good soldier forced himself to keep
is a myth that "the lowering of meat" - is a generic feature of Soviet or even earlier - the Russian army, while in the "civilized" countries, the authorities more careful with the "human material". Actually in the era of mass warfare contempt for the lives of their fellow citizens - this is a common feature of military and political leadership in all countries. Writes British historian Liddell Hart on the initial episode of the Battle of the Somme (from the book "The Truth about the World»):
«1916 is significant as the year when the art of infantry attack fell most low. 1916 has revived because of formalism and lack any ability to maneuver, combat orders, which were under Article XVIII century. Battalions attacked by four or eight waves, each at a distance of no more than 100 meters from one another. People in each wave were shoulder to shoulder in a symmetrical and well-seasoned dressing. They were taught to advance peace in all growth at a slow pace, holding rifles at the ready, ie, to advance so that both can be highly salient to the enemy. It was complete imitation of the infantry "machine" times of Frederick - with the only difference being that the attack was not conducted for more than against guns have a valid Fire only at 100 m. It is not surprising, therefore, that the night of July 1, many battalions are not numbered, and hundreds of fighters. Haig ordered to apply the methods of action the Germans Verdun: earlier than under the blow hit the main mass of infantry, a strong patrol to find his path and check the results of an artillery barrage. But his chief of staff Kiggel, in spite of this, ordered the attack "waves". And only when the waves were broken by enemy fire, the British were able to attack.
fact that human nature and primitive instincts rebelled against this over tactics. The more adventurous and less intimidated by fighters who have escaped during this entire woes, began to form small groups. Typically, each such small group led an impromptu "commander." And small groups are making their way forward with short jumps, crawling from one crater to another prokradyvayas by enemy machine guns and flowing around them, often moving thus, even at considerable depth, and bearing a relatively small losses. "
indicative that it is a mockery of the British army has happened the third year of the war, when the consequences of an attack "Building a bare flesh on artillery and machine guns, even an idiot would be clear. Until idiots came up to the sergeants realized but before the generals have not yet reached. Moreover, the latest all realized it was the generals, staff officers, "the brain Army." That's really for whom we have known phrase of Lenin. Brezhnev did not accidentally said that "war was won not generals and colonels."
And another important meaning: the state is always foolish individual, and if man is to survive, he must not trust the state to deceive him. In the end - for the benefit of the very same state. The right tactics offensive developed a people who, after watching all that no longer wanted to turn into meat. And those who carried out the order literally, turned into minced meat, without any benefits for themselves and for the state.
However, the author, being a patriot of Britain, is trying to retroactively find this is something good: "die stupidly, but heroically:
«... While the July 1 and was a military defeat, it became a heroic epic - and, even better, a proven high moral quality of the new British armies. Bringing the great sacrifice the war, they were the most brutal and bloody test, but they came out of it is not shaken. These former civilian kept a percentage loss, which was not able to make neither a professional army of past wars, without losing its combat effectiveness. And they continued to in five months as a bitter and difficult struggle. Experience has improved their tactics, the leadership of senior commanders improved but none of the following feats could not beat the moral high ground, as shown by these forces on July 1. Throughout the day small groups Britons left the blood-soaked trenches and marched to the "no man's land." Only some time to get out of the trenches, while others have never crossed this harmless green lawn, many died on the wire the enemy, many had to go back. "
Britons lost in this battle of 420 thousand people. If she formally considered the Entente victory, then, of course, not because of those first "psychic attacks", but because of the more advanced tactics, which the Allies began to apply afterwards. And some of the global strategic sense in this "battle" was not, it was just an exchange losses in the strategy of mutual exhaustion.
Who and proved that people are allowed to apply as a blunt-tin soldiers? Barbed wire? German artillery and machine-gunners Hans? German gunners shot them from the closed position from a distance of many miles, they have not even seen them, they were profoundly indifferent to heroism targets. Themselves to prove something? Well, they almost all died, and survivors are certainly did very skeptical conclusions of the talents of his military leadership. Liddell Hart himself says about it: "revolts and uprisings in 1917 were to prove that the incompetence of the generals and their freedom in dealing with human lives are the most effective factor in undermining discipline in the army. "
to prove something to these fallen soldiers only to his superiors: "Yes, we dumb meat, we can drive to the slaughter, and we'll orderly rows. And delighted boss to continue this policy, albeit in a slightly relaxed form. Were forced
bosses think a head different people, and by the way, is not submissive to the British, and French freedom:
«The troops are tired of the fact that they no apparent the results of continuously cast on the barbed wire and machine guns of the enemy. The French armies have riots, exacerbated further discontent troops and all sorts of official breakdown. The riots spread to as many as 16 buildings. For the first time the flame uprising broke out May 3 in one of the regiments of the 2 nd colonial divisions. Although it was extinguished almost immediately, but soon spread widely. revolt took place under the slogans: "We will defend the trenches, but do not want to attack" "We're not so stupid as to go to the guns!" The fact that the uprising has always flashed when the troops received orders to attack, is the best evidence, that the real causes of rebellion were distrust and loathing of his commanders, rather than corrupting propaganda. ... riots were so severe and so widespread that, according to Minister of War, at the front in the Champagne region can be relied on only two divisions, and places the trenches were almost completely empty. "
Well the Europeans, well, geeks, yet smart enough! Where there is "silly monkeys" from other continents, which at that time and build something to go could not. And Europeans - genius wit and intelligence. Just something a couple millionchikov plagued the meat, and then finally back sheep in the herd started on something to think about: "The herd, and whether we are doing, pacing ranks under the guns?»
«situation was saved by General Petain, and the means he used to do was change policy toward greater attention to the psychology of a fighter. 28 February the government appointed him head of the General Staff as a restraint against rash and reckless attack carried out by Nivelle. May 15 the government has gone to a more reasonable and more honest step by appointing Petain in place Nivelle. Within a month he traveled to the front of the car, having visited almost every division, urging both officers and soldiers to speak out loud all the their complaints, all they have pent up. Behaving gently, but not fawning, he has to himself and instilled confidence in his promises. Maintaining a presence in the trenches have been ordered and equalized, secured a uniform replacement parts and improved were camps where the troops went through a rest. Less than a month, as calm has been restored price of 23 shootings, although more than a hundred leaders of the rebellion were sent to the colony. But although the French army and was recovering, Petain was still revive its combat capability and confidence. For this purpose he first reorganized the training of troops and changed tactics, setting as its basis principle that the fire must save manpower. "
other words, even a three-year experience of war and millions of deaths could not change the psychology of leadership. Helped grow wiser only fear that these same soldiers turned their hostility to the other side, and planted them on their own generals. It seems the only rational way of addressing people by their government - is to keep his gun at his temple. And do not hesitate on occasion to press the trigger and replaced by newcomers.
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