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The Dysfunctional Coalition: The Axis Powers and the Eastern Front in World War II
SINCE the development of the modern state, most countries have fought wars as parts of coalitions. This was true of the late seventeenth century, when the expansion of Louis XIV's France was checked by a series of coalitions forged by Britain. During the eighteenth century, Frederick the Great fought off a coalition of states led by Austria. In the latter stages of the American War for Independence, Britain fought a successful naval war against a Franco-Spanish alliance. Later on, Napoleon was finally defeated by a coalition again led by Britain. Likewise, World War I was fought by contending alliances, as was World War II. Wars since 1945 have to some extent been coalition wars, and the prevailing trends would certainly seem to indicate that wars in the future will be fought by coalitions.
For students of coalition warfare, it would seem that the AngloAmerican alliance of World War II provides the perfect example of how to conduct coalition warfare. Despite the tensions which occasionally arose between them, the British and Americans were able to plan and execute coalition strategy, and certainly there have been any number of works written on the conduct of the war by the Allies.2
With the sterling example provided by the Allies, it would seem that there is little point in examining the Axis as a coalition. There is much, however, to recommend such an exercise. One of the most important uses of military and diplomatic history is to study failure, thereby enabling oneself to profit from the mistakes of others. Additionally, a look at the Axis alliance led by Germany, especially in the east, is important because the way in which Germany conducted coalition warfare was reflective of manner in which Hitler and the German military looked at the world, as well as the war, in general. It was also a significant factor that contributed to the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany.
In looking at the Axis as a military coalition, the best place to focus is the eastern front, for that was the only place where all of the Axis powers acted, or could have acted, in concert. This study will first examine the rare...