Abstract
The motivation of soldiers for combat has been a constant preoccupation of armies. In ancient times, for example, Xenophon emphasised the important role of leadership. The Spartans emphasised strict discipline and comradeship. During the Napoleonic wars, the soldiers of France (drawn largely from the citizenry) were imbued with the notion of nationalism. Empirical research beginning in the Second World War, meanwhile, has largely emphasised the role of the primary group in sustaining fighting spirit.1 Although much has been written on this topic, it is worth reviewing some of the more salient characteristics of small unit cohesion.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes and References
See for example Edward Shils and Morris Janowitz, ‘Cohesion and Disintegration in the Wehrmacht in World War II’, Public Opinion Quarterly (Summer 1948) pp.280–315.
John Keegan, The Face of Battle (New York: The Viking Press, 1976) p. 114.
Roger W. Little, ‘Buddy Relations and Combat Performance’ in Morris Janowitz (ed.) The New Military (New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 1964) pp. 195–223.
See William Darryl Henderson, Why the Vietcong Fought: A Study of Motivation and Control in a Modern Army in Combat, Contributions in Political Science, no. 31 (Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1978).
Charles C. Moskos Jr, ‘The American Combat soldier in Vietnam’, Journal of Social Issues, vol. 31 (1975) no. 4, p. 35.
Copyright information
© 1988 Edmund Walendowski
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Walendowski, E. (1988). Small Unit Cohesion. In: Combat Motivation of the Polish Forces. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-19202-1_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-19202-1_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-19204-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-19202-1
eBook Packages: Palgrave History CollectionHistory (R0)