What was the scorched earth tactics and other tricks of the Second World War

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Savvy and resourcefulness, what distinguishes Russians from everyone else. And here the point is not even that "the need for invention is cunning." The desire to outwit, to cheat, and to do it beautifully, apparently is part of the mentality. Military tactics are no exception, combined with knowledge and skill, ingenuity gives excellent results. The Great Patriotic War showed many examples of how resourceful soldiers can be.

Scorched earth

This phrase is usually used to describe the consequences of bloody battles. In 1943, a large-scale retreat of German troops began after the defeat at Stalingrad. The process was difficult, slow, the Nazis did not want to give up a single piece of land, they waged bloody wars for each settlement. But the Red Army men could no longer be stopped.

The leadership of the German army decided not only to retreat, but to destroy any infrastructure, leaving behind literally "scorched earth". This would prevent the Soviet side from quickly restoring its former power and strengthening the army. Donbass was particularly affected. This industrial region was a tasty morsel for Germany, which they sought to conquer, no matter what. However, when the Soviet troops began to push the Nazis to the West, they decided to destroy the entire infrastructure.

The destruction was of such a scale that there was no question of restoration or reconstruction. The operation was carried out by soldiers of the Army "South", they received the corresponding order already in 1943. However, similar documents were sent to all combat formations of the Germans.

The head of the armies "South" Hans Nagel gave clear instructions on exactly how to wipe the Donbass off the face of the earth. Enterprises began to be systematically destroyed. They tried to take out the valuables, but due to the difficulties of transport, this was not always possible. Mines, railroad tracks were destroyed, houses were burned.

It would seem, why be surprised at the actions of the Fritzes? However, Hitler, officially giving instructions to use the scorched earth tactics, referred to the Red Army. When the Soviet army retreated rather than attacked, at the very beginning of the war, the soldiers and employees of the NKVD deliberately destroyed everything that could get the enemy. Food supplies that could not be taken out were burned, bridges, railways were blown up.

This tactic was introduced by Stalin himself, thus, in every possible way trying to complicate the Germans' stay in the occupied territory. Later, it passed to the partisans, who deliberately damaged the infrastructure of the occupied territories. They could have poisoned a well, blown up a bridge.

Scorched earth tactics have been used in Russia for a long time. This was a very effective move, especially if you had to fight with a stronger opponent. Coupled with luring in a territory with unfavorable climatic conditions, the deprivation of the benefits of civilization has always borne fruit. During Napoleon's offensive against Moscow, exactly the same tactics were used.

But the German side has made its own adjustments to Russian military traditions. It not only destroyed the infrastructure of villages and cities, but also drove civilians from the occupied territories into slavery. As soon as it became clear to the German leadership that their lightning-fast plan had failed, it was decided to export the Soviet population as free labor to Germany.

The plans of the Fritzes were the complete devastation of the lands that were once under their occupation. Therefore, in their understanding, the "scorched earth" tactic is a much more cruel and all-encompassing concept. But the Germans did not succeed in destroying everything, as well as taking out the entire population or exterminating it. The Soviet troops soon not only drove them out of their territories, but also continued to beat the enemy far beyond the Soviet borders.

More than meets the eye

This tactic has a very specific example of its use, and a successful one. A battle was fought, Soviet soldiers sought to improve their positions, battles were fought for a small settlement. The Germans, who occupied the best shooting positions, did not allow us to approach closer. The Soviet platoon had a little over 20 soldiers, but there was also a cunning commander who decided to use ingenuity.

The German side was located near the mountain in front of the village, behind the village began a dense forest, and in the center there was a ravine overgrown with bushes. A road led through the ravine, which was clearly visible through the position of the Germans.

The German officers on duty from the mountain see Soviet soldiers in a small group, about 15 people, walking from the forest on the road to more often. They have several light machine guns with them. The soldiers fled into the village, followed again by a new group with a tank machine gun, followed the same road and disappeared. For quite a long time, single Soviet soldiers, stealthily and hiding behind bushes, passed to the village. The German side counted about 200 infantrymen armed with machine guns.

What was the trick? The fact that the platoon commander managed to sell 20 soldiers for 200. The soldiers, having reached the forest, turned into the village, made a detour and again turned to the road along the ravine, so that the German observer could count them again.

