Corps Commanders
Five British and Canadian Generals at War, 1939-45
An eloquent historical analysis that provides the most cogent picture to date of command and leadership at the corps level.
Description
Corps Commanders examines how five strikingly dissimilar British and Canadian generals fought battles and fit into the British Empire armies of the Second World War. The three Canadians controlled British formations and served under British army commanders, and the two Britons worked for and led Canadians as well. Such inter-army adjustments were fairly simple because all Anglo-Canadian commanders and staffs spoke the military language of the Camberley and Quetta staff colleges. Gunners from Montreal understood guardsmen from London – no small advantage when coordinating coalition battles involving thousands of troops. Delaney’s book offers invaluable insight into interoperability and how men animate armies in war.
Reviews
This is a brilliant book. Dr. Doug Delaney…has written an incredibly valuable book that delivers on several levels.
- Colonel Bernd Horn
Meticulously researched ... Corps Commanders is an important addition to the body of knowledge on the Second World War and the study of command. The many lessons on leadership and command that emerge are timeless and are as relevant today as they were then ... this is an outstanding book that should be read by all aspiring leaders and commanders, and as early in their careers as possible. It is also strongly recommended for all military members of any rank, as well as for historians and anyone who is interested in the profession of arms.
Delaney has done an incredible amount of research, mining eleven major archives in three countries along with a number of private collections. This addition to the University of British Columbia Press and Canadian War Museum’s 'Studies in Canadian Military History' series is an exemplification of strong scholarly work that is breaking new ground in the field of military history. http://www.canadianmilitaryhistory.ca/review-of-douglas-e-delaneys-corps-commanders%E2%80%AF-five-british-and-canadian-generals-at-war-1939-45-by-william-pratt/
- William Pratt
The great strength of Delaney's work is that it is not broad brush, but rather delves into the intricacies of this highest level of tactical command. This is military history at its best – and in stressing that all five commanders passed through the imperial staff colleges of Camberley or Quetta in India, Delaney also reminds readers that Canadians fought the war as British subjects who never expected their empire to fall.
- John A. English
Delaney's book offers a relevant prompting of the importance of rigorous study of intelligence, thorough pre-operational training and comprehensive equipment and logistic support for any new campaign or operational initiative.
- Michael Tillotson
The great strength of Delaney's work is that it is not broad brush, but rather delves into the intricacies of this highest level of tactical command. This is military history at its best – and in stressing that all five commanders passed through the imperial staff colleges of Camberley or Quetta in India, Delaney also reminds readers that Canadians fought the war as British subjects who never expected their empire to fall.
- John A. English