Date of Award

Spring 1995

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

Committee Director

Carl Boyd

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.H47 N65

Abstract

During World War II communications intelligence (ULTRA) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Allied strategic bombing campaign against the German oil industry and transportation system. In the case of the oil campaign communications intelligence provided confirmation of serious damage inflicted on the German war economy. This conformed nicely to the prewar American doctrine of precision daylight bombardment of critical nodes of an enemy industrial system. The intention of this policy was to cause the collapse of the enemy's military capability. The campaign against the German transportation system did not fit into this doctrinal framework as precisely; consequently, it did not enjoy the same high level of advocacy among high level decision-makers. As a result fewer intelligence assets were dedicated to analysis of available ULTRA information on dislocation of German transportation. The focus of British air power doctrine was area bombing of German cities. Communications intelligence provided little help in evaluating the effectiveness of the area bombing campaign. Microform ULTRA intercepts were used as primary resources in the writing of this paper.

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DOI

10.25777/ac74-g852

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