Hugh Trenchard believed victory in war would be achieved through which of the following?

Hugh Trenchard, often regarded as the father of the Royal Air Force, believed that achieving victory in war hinged on undermining the enemy's will to fight. This perspective emphasizes the importance of psychological warfare and the belief that a nation can be defeated not just on the battlefield but through the degradation of its morale and public support for the war effort. By targeting the enemy's resolve, Trenchard proposed that military operations would focus on strategic bombing campaigns that would disrupt civilian morale and weaken the overall support for the war.

This approach underscores the broader principle of total war, where the distinction between combatants and non-combatants is blurred, and the entire societal structure is targeted to diminish the adversary’s capacity to wage war. Trenchard's ideas played a significant role in shaping air power strategies, advocating that the ultimate goal in warfare extends beyond mere territorial control to encompass the complete disruption of an opponent's spirit and willingness to continue fighting.