/ Madrid Conference
Annual Meeting Reminder
Saturday November 3, ARMY-NAVY CLUB, FARRAGUT SQUAREPlease join us on Saturday, November 3,for our annual meeting, luncheon and guest speaker. We will begin at 11:30 and conclude at 2:00PM. This year we are meeting at the Army Navy Club, located on Farragut Square,901 Seventeenth Street, NW; WashingtonDC20006. The US Commission will hold its annual Trustees Meeting at the club from 0830-1130.
BG David A. Armstrongwill be our speaker. He is the Director for Joint History in the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He will speak on the topic “US National Security, Foreign Policy and the Challenge of Terrorism.”
General Armstrong is a 1962 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, he holds a MA and PhD in history from DukeUniversity. During his military service he held a wide variety of command and staff positions culminating in an assignment to the National Intelligence Council in 1989 as the National Intelligence Officer for General Purpose Forces. When he retired in 1991, he continued in this position until July 1993 when General Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs selected him as the first Director for Joint History.
For reservations, please contact Pat Harahan, Secretary-general at or 703 569-9684. The last day for reservations is October 30, 2007.
As director, General Armstrong has been concerned about documenting American military strategies and strategic decisions in the turbulent years after the Cold War. He has served on the Editorial Board of Studies in Intelligence, and the Advisory Committee of the Joint Force Quarterly. A Trustee of the US Commission, Armstrong is author of Bullets and Bureaucrats (Greenwood Press). His awards and decorations include the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, the Intelligence Medal of Merit, Legion of Merit (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Bronze Star Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters). He also earned the Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and the Army General Staff Identification Badge. As an accomplished field commander, with wide experience in intelligence, and broad historical knowledge, General Armstrong has thought deeply about contemporary U.S. national security.
The Army-Navy Club can be reached by taking the Orange and Blue lines to Farragut West Metro Station. Exit the Metro along 17th Street and the club is across the street. For those who wish to drive there are commercial parking lots nearby, and the club has parking as well. The telephone number is 202 628-8400. Please note that the Army-Navy Club’s dress code for all areas is a suit or jacket with a tie for gentlemen and comparable dress for ladies.
If you plan to attend, please select your meal. There are two entrees: Blackened Mahi Mahi with creole sauce, or roasted marinated Tri Tip of Beef. The luncheon comes with a garden salad, steamed parsley potatoes, seasonal vegetable and berry shortcake for dessert. The price is $28 which includes beverage, coffee, tea, or milk, tax and gratuity. For reservations, please email Pat Harahan, USCMH Secretary-general. He can be reached at r 703-569-9684. The deadline for reservations is 30 October.
Report on the 33rd International Military History Congress,
Cape Town, South Africa, August 2007
Bianka Adams
This year South Africa hosted the 33rd International Military History Congress in Cape Town from 12-17 August. The South African Commission on Military History under the leadership of president, Maj. Gen. Solly Mollo and Secretary-general, Cdr. Thean Potgieter organized the event. Military historians from 44 nations followed the Commission’s invitation to present papers on different aspects of the Congress’ theme of “Regions, Regional Organizations and Military Power.” The Congress opened with an address by its patron Mosiuoa G.P. Lekota, Minister of Defense.
The USCMH delegation was led by President John Lynn and ICMH Vice-president Allan Millett. The U.S. Commission contributed three papers and a book panel to the program.The presenters were:
- William Alberque and Joseph (Pat) Harahan, “Africa’s Deadly Harvest: The Cold War Proxy Arsenals of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their Use in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1989-2006”
- David Rawson, “Contesting for Peace: Peace Keepers and the Rwandan Peace Process, 1990-1994”
- Willard Frank, “The Nyon Arrangement 1937: Mediterranean Security and the Coming of the Second World War”
William Alberque and Pat Harahan present theirpaper
on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Sub-Saharan Africa
As has become a regular feature at ICMH congresses, Pat Harahan organized and led a very successful book panel. This time, he invited African experts to report on recent scholarship in the military history of Africa. The topic drew a large audience and the panelists fielded many questions during and after the session. John Lynn, President USCMH, and Hans Pawlisch, Vice-President USCMH chaired sessions and ICMH Vice-President Allan Millett participated in the ICMH Board meetings and the final General Meeting. John Lynn and Bianka Adams attended the annual meeting of the Committee of the International Bibliography of Military History. Several other members participated in the congress: Ann von Luttichau, Jeff Clarke, Charles Melson, and our newest member, Phillip Fraund.
The congress had 17 sessions, each offering the opportunity for historians to present their research or interpretative papers on an aspect of the conference theme, “Regions, Regional Organizations and Military Power.” This year, there were many papers and discussions that centered on Africa, its military past and contemporary security issues. Historians from many African nations participated on the panels and entered into the dialogue and discussions following the sessions.
One of them, Frankie Monama, lectures at the Military History Department at StellenboschUniversity. At the book roundtable, he presented an interesting paper on teaching military history of Africa. After the congress, he wrote that the roundtable was “a lively discussion which carried on for the whole week.” Mr. Monama continued,” I am now beginning to send out copies of my paper to those (historians) who gave me cards and could not carry the paper away. I am now being considered to give lectures about African Military History in various African countries.”
