Kiszely's esteemed book proves that critical thinking, flexible thinking and military innovation , underpin, victory or defeat in military campaigns. The author encapsulates the systematic failures of military and civilian decision makers and the bureaucratic/ineffective strategic decision-making apparatus, committed by the British, in the author's perfectly self described fiasco.
In sporting terms, how two sporting teams perform is dissected by the author. The professional German team out thought and outplayed their British opponents. Admittedly, the nature and character of war does not include level playing fields, unlike, sports leagues, who would not schedule two grossly mismatched teams.
Today, the U.K. Armed forces (hereafter armed forces) are facing a fiscal climate comparable to the experiences of their 1930's counterparts. By the way of airpower and amphibious capabilities: I will explore the implications of the budgetary climate facing the present day armed forces as they relate to the Norway Campaign, below.
In the inter-war wars, the Armed services, planning- preparation, logistics and the majority of equipment was unchanged from the last war. Specifically, planning- preparation, logistics and equipment for amphibious operations was unchanged since the WW1, Gallipoli Campaign.
This lack of investment in amphibious operations reflected in the dangers and delays in Operation Hammer, the plan to land British troops at Narvik in response to the German invasion of Norway.
In the present day, the armed forces amphibious capabilities are under threat from further defence cutbacks. Before reading the book, I was aware of the possible axing of amphibious capabilities, nevertheless, I could not escape my bewilderment that such a eventuality could take place. If strategic and soft power arguments for retaining amphibious capabilities win out over budgetary cut backs is unknown at the time of writing.
The author notes on page 229; Luftwaffe control of the Third Dimension (control of the air) was the deciding factor in the British defeat. This reviewer's understanding of airpower was reinforced by the author's comprehensive analysis of German airpower's integration into combined arms.
The Luffwaffe group, the Condor Legion flew in the Spanish Civil War from 1936-38 and used as test bed for tactics, and rotations of pilots gaining combat experience. Lessons from the Condor Legion's time in Spain were integrated into German training and doctrine. Integrating the Luffwaffe and German Army in planning and combat operations (tactical air strikes by Stuka dive bombers) bore dividends in Poland .
A full assessment of the RAF and Luffwaffe role in the Norway Campaign appears in the book. The RAF never assimilated lessons on airpower from the Spanish Civil War. The RAF's doctrinal inflexibility (remaining welded to Trenchard 's strategic bombing doctrine) ignored the Luffwaffe's development of Close Air Support enabled by improvements in communications.
The decision makers underestimated or were ignorant of the effects of German Airpower. Warships of the Royal Navy, who experienced Luffwaffe air attacks received no air cover from the RAF. The Royal Navy's losses were low in comparison to the threat posed by Luffwaffe air attacks. Also British ground forces witnessed the destruction of Namsos by Luffwaffe bombers.
Returning to the present, Russian Condor Legions are active in Syria and Ukraine. Airpower and cruise missiles are the spearhead of the Russian intervention (hereafter Syrian Condor Legion) in the Syrian Civil War. Incorporating lessons from Russia's Syrian Condor Legion into innovation by military and civilian decision makers can prepare for the ongoing changing character of warfare. However, if this military innovation process fails, defeat not, unlike, seen by British in the Norway campaign.
The author's definitive strategic autopsy of the British involvement in the Norway Campaign will earn a place on military professionals and students of military history bookshelves. The lessons from the author's examination of the anatomy this campaign offers military and civilian decision makers a cautionary tale. The impact of the lessons from the book are not new, but current and future decision makers have the opportunity to learn them in their own time.
