Militaries worldwide are designed and trained to win battles, yet they should also have the ability to manage defeat effectively. There are several historical examples where armies were saved by a successfully conducted retrograde operation that allowed them to later win the war. Retrograde operations are a reoccurring phenomenon within warfare, yet they are neglected both by researchers and armed forces. This thesis aims to explain the operational outcome of the Italian retrograde operation at Caporetto (1917) by examining operational logistics and the human factors of morale, discipline and leadership that affect the logistical execution. This is achieved through a theory consuming case study using Kress theory on operational logistics which is complemented by Clausewitz, Jomini and contemporary military doctrine.
The findings indicate that the properties of foresight and leadership determined the conditions under which the rest of the logistical system operated. Together their implementation created cascading consequences that explain both the success and failure in the outcome of the logistical retrograde operation at Caporetto.