Previous research on the art of military engineering indicates that the development of this support branch focuses on technological and organizational advancements whereas theory development seems to be lacking. The purpose of this study is to explore the extent to which J.F.C Fuller´s theory might be able to address the scientific gap that exists today, by considering the possible impact of military engineering on the outcome of a historical land operation. The study uses a case study to examine the four offensives of the Soviet Union’s Operation Bagration, drawing on a theoretical framework derived from contemporary maneuver warfare theory by J.F.C Fuller. This theory contains the physical elements of war: mobility, offensive power and protection and Fuller´s physical principles of war with their tactical and strategical classes. These classes and elements are applied throughout this study to analyze the occurrence of military engineering and their effect on the operation. The findings of the study show that J.F.C Fuller´s theory can be applied to historical offensives to examine the effects military engineering has on the outcome. The effects can for example be explained through the contribution military engineering has on limiting the opponent’s mobility and enabling the envelopment of the opponent’s flanks through mobility.

Sommaren 1944 skedde tre stora sovjetiska offensiver på östfronten samtidigt som landstigningen i Normandie ägde rum. Den nutida västeuropeiska och nordamerikanska populärhistoriska bilden av sommaroffensiverna 1944 har dominerats av D-dagen. De senaste femton åren har dock historiker som Ian Kershaw och Norman Davies delvis nyanserat bilden genom att tydligt poängtera den större betydelsen av Sovjetunionens insatser på östfronten. Hur rapporterades skeendena i de tre svenska tidningarna Aftonbladet, Svenska Dagbladet och Norrskensflamman? Uppsatsen undersöker pressrapporteringen under juni-juli 1944 och tidningarnas inställning till aktörerna, med fokus på Sovjetunionen.