After it got dark, the savvy platoon commander gives the order to go on the attack. The fighters stood in a wide chain and launched an offensive simultaneously from several sides at once. The Germans, confident that they were attacking at least 200 people, did not accept the battle, but immediately retreated. A platoon of 20 people was able to occupy the village thanks only to ingenuity and cunning.

Give to get more

1943, near Nevel, the Soviet defenses at the forefront entered German territory like a wedge. The wedge was located at a height, the battalion was located there, which extremely annoyed the enemy. Still would. Firstly, it was a convenient point for an offensive, and secondly, it made it possible to attack from the flank. The German side repeatedly tried to occupy this height and push the Soviet troops back to the front line, thus leveling it. But they didn’t succeed.

It was winter and Soviet intelligence reported that the enemy was pulling up troops from both sides of the ledge. The enemy's plans were obvious, attacking simultaneously from both sides, they intended to capture the height, doubling their chances. The commander, realizing that the forces are not equal, decided to resort to ingenuity. The soldiers were ordered to dig trenches in the direction of the German positions and make fortifications of snow. Under cover of night, the soldiers, dressed in camouflage white coats, prepared a trench and passages between them, equipped platforms for machine guns.

Already in the morning the German side launched preparations for shelling the heights. The Soviet units were already in the trenches prepared in advance. German artillerymen fired at the empty height, while the company of Soviet soldiers was safe at that time. But literally a few minutes before the end of the preparatory "cleansing" by the artillerymen, an attack by infantrymen of an empty height began. Giving them the opportunity to get closer to the wedge, the Soviet fighters launched a counterattack.

The Germans were so surprised by the unexpected attack from the rear that they lost all concentration. Firing back randomly, they began to retreat. Soviet soldiers began to pursue the enemy and thanks to this they noticeably deepened into enemy positions.

How the soldiers ferried stumps and logs

Again in 1943, the Soviet side pursues the retreating enemy and goes to the Dnieper. The fighters are faced with a difficult task. As soon as it gets dark, they must cross the river, take up enemy positions, take possession of the settlement and thereby ensure a safe passage for the main forces.

During the day, the coast was examined, the most convenient positions were found, but as soon as it got dark and the submachine gunners on rafts reached the middle of the river, they opened targeted fire on them. It became clear that in this way the tasks could not be completed.

Russian ingenuity came to the rescue again. With the support of artillery, it was decided to continue the visible crossing in the same place, as a diversionary maneuver. And the main part of the battalion should be transported to the west along the river. In the same place, unexpectedly attack and take possession of the settlement.

The boats were moved along the coast to a new location, and the battalion began the crossing. In the old place, strong fire was opened, stumps and snags were loaded onto the rafts, having put on caps and caps, and pushed them into the water. The rafts floated downstream to the center of the river, they became objects of enemy fire. Many rafts were destroyed. Fortunately, there were no people on them initially.

By this time, the battalion was successfully crossing the river. The first group, as soon as it was on the opposite bank, went on reconnaissance in order to find out the convenient positions of the approach to the settlement. By the time the reconnaissance group returned, the battalion was already ready. The soldiers bypassed the settlement and inflicted a flank attack, catching the enemy by surprise. The Germans began to retreat.

Pines in the wind

1942, events take place under Staraya Rus. The German defensive position passed exactly behind dense bushes, which made it almost impossible to observe the enemy. Soviet soldiers tried to climb the pine trees that grew nearby and set up an observation post there, but shelling immediately began.

It was not possible to establish observation. Then the commander gave the order to tie the tops of the pines with ropes, and stretch their ends into the trenches. The soldiers now and then pulled the ropes and shook the tops of the pines, the enemy opened fire. This went on for quite a long time, until the German side realized that they were being teased and stopped reacting to the swaying pine trees. So the Soviet side was able to occupy a convenient observation post without constant heavy fire on it.

The best way to hide is to stay in plain sight

The officer and four other scouts, after successfully completing the mission, ended up behind enemy lines. They needed to return to their own, but it was not an easy task. They moved only at night and in the forest. So, one day they heard a horse neighing and hid not far away, leaving to the side. It was too risky to go far. The scouts were not guided by the terrain, and walking in front of a foreign unit at the front line was clearly a risky undertaking.

