Naval Heritage | Robert "Barney" Rubel: Gettysburg and Midway: Historical Parallels in Command
Channel: U.S. Naval War College
Date: 2013-06-07

June 4, 2013
U.S. Naval War College Commemoration of the Battle of Midway: "Gettysburg and Midway: Historical Parallels in Command"
Prof. Robert Rubel, Dean, Center for Naval Warfare Studies

Introduction by Rear Adm. John N. Christenson, president U.S. Naval War College

The battles of Gettysburg and Midway each represented a major turning point in their respective wars.  In each case a vaunted enemy commander leading a tactically and technically outstanding force was defeated by an underdog American force.  The reasons for the Confederate and Japanese defeats are similar, which provide lessons in operational level leadership.  This lecture will trace the parallels between the battles and examine how the same defects in planning and decision making on the part of Gen. Robert E. Lee and Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto produced similar results: strategic defeat.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed are the speaker's own and may not necessarily reflect the views of the Naval War College, the Department of the Navy, the Department of Defense, or any other branch or agency of the U.S. Government.