Second Fronts

War colleges often discuss what are termed “peripheral operations.” Unfortunately, it is a poor term because it connotes secondary military operations using expendable or auxiliary forces. Yet, some of these campaigns were major actions employing large numbers of troops and which had major strategic effects. Indeed, such maneuvers were often termed “the British Way of War.” “Second front operations” is a far more useful term to describe assaults occurring outside the main theater using major forces. This chapter discusses four such campaigns—two were successful and two were not. The intent is to address why such operations were launched, and then to draw lessons to guide future strategists.