It was raining and the soldiers were wrapped in camouflage robes. At the edge of the forest, they saw German soldiers walking in a column in two, they were also wearing camouflage robes. The column passed by the Soviet soldiers, and the last one, trailing the column, fell behind and went towards the hidden scouts. The officer made his decision instantly, a split second was enough to estimate that they were about the same height with the rear. Leap, and now he is already on the ground, not having time to utter a sound.

Literally without a word, the scouts understood what their commander was planning. They lined up in twos and overtook the German column. A few kilometers later, they were even stopped by a patrol leading the convoy, something answered him and the fighters continued on their way.

The officer realized that the front line was close when he saw the familiar terrain. The scouts first slowed down, and then abruptly rushed to the side, straight to the dense bushes. So they successfully reached their unit.

Military biathlon

Often, "General Moroz" provided assistance to the Russians during the war. Unable to withstand the severe frost, the enemy now and then fled. But the fact that winter has always been on our side is confirmed by the active use of skis during World War II. During winter combat, settlements and the roads that connect them play a key role. It was for them that fierce battles were always fought. Practice has shown that even small groups of submachine gunners who travel on skis can play a decisive role.

They could move around and take the enemy by surprise, provide support to the main forces from the rear of the enemy.

Soviet troops pursued the retreating enemy, at one of the lines they encountered fierce resistance. It turned out that this was a diversionary maneuver so that the main forces could fortify themselves on a different line. The Soviet side could not overcome the enemy's resistance by force. Then it was decided to use a trick.

The line of defense was located at a height above the settlement. The battalion commander gave the order at nightfall to send the platoon to the district on skis, reinforcing them with two machine guns (also on skis). The platoon was supposed to penetrate the enemy from the rear and sow panic, thereby making it easier for the battalion to attack.

The platoon was carefully prepared. The soldiers wore camouflage robes, even the machine guns were painted white. They took more cartridges and food with them.

The skiers soon reached their destination and waited for a signal that would mean the start of the operation. Already at dawn, the commander announced with a red rocket that it was time to act. The platoon literally immediately burst into the settlement. The fascists were confused by the two-way attack, they fled from the place of deployment and retreated in small groups to the neighboring village.

Then the Soviet side decided not to let the enemy retreat. Once again, the ski platoon blocked the escape routes of the Germans and almost completely destroyed the enemy. The success of such an undertaking largely depended on several factors and skis, including special sled installations for machine guns and other weapons, played an important role.

A stove that has become a shelter

The names of two snipers Ryndin and Simakov remained in the memory of the people as an example of courage and honor after this incident. The events took place in 1943, on the Upper Don. The enemy mortar platoon took up an extremely successful position and haunted the Soviet troops.

They settled in a deep and spacious ravine, given that there is an endless steppe around, the firing point was chosen more than well. There was no forest or bushes nearby, only what was left of the destroyed farm - a dilapidated hut and several buildings nearby.

In this situation, all hope was in the snipers. They scanned the area through binoculars for a long time, trying to find at least some shelter. Dusk fell. A burst of machine guns, heard in silence, riddled the hut, hit a haystack, it began to smolder quietly. It was then that a daring plan matured on the Soviet side.

Already in the morning, the Germans from their ravine, in which they felt extremely relaxed, began quick fire on the Soviet side. But then the commander fell with a bullet in his temple, then the gunner, then another one. "Sniper!" the Germans panicked. They, scattering over the shelters, began literally millimeter by millimeter to examine the endless steppe through binoculars, but could not find anything. And where could the snipers be? Only white, even snow, a hut that burned down at night and a charred stove.

The Germans have even fired at the outlined snowdrifts, believing that the opponents are hiding there. And the fatal shots, meanwhile, continued, reducing the number of the enemy one by one.

As in a Russian fairy tale, the stove covered them. They made their way into it in the evening, when a blizzard began, and they were able to crawl to it unnoticed. They dismantled the remains of the hut, burned the remains to make it look believable, and buried themselves in the stove. The snipers were lying on the bricks, which literally froze to frost, because of the soot they suffered from coughing, but did not give out their presence.

The snipers were able to return to their own only two days later, reporting to their command that they had managed to destroy two dozen Fritzes.