Abstract
This article sheds lights on the difficulty faced by the minor powers when they were trying to build an effective air force during the interwar period (1919–1939) and the Second World War, using the experience of Chinese military aviation as an example. It argues that the Chinese were heavily influenced by the ideas of decisive action and strategic bombing, as well as similar ideas that were attributed (sometimes incorrectly) to the Italian General and air proponent Giulio Douhet. Only the harsh lessons of the war gradually persuaded the Chinese to adopt a more realistic approach to using air power.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 118-142 |
Number of pages | 25 |
Journal | War in History |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 3 Jun 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2021 |
Scopus Subject Areas
- Cultural Studies
- History
User-Defined Keywords
- air force
- China
- Giulio Douhet
- interwar period
- Japan
- strategic bombing