Bombing the People
Giulio Douhet and the Foundations of Air-Power Strategy, 1884–1939

Charts how Giulio Douhet's pioneering strategy of targeting civilian populations with air power developed from 1884 to World War II.

Thomas Hippler (Author)

9781107037946, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 14 August 2013

291 pages
23.5 x 15.7 x 2 cm, 0.56 kg

'Thomas Hippler's book examines Douhet's output in considerable detail. He also quotes from many other (mainly Italian) writers, drawing on the 500+ documents listed in the bibliography. It is a book that needed to be written and his considerable research results in a very comprehensive analysis of Douhet's work, its supporters and its critics.' Aerospace

Giulio Douhet is generally considered the world's most important air-power theorist and this book offers the first comprehensive account of his air-power concepts. It ranges from 1884 when an air service was first implemented within the Italian military to the outbreak of the Second World War, and explores the evolution and dissemination of Douhet's ideas in an international context. It examines the impact of the Libyan war, the First World War and Ethiopian war on the development of Italian air-power strategy. It also addresses the issue of Douhet's advocacy of strategic bombing, exploring why it was that Douhet became an advocate of city bombing; the meaning and the limits of his core concept of 'command of the air'; and the mutual impact of air power, military and naval thought. It also takes into account alternatives to Douhetism such as the theories developed by Amedeo Mecozzi and others.

Introduction
Part I. Douhet's Strategic Thought: 1. The early Douhet
2. History or technology?
3. From pacifism to indiscriminate bombing
4. The command of the air
Part II. Douhetism under Discussion: 5. Air power and the strategic context
6. Alternatives to Douhetism
7. Amedeo Mecozzi, the 'anti-Douhet'
Epilogue
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Military history [HBW], 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], European history [HBJD]