Join us Thursday, October 16 at 5:30 p.m. for a Legacy Lecture by Robert Hutchinson. A book signing and reception will follow the presentation.
British-American Military Collaboration in 1942
The “special relationship” between Britain and the United States is often portrayed as a seamless partnership during World War II. Yet in A Search for Strategy: British-American Military Collaboration in 1942, historian John F. Shortal argues that the alliance nearly fractured in its first year. At the Arcadia Conference, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin Roosevelt forged a close personal bond, but their military advisors clashed repeatedly over strategy. The British and American chiefs of staff often found more common ground with one another than with their own leaders, even as mistrust and national priorities drove persistent discord.
Drawing on rich archival sources, Shortal traces these tensions month by month to reveal how fragile the alliance truly was in 1942. This talk examines how hard-fought compromises prevented collapse and laid the groundwork for cooperation that would prove decisive in the struggle to defeat the Axis powers.
How can I attend?
The event is free to the public, but reservations are required. To reserve a seat, or for more information about the event, contact [email protected] or call 540.463.7103, ext. 138.
How can I watch from home?
The presentation will also be livestreamed on the Marshall Foundation YouTube channel (https://bit.ly/2Or0E8D) simultaneously. Viewers of the stream are encouraged to write questions using the live video chat (to the lower right of the video) or via email at [email protected]. Chat will be monitored for abusive comments.
Who is Gen. John F. Shortal?
John F. Shortal is the author of Code Name Arcadia: The First Wartime Conference of Churchill and Roosevelt, winner of the 2021 Master Corporal Jan Stanislaw Jakobczak Memorial Book Award presented by the US Military History Group. He retired from the US Army as a brigadier general and subsequently served as Director for Joint History for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He resides in Washington, DC.
The George C. Marshall Foundation Legacy Series is sponsored by:
Dominion Energy; Raymond James; Edward Jones; CornerStone Bank; the Anne C. Robins and Walter R. Robins, Jr. Foundation; Richard & Caroline T. Gwathmey Memorial Trust; ConnectionsPlus Healthcare + Hospice; Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1499