Background: I think, we all read enough books restricted to sentences like "The XXX-Regiment went to A, drove off the "YY-forces" and marched on to B where it received severe losses by the "ZZ-forces".
In short - after moving to the second paragraph you already have difficulties to recall what the author had written in the first one... On the other hand you have works like C. Ryan, Carell and others that - despite their flaws - suck you in...
So what is the secret formula of outstanding operational accounts? Perhaps it is time to install the official "feldgrau"-criteria
for operational histories... Thus we could all profit from this reglement in the future by reading works that really met our exspectations. Here´s my personal answer (note that I consider the following thoughts as a necessary - however, not sufficent condition. Please feel free to add other "ingredients" or comments like "That´s nothing new" or even that the whole approach is fundamentally flawed...).
The "functional reasoning paradigma" based on T. Parsons.
Main issue: To the reader it should always be clear what the motivation behind a certain action had been.
Clarification attempt. This paradigma calls for:
a) Exploring the connection between a certain operation and the grand picture of the theatre.
aa)In particular: What had been the main goals the (active) opponent played for when initiating the specific operation?
ab) Analysis of the circumstances that lead to the formulation of a specific plan
Why did one side come up with the operational plan for JJ? Based on what goals, perceptions (considered it the corresponding operation as a cornerstone for strategic victory?), restrictions (supply, terrain, weapons, soldiers fit for task), assumptions (in particular concerning the reactions of its opponents) aso? => stressing the connection between the goals and restrictions faced by the active opponent
b) Describing the main components of the plan - highlighting the critical issues (ex.g.: The Germans based the "Wacht am Rhein" success on the capture of Allied supply dumps.)
c) The realization of the plan:
Based on the preparational steps mentionened above, it becomes now clear, why the XXX-Regiment went to A aso. Certainly, in order to ask not too much of the reader, it would be approbriate to highlight the connection between the actions of a certain unit and the general picture in the coressponding passage. In order to make this part more illustrative, the experiences of participants who were involved in key actions should be integrated ("history of the common soldier". In addition, maps, maps that really enlarge the understanding of the actions (significance of terrain features)
d) Evaluation of the plan
- the impact of the operation on the strategic situation
- losses, gains
- the plan of operation: "fit" to the corresponding situation? strength, weaknesses, alternatives (yes, what ifs!!)
- lessons for our understanding of military operations
MFG PTB
