Supplying the Troops: General Somervell and American Logistics in WWII

by John Kennedy Ohl

In World War II, the United States mounted a military effort of unprecedented magnitude and complexity. With more than 11 million soldiers to be armed, fed, clothed, and transported, logistics - including the design, procurement, distribution, and movements of supplies and the transportation of troops - became big business. General Brehon B. Somervell, a brilliant military-industrial manager, led the army's wartime logistical operation. Sometimes criticized as a big spender, he understood well the decisive role of superior material and mobility. As America's chief wartime logistician, he demanded ample supplies for the troops, at the right place at the right time. A graduate of West Point, Somervell served his country in both the military and civilian arenas. As head of the Works Progress Administration in New York City, he won recognition for his effective management; later, he helped prepare the nation for war by building training camps and munitions plants. At the height of his career, as head of the War Department Services of Supply - known later as the Army Service Forces - Somervell was responsible for the supply and administration of the army within the United States and the support of troops overseas. He also was the War Department's principal logistical advisor and troubleshooter. In these ways, Somervell played a vital role in the mobilization of forces and powerfully influenced the United States' conduct of the war. In this much-needed biography, Ohl illuminates the centrality of logistics in the Allied path to victory over the Axis powers and also shows how the interaction of military, political, and business leaders during the war helped to shape national policy. Ohl baseshis study on exhaustive research in the National Archives, on manuscript collections, and on oral histories and interviews. Supplying the Troops will appeal especially to those interested in military logistics and history, economic history, and the World War II era.

Genres: World War II

342 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1994

Reviews

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, presenting a detailed history of the US Army’s Service Force in WWII through a close examination of its Commanding Officer, General Brehon Somervell. The author, History Professor John Ohl, dives deep into the subject, providing plenty of detail on the inner workings of resource management and military economics by the ‘Arsenal of Democracy.’ He recounts the lengthy and technical debates between the various agencies and organizations of the US government, along with allies and industry, as they grappled with the monstrous task of procuring and transporting massive amounts of war material. At the center of this story is General Somervell, a career Army Engineer who was assigned Command of the Army Service Force in early 1942 and was thus directly responsible for the “Big-L” logistics (acquisition through to final issue) of the US Army. The author presents a very balanced account, never hesitating to highlight Somervell’s bad decisions or intemperate behavior alongside his efficient management and clear understanding of his mission. This is important as few Generals have been as pilloried in the historical record, despite their success, as Somervell. The author does provide a short lead-up to the start of WWII, explaining how Somervell came into the good graces of FDR’s New Dealers and how the Army’s support services functioned prior to the war. But most of the book is an issue-by-issue recap of the major resource related conflicts taking place at the senior levels of government during WWII. Given his position as, essentially, General Marshall’s politically savvy go-getter for all aspects of logistics, Somervell had a voice in most of these debates. Given his combative nature and being relegated to a “Staff Officer” function, it is easy to see why Somervell emerged from the war with more enemies than friends. This book does much to set the record straight, covering the end state of each issue and showing how Somervell’s work greatly contributed to the final Allied victory. It certainly paints Somervell as a highly combative manager whose sensitivity of his mission’s success conflicted with other war winning efforts, but it also demonstrates why, to paraphrase Admiral King, there are times when you need to call in “the SOBs.” My one quip is that the chapters outlining the chronological summary of strategy and logistics are placed after the chapters dealing with the major issues confronted. I think reversing that order of presentation would have helped the overall narrative. A great book for civilian resource managers to appreciate the military mindset with regards to resourcing decisions. Highly recommended for those wanting to better understand the workings of FDR’s government during WWII.

[David Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Kennedy Ohl’s, Supplying the Troops: General Somervell and American Logistics in World War II is a fascinating biography on General Brehon Somervell, the head of the United States Army Supply Services in World War II.

General Somervell had the unprecedented job of having to feed, clothe, arm, and transport the U.S. Soldiers of World War II. The man responsible for the oft overlooked logistics of World War II and responsible for much of Roosevelt’s Arsenal of Democracy.

A graduate of West Point and a career Army engineer, Somervell instituted what we would consider Modern Management principles to the logistics of World War Two. A brusque man who came across to some fellow officers and government officials as a man attempting to create his own personal fiefdom in his attempt to streamline and remove inefficiencies in the logistics arm of the U.S. Army. Looking often at results instead of circumstances, he would not fail to relieve a subordinate who failed to perform or who he had lost faith in.

Only fairly writes of both Somervell’s successes and failures as well as his combative encounters with both subordinates and superiors. A must-read.