Dr. Luc de Vos, President of the International Commission on Military History chaired the general meeting of the ICMH. He praised General Mollo and the organizers of the 2007 Cape Town ICMH Congress. General Mollo, President of the South African Military History Commission, made his reply with a “Message from the African nations,” in which he expressed the sentiments of all historians from African nations attending the conference. Speaking to the delegates, Mollo declared that the congress was very relevant to African historians and officers teaching strategy and military history. In the future, he said African historians plan to meet and discuss further the topic of military history in Africa. Finally, Mollo urged that Africa should become a part of the future agenda of the international commission of military history.
The international commission has several new in initiatives in the works. President John Lynn, in this newsletter, explains these developments and offers his comments. As the general meeting concluded, President de Vos announced that the board had approved the membership for a new national commission: the Military History Commission of Slovenia. Then, he announced that the next three congresses would be held in Trieste, Italy (2008), Oporto, Portugal (2009), and Amsterdam, The Netherlands (2010).
In keeping with tradition of many ICMH Congresses, the South African Commission had arranged a rich program of visits to cultural, military, and political sites in the city and the surrounding area. The organizers chose the venerable Castle of Good Hope, built by the Dutch in the 17th century, to welcome all participants to their beautiful city. One afternoon, the Congress participants went on an excellent private tour of the South African Parliament. The old and new wings of the building stand as symbols for the country’s painful past under a racist regime of ‘Apartheid’ and its rebirth as a democracy for all peoples living with in its borders. The Parliament’s Deputy Speaker hosted a reception for the ICMH delegates.
Gen. Mollo and USCMH President Lynn Visit to the South African Parliament, Cape Town
Another day, the entire congress went on an all-day bus excursion to the very tip of the African continent, known as Cape Point, where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean. The views were simply breathtaking. From there the tour continued along the east cost of the CapePeninsular to South Africa’s principal naval base at Simon’s Town. Greeted by Vice Admiral Johannes Modimu, Chief of the South African Navy, the delegates enjoyed the Navy’s hospitality at a luncheon in the officer’s club. In the afternoon, the Congress participants had the chance to explore the town and university of Stellenbosch in the heart of the CapeWinelands. The day ended with a fabulous wine tasting and dinner at the Neetlingshof Wine Estate.
As in previous years, the USCMH delegates gathered for an “American Dinner” inviting new and old friends from the international history community to dine with them. Thanks to Hans Pawlisch’s efforts, the splendid Cape Town Club served as the venue for an evening of good food and good cheer. We were delighted that Gen. Solly Mollo, Major General Roy Anderson, Commander Thean Potgieter, and several members of the South African Commission could join us.
On the last day of the Congress, following the final scholarly session, all participants visited RobbenIslandMuseum. During the ‘Apartheid’ years, the island was a maximum security prison for political dissidents such as former South African President Nelson Mandela and Defense Minister Lekota. Infamous for its institutional brutality, the island’s name became synonymous with the fight for freedom against the racist regime.
In the evening, the South African Commission hosted a banquet at the Bay Hotel, CampsBay. After enjoying the sunset over the Atlanticon the hotel’s terrace, the Congress participants were treated to a feast of local delicacies and delectable wines. For the US delegates who made the long, long journey, the 33rd International Military History Congress in Cape Town was memorable.
Presidential Observations
John Lynn, President
The ICMH in Cape Town stands high on the long list of international congresses. The chance to learn something of a new country on a continent that still remains “dark” to most of us made the visit unforgettable. I, personally, was deeply touched by the principles, the “miracle,” of South Africa. In the formal sessions, the South African commission gave prominence to a number of papers that were very instructive about the recent past and current challenges of sub-Saharan Africa, so we left Cape Town better able to understand the world we face today. Many thanks, and may we all be more acute in listening to “the African voice” in military history.
This was my last ICMH congress as president, and thus a time for some reflection. When all is said and done, four accomplishments will mark the last four years, although I am only partly responsible for them.
First, we have kept the books balanced and even gained financial headway, and for this we must thank the efficiency of our treasurers, Hans Pawlisch and Geoff Megargee, and the generosity of the Breidenthal-Snyder Foundation. Second, we have a new look, including an impressive web site, stationery etc., designed by Phil Pochzrast. Third, as part of a new ICMH project, initiated by Ciro Paoletti, we are starting a competition for graduate-student papers to be a regular USCMH program that feeds into the ICMH congress each year. And fourth, we continue to spearhead the idea of an electronic library of historical literature and sources on military history, although this remains a goal, not a finished product.
Let me say a bit more about the last two. During the last year, I have been one member on a committee of five charged with developing new programs for the ICMH. One of our initiatives is a workshop to be part of each future ICMH congress. This workshop will feature graduate-student research on the theme of the congress. The Trieste congress will concentrate on “Military Conflicts and Civilian Populations,” and the graduate student workshop will highlight military occupations of foreign countries in the twentieth century. We are sponsoring a competition among U.S. grad students for a paper on this subject; the author of the winning paper will present his or her work at Trieste. The USCMH will continue to hold such competitions in the future. A second initiative of the ICMH committee is to promote my long-standing idea of an electronic library. This proposal received the support of the ICMH executive board at Cape Town, and this coming spring semester students at the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences should prepare a design for this library.
