium series is to create a closer link between the academic historian and the military professional designed to achieve a fuller appreciation and better evaluation of past military events. The historical records are enriched by including the views of the men who participated in past events. It serves to enhance and encourage interest. The Air Force Academy's Department of History has been particularly concerned with the history of military affairs and warfare since the founding of the institution. In fact, for a few years after the beginning of classes in 1954, the Academy could boast of perhaps the only separate Department of Military History in the United States. In 1959 the Department of History inaugurated the annual Harmon Memorial Lectures to foster interest and research in military history. The advent of nuclear weapons has drastically altered the nature of modern warfare. For this reason the military profession finds itself today in the throes of a "second" military revolution. Both the military professional and the civilian policy-maker seek to find familiar landmarks to guide them through the new environment of the nuclear age which, because of the vastly changed military technology and its political consequences, remains largely a "terra incognita." Among the presenters were: Russell Weigley, Louis Morton, Edward Coffman, Arthur Marder, Harold Deutsch, Peter Paret, Walter Walimont, von Schweppenburg, Manteuffel, Franz Halder, von Manstein, Heusinger, E. B. Potter, Arleigh Burke, Robin Higham, Robert Futrell, John Slessor, Erhard Milch, Adolf Galland, Kingston-McCloughry.…