An account of the War Department's principal staff agency that describes the way the members of the Operations Division worked together, defined their responsibilities, and carried out their common aims.

The Army high command before Pearl Harbor -- The War Plans Division -- Early interservice and international staff planning -- Developments in 1941 -- Transition into war -- Organizing the high command for World War II -- The new Army command post -- Inside OPD -- Case history : drafting the Bolero plan -- The torch period -- Transition to the later war years -- Midwar international military conferences -- OPD and joint planning (1943-45) -- Controlling troops and matériel -- Links with the overseas theaters -- Military planning and foreign affairs -- Case history : planning the end of the war against Japan -- After OPD.