1. National and Military Policy: 1930s

2. National Defense Act- 1920 Basis of WWII Army organization
Three Components of Military:
Regular Army
National Guard
Organized Reserves
New branches in air, chemical, and finance added
New divisions (departmental/geographic) in War Department

3. National Defense Act- 1920 Improvements to education
ROTC program support basic schooling
Thirty-one branch schools
Fort Levenworth, KN oldest in U.S.
Army Industrial College prepares for industrial mobilization and training in modern war

4. U.S. Neutrality Believed future wars were preventable by:
Avoiding military alliances,
Minimum defensive strength,
Promote international peace
Reduce arms

5. Washington Naval Conference
All countries freeze naval production for 10 years
U.S., Great Britain, France, Japan, Italy
Prevented any possible Pacific offensive
Way to curb Japanese imperialism
Left Philippines open to attack

6. Military Backlash U.S. renounced war as instrument of foreign policy
Army = maintaining order and defend territories
Military leaders warn at lack of proper defense of country and coasts

7. Clouds of War Rise of Authoritarianism
1931- Japanese invasion of Manchuria
Leaves League and abandons arms limitations
1935- Mussolini attacks Ethiopia
1934- Hitler becomes dictator of Germany
Denounce Versailles and began remilitarizing
Rhineland occupied by 1936
1936- German and Soviet involvement in Spanish Civil War

12. U.S. Response (Nat’l Policy)
Neutrality Acts from
Opened relations with Soviets in 1933
Promised independence to Philippines
Good Neighbor Policy adopted towards Latin America
Liquidated protectorates in Caribbean

13. U.S. Response (Military)
1935- Larger appropriations to improve readiness
Central objective: Strategic mobility
Replace horses w/ vehicles
Training of larger units (air/ground) and combined-arms
Increases in equipment and housing budgets
Rapid expansion of Army Air Corps
Enlisted strength by 1936: 165,000

14. U.S. Response (Military)
2nd Priority- Defense of seaports
Modernize fortifications at 18 locations
Improved caliber and number of artillery
1/3 Army tied up in coast artillery missions
Army prepared to fight a more mobile war than WWI

15. New Technology
M101 Artillery

16. New Technology
M2A4 Light Tank

17. New Technology
M4 Sherman

18. New Technology
M1 Garand

20. U.S. Response (Military)
Triangular Division
Four elements:
Three maneuver; one support fire
Maneuver two units, retain one reserve, maintain consistent fire
More flexible and maneuverable than “square division”
Specialty units can be easily attached to divisions
Only motor transport offered

21. Mobilization Planning
Industrial Mobilization Plan
Harness economic strength to war needs
Protective Mobilization Plan
400,000 Nat’l Guard + Navy
Orderly expansion (1, 2, or 4 million)
Highly organized and definite training plans

22. Faults in the Plans Expected number far too low
More than double are mobilized; even greater industrial requirement
Personnel strength superseded new weapons
Standardized weapons stockpiled
Many obsolete by U.S. entrance into WWII

23. In many ways, the Army was as prepared as it could be to fight the war that the civilian and military leadership of the country expected it to fight, a war focusing on the defense of the western hemisphere.
To what extent do you agree with this statement? Be sure to explain your answer.