Trench warfare - a time when battles are on permanent solid fronts, the boundaries of which are practically unchanged.At the same time the defense of each of the opposing sides in depth.For such a war characterized by high density of troops on individual sites.All positions have a good engineering support and is constantly being upgraded.
overall picture of trench warfare
During this confrontation the strategic and political situation is stable for a long time.Military actions give a small result, but they are more methodical.Trench warfare - this is when the goal is "to exhaust", exhausting the enemy.Offensive short to waste on a pre-prepared positions.Give them a very small effect, and it is more moral than physical.
Even with successful attacks, such as the capture of the first row of the trenches of the enemy, the result is very weak.Because each side of a well-designed defense.That is, hold on to occupied the first line fails, the enemy will destroy the attacking machine gun and artillery fire.Therefore, to save manpower, we have to go back to their positions.
These are the basic principles upon which the war of position.Defining its goals, rather, it can be described as the gradual depletion of the enemy in economic and demographic terms.Great importance is paid to the powerful artillery attacks, strengthen the front and retain their positions.
trench warfare
That is sometimes called positional.Because more maneuverability in such a war is not observed.Opponents are trying to remain in the position.The war is conducted, so to speak, "on the spot" often turns into a senseless slaughter, such as in the First World.Trench warfare - it's short, "choking", almost futile attack with heavy losses.People are dying by thousands for each meter of reclaimed land.Machine guns mow soldiers crowds, you can survive, just being in the trenches.But there sometimes fly enemy projectiles.
Therefore, positional warfare, and got its second name - trench.In the land dug the whole gallery, supported by stakes and props.All this is happening slowly, especially when the enemy moves were laid.Meanwhile, the bulk of the troops tried to hold their ground and exhausting the opponent.For fights with the enemy there were even special Trench knives that were used to hit the enemy in the trench.However, significant progress in trench warfare did not achieve any one of the warring parties.The losses were enormous, and progressed meters.
Trench warfare of the First World: how it was
By the end of 1914 the warring parties were morally depressed, tired and exhausted.This led to a transition into a deep defense.Opponents have begun to dig in their front line, to pull the barbed wire, set the machine gun bunkers.In other words, it began trench warfare.This led to the establishment of a stable and fixed front lines that suited everyone.
Defeat in this war is practically impossible.Troops lack of agility and mobility.Losses on both sides regularly replenished with fresh reserves.The reasons for the transition to trench warfare wing in the technique of the time, it did not allow the use of large-scale results.Use vehicles and tanks on the pitted terrain trenches was almost impossible, so they are not widely used.And the technique at the beginning of the XX century has been poorly developed.For example, the same tank is easy to get stuck in a trench.Stop it can be conventional logs, which threw him under the tracks.
Every country thinks he can sit it out in the trenches with minimal losses, while its allies will not cause serious damage to enemies.And then we can collectively finish off the enemy.Also, many had hoped that the economy will not sustain the enemy's huge spending on the supply of the army.And money and actually spend enormous.Trench warfare continued for several years and require a constant supply of military ammunition, small arms, forage, ammunition and other things.
Strategy First World
Strategic Plan initially consisted of just defense, forcing to throw a huge effort to strengthen the already conquered territories.Thus, the parties have tried to prevent the attack of the enemy and make their future offensive easier and more convenient.In preparation for the defense is taken into account the geographical position of their boundaries, the population, the army, its preparation and composition.That is agility has been reduced to almost zero.
Position crisis World
crisis is the inability to break through defense and securing success.The problem was communication advancing army.Even without falling directly under fire, to deliver food and reinforcements in the occupied territories it was very difficult.Speed of delivery and hinder their own fortifications left behind.
defending side until the enemy drags ammunition, food and manpower, organized defense again.And it turned out that this success was not of great importance, had to gather strength and attack again well-fortified enemy.As a result, the situation is equalized again, and everything starts over again.Trench warfare of the First World was a kind of massacre where thousands of soldiers were killed, trying to capture every 100 meters front.
