This study investigates the role played by VII Corps' World War II Cavalry Group, the 4th Cavalry Group, in the European Theater of Operations. The thesis seeks to determine if the group executed its doctrinal mission during the war. Prior to and during World War II cavalry mechanized and as a result the U.S. Army revised the doctrinal role of cavalry. Prior to mechanization, cavalry performed the full range of offensive and defensive missions. These missions included traditional cavalry missions such as reconnaissance, pursuit, and exploitation. However, with mechanization the doctrinal role of mechanized cavalry narrowed to only one of horse cavalry's former missions, reconnaissance. Equally important, the tactics and techniques employed by mechanized cavalry reconnaissance units shifted to emphasize infiltration tactics and avoidance of combat. This study revealed that the 4th Cavalry Group as organized for World War II was deficient in several key areas; specifically, the doctrinal mission was flawed, the doctrinal employment technique was flawed, and the group lacked organizational depth. The 4th Cavalry Group did not perform its doctrinal mission as it was narrowly defined before the war. It did perform reconnaissance extensively, but generally in support of other missions, such as security or offensive operations.

ADA 284558 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)