How Effective Was Field Marshal William Slim as an Operational Artist?

Field Marshal William 'Bill' Slim ended World War II in command of Fourteenth Army. Focusing on his time in Burma, this paper covers the period 1942-1945 and his time as a Corps and Army commander. In 1944 Slim, as commander Fourteenth Army, deployed XV Corps and successfully defeated the Japanese for the first time in Burma. This book sets out the historical aspects of the three main campaigns managed by Slim. First, it examines Slim's input and performance in the First and Second Arakan Campaigns. Second, his decisions at the defense of Kohima and Imphal and the subsequent break out of the Indian Army from those locations. Finally, it assesses the pinnacle of his generalship during Operations Capital and Extended Capital. His decisions offer future operational artists guidance and prescient advice. His efforts are often overlooked because of the focus on the European theater. This book offers that Slim should come out from the shadows of other better-known general officers, and be rightly held up as an exemplary proponent of operational art.