How to Win a War? The logistics of modern warfare, from the Second World War to the Russo-Ukraine War
The Ukrainian retreat from Avdiivka this week dramatically illustrates the crucial role of logistics in modern warfare. No army can keep its lines if the ratio of artillery shells is 1-10. History hold no easy lessons for the present, but the return to large scale conventional warfare in Europe invites us to revisit the second World War and the logistical battle that stood at its heart.
Phillips O’Brien did just that with How the War Was Won in 2015 and he has revealed himself as one of the most knowledgeable analysts of the military confrontation in Ukraine since February 2022. He will explore the parallels between both wars in a series of 4 lectures, from Monday 18 March through Thursday 21 March.
These lectures are given within the framework of the International Chair for the History of the Second World War (2023-2024), organized for the eleventh time by ULB's Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, in memory of Jean Vanwelkenhuyzen, historian of WWII and first director of CegeSoma. The inaugural lecture is followed by a reception, so please register to allow for … adequate logistics