The Communications Zone (COMZ) : American logistics in France, 1944 /
The Allied invasion of Northwest Europe in June 1944, Operation OVERLORD, was the largest amphibious undertaking in military history. The logistical effort in support of the operation was similarly impressive. The Services of Supply, later designated the Communications Zone, provided the support ser...
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| Other Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1992.
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| Online Access: | Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Summary: | The Allied invasion of Northwest Europe in June 1944, Operation OVERLORD, was the largest amphibious undertaking in military history. The logistical effort in support of the operation was similarly impressive. The Services of Supply, later designated the Communications Zone, provided the support services required by the United States Army. Under the leadership of Lieutenant General John C. H. Lee, the COMZ oversaw all American supply activities in Europe and suffered through one crisis after another. First, a two year power struggle between competing staffs and personalities within the European Theater of Operations Headquarters caused confusion and limited the efficiency of the SOS. Second, the logisticians developed an overly complex and inflexible supply plan for Operation OVERLORD, planning which did not survive contact with the enemy. Third, events on the Continent did not allow for the development of the supply system envisioned in the plans. The liberation of ports fell behind schedule, and the engineers failed to put the railroads and pipelines into service as rapidly as anticipated. These delays caused a significant problem involving cargo discharge and distribution, which necessitated emergency measures. Fourth, all of these problems led to the development of serious supply shortages at the front. The nature of the shortages changed over time but the effect remained the same: the shortages reduced the efficiency of the combat units. The soldiers reacted to the shortages as best they could, improvising whenever possible to mitigate the effects of the supply shortfalls. Although the United States fielded the most well-equipped and supplied military force during World War II and emerged from the war victorious, the Communications Zone often functioned at less than peak efficiency and encountered problems which should have been anticipated. The significance of this study lies, first, in its examination of the leadership, organization, planning and operations of the Communications Zone in Northwest Europe in the summer of 1944. Second, it points up the difficulty in planning or evaluating logistical operations without a clear benchmark to define success or failure. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major subject: History." |
| Physical Description: | ix, 338 leaves ; 28 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |