Advantages Of The Coalition Between The United States And Great Britain

The coalition between the United States and Great Britain was instrumental in the victory of WWII. One advantage of the coalition was an increase in combat power, while a disadvantage was that each had its own national interests. Many of their disagreements over military strategy resulted from their adherence to Clausewitz and Sun Tzu. The Casablanca conference best illustrates the differing strategic approaches favored by the United States and Great Britain.

One advantage of the coalition between the United States and Great Britain was an increase in combat power. Sun Tzu states, “When the army engages in protracted campaigns the resources of the state will not suffice.” (The Art of War, 73) “Alone, the British Empire lacks the manpower and

This was evident in the United States public’s desire to pursue Japan as the primary objective due to the attack on Pearl Harbor, versus Great Britain’s pursuit of Germany first. Field Marshal Alan Brooke stated that he did not believe that “the Allies could beat both Japan and Germany simultaneously.” (masters, 329) Brooke also decided, “that it is necessary to defeat Germany first, the immediate question is whether to do so by an invasion of Northern France or to exploit our successes in North Africa.” (masters, 330) After again hearing the ideas of the British Chief of Staff at the Casablanca Conference, the US Chief of Staff George Marshall reconfirmed in fact that the Germany First policy should be pursued ahead of Japan. US political interests had to be compromised in order to pursue an overall grand strategy essential for

The United States took a Clausewitzian direct approach and immediately wanted an immediate cross-channel invasion to attack the center of gravity going directly after the German Army. “It is the Clausewitzian approach to warfare, by which the enemy is relatively quickly brought to a decisive battle on the most important front.” (Masters and Commanders, page 139). Great Britain, on the other hand, took a Sun Tzu indirect approach wanting a periphery strategy in the Mediterranean via North Africa, Sicily, and Italy to attack Germany's weakest allies and reduce their military power. “By contrast the British adopted an older concept, pioneered by the Chinese military theorist Sun Tzu, by which the enemy is worn down by peripheral attacks and only fully engaged once fatally weakened.” (masters and commanders, 139) The strategic baseline of the two powers can be directly tied to their interpretation and application the idea’s of Clausewitz and Sun Tzu especially on the debate over the timing of a cross-channel