It has been a pleasure to serve as your president; many thanks and the best of good fortune to my successor.
US Commission Sponsors Military Classics Seminar
Randy Papadopoulos, USCMH Trustee
As an initiative, the USCMH is co-hosting the Washington DC-based Military Classics Seminar. Founded in 1958, this seminar is a dinner-and-speaker series held on the third Tuesday of the month at the Fort Myer Officers’ Club, in northern Virginia. Scheduled between September and November, and January to June, each of the Military Classics Seminars opens with a reception at 5:30 pm, followed by dinner at 6:30 and the book presentation at 7:30. The cost for the evening is $28.00, including the dinner and gratuity. A list of books for 2007-2008 follows:
MILITARY CLASSICS SEMINAR, 2007-2008
18 September 2007 Lynn, John A. Battle: A History of Combat and Culture. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 2003.Speaker: Kelly DeVries, LoyolaCollege in Maryland
16 October 2007 Doughty, Robert. Pyrrhic Victory: French Strategy and Operations in the Great War. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap, 2005.Speaker: Eugenia C. Kiesling, US MilitaryAcademy
20 November 2007 Liddell Hart, Basil H. The German Generals Talk.New York: William Morrow, 1948 (British Edition, The Other Side of the Hill, London: Cassel, 1948).Speaker: Geoffrey Megargee, USHolocaustMemorialMuseum
15 January 2008 Holley, I. B. Jr. Ideas and Weapons.Washington: Air Force History, 1983 (Original Edition 1953). Speaker: Alan Gropman, IndustrialCollege of the Armed Forces
19 February 2008 Prados, John. Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2006.Speaker: Tom Johnson, CIA Contract Historian
18 March 2008 Dual: MacDonald, Charles. The Battle of the HuertgenForest. Boston: Lippincott, 1963 (South Mountain Press 1986); Rush, Robert S. Hell in the HuertgenForest: The Ordeal and Triumph of an American Infantry Regiment (Modern War Studies). Lawrence, Kan.: U. Press of Kansas, 2001.Speaker: Dianne L. Smith, Defense Intelligence Agency
15 April 2008 Janowitz, Morris. The Professional Soldier: A Social and Political Portrait. Free Press, 1960 (Updated 1971). Speaker: David Segal, University of Maryland
20 May 2008 Millett, Allan R. The War for Korea, 1945-1950: A House Burning (ModernWar Studies). Lawrence, Kan.: U. Press of Kansas, 2005. Speaker: Janet Valentine, Historian, Air National Guard
17 June 2008 Reynolds, Clark. The Fast Carriers: The Forging of an Air Navy. New York: McGraw Hill, 1968 (Naval Institute Press 1992).Speaker: Curtis Utz, Naval Historical Center
If you are interested in attending, or being added to the invitation list, please contact Randy Papadopoulos at 202 433-3934 or by e-mail at
US Commission Offers Opportunity for Graduate Students
John Lynn
The International Commission of Military History would like to increase the participation of younger scholars at its congresses, so we are encouraging graduate students to submit papers for the next ICMH Congress in Trieste, Italy in early September 2008. The US Commission will be sending one graduate student to the 2008 ICMH Congress. The theme of the congress will be “Military Conflicts and the Civil Population: Total Wars, Limited Wars, and Asymmetric Wars.” Graduate students must submit a piece of original research, most likely a seminar paper. The student selected will present their paper in Trieste before an international audience of historians. The paper will be published in the volume of conference papers. Funding for travel and conference fees will be considered. Graduate students, or their professors, should contact John Lynn at .
Smith-Richardson Foundation Dissertation Grants
Recently, the foundation announced an annual grant competition to support PhD dissertation research on American foreign policy, international relations, international security, strategic studies, area studies, and diplomatic and military history. The funding grants will support archival research, fieldwork, and language training. The Smith-Richardson Foundation will award up to 20 grants of $7,500 each. If interested, see
International Military History: New Conference Proceedings, Reviews, and Books
Pat Harahan
2006 ICMH Congress ACTA Published
The papers, roundtables, and speeches presented at the 2006 ICMH Congress in Potsdam, Germany have been published. The volume, edited by Hans Ehlert and Winfried Heinemann, is entitled Nation State,Nationalism and the Military,2006 ICMH ACTA, German Commission ofMilitary History,Potsdam, Germany, 2007, includes tables, maps, charts, illustrations, and notes, 5666 pages. Like thepublished volumes of all recent congresses, this volume contains the papers and articles presented at thecongress by the international historians. The articles are published in the language in which they werepresented. Consequently, the published compendium contains articles in French (7), English (16), and German (20). The U.S. Commission has received multiple copies. They will be distributed at the annual meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting and would like a copy, contact the Secretary-general Pat Harahan at r 703 569-9684.