Logo: to the web site of the Swedish Defence University

The branch Logistics is often given lower priority during field exercises when combat units are supposed to be trained. In wars, conflicts and operations do the interest increase remarkably of being delivered ammunition, fuel and food. Without logistical support it is hard to advance on the scene, but is it even so hard that the lack of logistics can generate the own culmination? The purpose with this Bachelor’s thesis is to show the logistics importance during the planning and transaction phases for an operation.

On June 6 1944, the Allied forces invaded Normandy, in order to defeat Hitler’s imperium and reach the end of the Second World War. The operation was called Overlord, and was both in the number of men and combat power, as well as, in a logistical manner an enormous achievement. In consideration of answering the research questions, the author has by literature studies analyzed operation Overlord and its impact on the culmination of the Second World War.

Research questions:

• How does logistics affect the culminating point in warfare?
• What logistical maneuvers during Operation Overlord can be referred to reasons for the Second World War’s culmination point?

The results manifests how the logistical maneuvers, like Mulberry Harbour, Red ball Express and PLUTO, caused a possibility to advance through Normandy, France and thereafter against Germany. Although that, it is hard to automatically say that innovations like these are the absolute reason for the culminating point. By using the factors in Mårtensson’s model, that is increasing or decreasing the speed towards the culmination, the analysis shows that logistics has a huge impact on the outcome.