War and peace: the British Army after the victories of 1918 and 1945

Citation

Peden G (2010) War and peace: the British Army after the victories of 1918 and 1945. In: Dennis P P & Grey J (eds.) Victory or Defeat: Armies in the Aftermath of Conflict. Newport NSW, Australia: Big Sky Publishing, pp. 81-103.

Abstract
First paragraph: Generals, it is often said, prepare for the last war. Certainly it seems a reasonable supposition that a victorious army is less likely than a defeated army to change its tactical doctrine, organisation and weapons systems. However, research by David French shows that the British army’s tactical doctrine underwent continuous development in the 1920s.1 His findings raise the question of whether the army’s response to victory in 1918 and 1945 conformed to the stereotypical view of generals preparing for the last war.

People

Professor George Peden

Emeritus Professor, History