Land Warfare and the Role it Played
WW I ground warfare changed as mechanized units and improved transport led to
much more mobile use of these forces. The automatic weapons used in WW I made
the use of horse cavalry impractical and obsolete so forces lacked mobility and
long periods were spent with opposing forces facing each other across extended,
static lines of fortified trenches. Armored weapons such as tanks were tried
but were only modestly successful. Chemical warfare was attempted in the form
of poison gasses but the results were unpredictable and relatively ineffective
except as a terror tactic.
By WW II the development of much improved
armored units with tanks capable of moving at high speed resulted in very rapid
advancement during attacks and the ability to bypass, surround and cut off
defending forces. At the beginning of the war this tactic was used by various
German, Italian and Japanese forces to quickly overcome poorly prepared
opponents and make some spectacular advances. This resulted in extended supply
lines best served by truck transport that could move war supplies to field units
quickly. An important strategy for defenders became methods to draw enemy
forces into engagements and then cut off their supply lines to deplete them.
The Soviet Union did this to excellent effect on the German "Eastern Front".
World War One saw the introduction of gas being used against enemy troops,
extensive trenches being dug along battle lines, and the tank, which was
developed to overcome the stalemate resulting from trench warfare. Besides the ever so
generally used trench warfare there were many other types of warfare being used during that time.
Warfare such as Chemical, Psychological, Political, Industrial, Media, Guerrilla and Mechanical warfare.
much more mobile use of these forces. The automatic weapons used in WW I made
the use of horse cavalry impractical and obsolete so forces lacked mobility and
long periods were spent with opposing forces facing each other across extended,
static lines of fortified trenches. Armored weapons such as tanks were tried
but were only modestly successful. Chemical warfare was attempted in the form
of poison gasses but the results were unpredictable and relatively ineffective
except as a terror tactic.
By WW II the development of much improved
armored units with tanks capable of moving at high speed resulted in very rapid
advancement during attacks and the ability to bypass, surround and cut off
defending forces. At the beginning of the war this tactic was used by various
German, Italian and Japanese forces to quickly overcome poorly prepared
opponents and make some spectacular advances. This resulted in extended supply
lines best served by truck transport that could move war supplies to field units
quickly. An important strategy for defenders became methods to draw enemy
forces into engagements and then cut off their supply lines to deplete them.
The Soviet Union did this to excellent effect on the German "Eastern Front".
World War One saw the introduction of gas being used against enemy troops,
extensive trenches being dug along battle lines, and the tank, which was
developed to overcome the stalemate resulting from trench warfare. Besides the ever so
generally used trench warfare there were many other types of warfare being used during that time.
Warfare such as Chemical, Psychological, Political, Industrial, Media, Guerrilla and Mechanical warfare.