Military campaigns has throughout time been analysed through the eyes of the commanding officers and their tactical knowledge. Is this the only way to analyse military campaigns or can victory be explained through other actions then tactical decisions? Can the importance of logistics explain outcomes in different military campaigns? This study strives to explain how logistic measures can explain different outcomes in military campaigns. The concept which is used in this study is Moshe Kress theory on operational logistics, and through this I will try to explain the importance of logistics as a factor for outcomes in military campaigns. This study has shown that pre-emptive measures in the operational logistics level can change the outcome of military campaigns. Although logistics isn´t the only reason for victory or defeat in military campaigns this study shows the importance in understanding and making sure your logistic planning is as well planned as your tactical planning.

Tysklands Blitzkrieg under början av andra Världskriget har studerats ur många perspektiv både avseende de miltära operationerna och den förda politiken. Detta arbete granskar om konceptet var en genomarbetad krigföringsmetod eller tillkom efter hand mellan och under fälttågen. Den period som studeras är åren 1939-41 och de tre fälttåg som nämns ovan. Utgångspunkten är vad olika författare har skrivit i denna fråga och syftet är att studera vad de anser om Blitzkrieg som ett koncept eller inte. Kopplingen de till teorier om manöverkrigföring som lanserats under senare år granskas också. Dessa teorier hänvisar ofta till Blitzkrieg som ett praktiskt exempel på manöverkrigföring.Studien sker genom besvarandet av ett antal frågeställningar. Var Blitzkriegskonceptet utvecklat före kriget? Vem drev på utvecklingen Vad orsakade framgången i Frankrike? Vad fick Wehrmacht att köra fast vid Operation Barbarossa? De skall ge underlag för den diskussion som avslutar uppsatsen och som skall försöka utröna huruvida Blitzkrieg var ett genomtänkt koncept. / Germanys Blitzkrieg during the beginning of World War II has been studied from many perspectives, both according to the military operations and the government’s politics.This work examines if Blitzkrieg was a concept developed before the war.Or did it develop during and between the three campaigns against Poland, France and Russia, between the years 1939-41?The study is based on the study of literature on the subject and it will take a look upon what different writers’ opinions are about Blitzkrieg as a concept. It will also take a look at the connection with the theories about maneuver warfare, which often uses Blitzkrieg as an example of how to make war according to these theories.The study looks upon some questions as a help to investigate these conditions. Was Blitzkrieg a concept developed before WW II? If it was, who was behind it? What was behind the success of the Wehrmacht in France 1940? And finally which were the reasons behind the failure of the Barbarossa campaign?The study ends with a final analysis to find out if Blitzkrieg was a concept or not. / Avdelning: ALB - Slutet Mag 3 C-upps.Hylla: Upps. ChP 99-01