AIR UNIVERSITY AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

[Pages:142]MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS IN COMBAT: A COMPARISON OF GERMAN AND AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN

WORLD WAR II USING CONTENT ANALYSIS

THESIS

Douglas J. Traversa. Captain. USAF AFIT/GAL/LAR/95S-8

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AIR UNIVERSITY

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AFIT/GAL/LAR/95S-8

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MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS IN COMBAT: A COMPARISON OF GERMAN AND AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN

WORLD WAR II USING CONTENT ANALYSIS THESIS

Douglas J. Traversa, Captain, USAF AFIT/GAL/LAR/95S-8

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

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The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

AFIT/GAL/LAR/95S-8

MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS IN COMBAT: A COMPARISON OF GERMAN AND AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN WORLD WAR II

USING CONTENT ANALYSIS

THESIS

Presented to the Faculty of the School of Logistics and Acquisition Management

Air Education and Training Command In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Science in Acquisitions Logistics Management

Douglas J. Traversa, B.S. Captain, USAF

September 1995 Approved for public release; distribution unlimited

Preface Several people provided guidance and support to me while writing this thesis. Without them, I could not have accomplished this work. First I want to thank Dr. David Vaughan, my advisor. He agreed to be my advisor even though the subject of this thesis is far from the standard fare at AFIT. His vast knowledge of combat literature was extremely valuable in my work, and his inputs were quite helpful. Secondly, I thank Dr. Shane, my reader. His critiques of my early drafts greatly improved this thesis. He also provided valuable suggestions on the proper way to analyze combat motivation. I'd also like to thank a dear friend of mine, Jed Black, who help me to search for appropriate books for use in this thesis. He took time out of his busy schedule to search the bookstores of Washington DC in search of books by German combatants when I was having trouble finding them. He also lent me books from his personal library that were ideal for this study. Finally, and by far most importantly, I'd like to thank my wife Jancy, who stuck by me even when I seemed to spend every waking moment working on this thesis. Her love and support were invaluable, and my debt to her is huge. I doubt I can ever repay it fully.

Douglas J. Traversa

Table of Contents

Preface

List of Figures

List of Tables

Abstract

I. Introduction

Overview Justification Background Research Problem Objectives

JJ. Literature Review

Introduction Primary Group Ideology Attitudes Towards the Enemy Group Leadership National Leadership Personal Gratification Propaganda Religion Vindictiveness Desire to End the War and Go Home Coercion Duty/Honor/Country Flyers and Ground Troops Summary

III. Methodology

Overview Data Collection and Analysis

How References Were Tallied

in

Page

u

V1

vii

viii

1

1 3

4

6 ^

U

H ^ 21 25 27 29 31 32 33 35 36 36 38

40

41

42

42

45

46

Converting Scores into Percentages Qualitative Scoring Identification of Primary Factors Definitions Sample Assumptions and Limitations

IV. Results and Discussion - Flyers

American Flyers Overview Donald R. Currier, 50 Mission Crush James H. Howard, Roar of the Tiger Samuel Hynes, Flights ofPassage LeroyNewby, Target Ploesti Robert L. Scott, God is my Co-Pilot Conclusions

German Flyers Overview Walter Boener, In Defiance Willi ?eilman, I Fought You From the Skies Heinz Knoke, IFlewfor the F?hrer Hans Ulrich Rudel, Stuka Pilot Johannes Steinhoff, Messerschmitts Over Sicily Conclusions

V. Results and Discussion - Ground Troops

American Ground Troops Overview Paul Boesch, Road To Huertgen Robert Leckie, Helmetfor my Pillow Charles B. MacDonald, Company Commander George S. Patton, War Asl Knew It George Wilson, If You Survive Conclusions

IV

Page

47 49 50

51

52 53

54

^4

54 56 57 58 60

61 "^

68 DO

69 71

72 74

76 78

84

84 84 85 86 87 88 90 yi

German Ground Troops Overview Ernst Kern, War Diary 1941-45 Siegfried Knappe, Soldat Helmut Pabst, The Outermost Frontier Guy Sajer, The Forgotten Soldier Hans Von Luck, Panzer Commander Conclusions

VI. Conclusions and Recommendations

Overview American and German Flyers American and German Ground Troops Ground Troops and Flyers Americans and Germans Conclusions Recommendations

Appendix A: Combat Motivational Factors

Appendix B: Bibliography for Expanded Research

Bibliography

Vita

Page 96 96 97 99 101 102 104 105

Ill

m HI 114 H6 H9 121 123

124

125

127

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