This paper will discuss the American strategy in the Second World War as it relates to the strategy model developed by the U.S. Army War College. The first part of the paper will briefly describe this model. The second part of the paper will discuss how the elements of this model correspond to various aspects of the U.S. strategy in World War Two. The third part of this paper will examine the conflict between the American strategy and the British strategy. The last part of the paper will show how the American strategy was influenced by Clausewitz and Jomini.
According to the U.S. Army War College strategy model, there are three elements to strategy: (1) the ends or objectives sought to further state interests; (2) the ways or concepts to be used in achieving the objectives; and (3) the means or resources which are available for use in achieving the objectives. These three elements effectively pose three questions and developing a strategy involves answering these questions: what are the objectives being sought, how are they to be achieved, and with what means? The model also suggests that there is a fourth element in strategy: risk. The amount of risk present in any particular strategy is dependent upon the balancing of the other three factors. If they are somewhat imbalanced, then there is a somewhat greater degree of risk than if they are balanced. If they are greatly imbalanced, then there is a tremendous amount of risk present in the strategy (Yarger, 1998, pp. 2-7).
The model also holds that there are three different levels of strategy: national security strategy, national military strategy, and theater strategy. National security strategy concerns national power and refers to the development, application, and coordination of the instruments of national power in order to secure objectives that contribute to the national security. National military strategy refers to the distribution and application of military pow...