A positional war is what? Description and causes of positional warfare

Positional war is the period when battles take place on continuous constant fronts, the boundaries of which practically do not change. In this case, the defense of each of the opposing sides is deeply echeloned. For such a war, there is a high density of troops in individual sectors. All positions have good engineering support and are constantly being modernized.

The general picture of positional warfare

During such confrontation, the strategic and political situation is stable for a long time. Military actions give little result, but they are more methodical. A positional war is when the goal is to "exhaust", exhaust the enemy. Offensive is short, with retreat to pre-prepared positions. They give a very small effect and then, rather, moral than physical.

Even with a successful end to the attack, for example, capturing the first row of enemy trenches, the result is very weak. Because each side has a well thought out defense. That is, hold on to the captured first line will not succeed, the enemy will destroy the attackers with machine gun and artillery fire. Therefore, in order to preserve the living force, one has to return to their positions.

These are the basic principles on which positional war is based. The definition of its purpose, rather, can be designated as a gradual depletion of the enemy in the economic and demographic plans. Great importance in this regard is given to a powerful artillery attack, fortified fronts and retention of their positions.

Trench warfare

This is sometimes called positional. Because there is no great maneuverability in such a war. Opponents try to stay in the occupied positions. The war is, so to speak, "taking place", often turning into a senseless slaughter, as, for example, in the First World War. Positional warfare are short, "choking", almost inconclusive attacks with large losses. People perish by thousands for every meter of the conquered land. Machine-gun turns mow soldiers in crowds, you can survive only when you are in the trench. But sometimes enemy shells fly over there.

Therefore, the positional war and received its second name - trench. In the earth rummaged whole galleries, supported by stakes and supports. All this happened slowly, especially when the moves were being made to the enemy. At that time, most of the troops tried to keep their positions and exhaust the opponent. For fights with the enemy, there were even special trench blades, which were used when entering the trench of the enemy. However, no one of the conflicting sides achieved significant success in the positional war. The losses were colossal, but moved forward meters.

The position war of the First World War: how it was

By the end of 1914 the warring parties were morally depressed, tired and exhausted. This led to the transition to a deep defense. Opponents began to dig in on their front lines, pull barbed wire, install machine-gun bunkers. In other words, the positional war began. This led to the establishment of a stable and fixed front line, which suited everyone.

It is almost impossible to win in such a war. The troops are devoid of maneuverability and mobility. The losses of both sides are regularly replenished with fresh reserves. The reasons for the transition to positional warfare were also covered in the technique of that time, its application did not yield large-scale results. It was almost impossible to use transport and tanks on the trenched terrain, so they were not widely used. Yes, and technology in the early XX century was poorly developed. For example, the same tank was easily stuck in the trench. Stop it was possible with ordinary logs, which rushed to his caterpillar tracks.

Each country believed that it could sit tight in the trenches with minimal losses until its allies caused serious damage to their opponents. And then you can collectively finish off the enemy. Also, many expected that the enemy's economy could not withstand the huge costs of supplying the army. And the funds were really spent tremendous. The position war lasted for several years and required the constant supply of shells, small arms, fodder, ammunition and other supplies to the army.

The strategy of the First World

The strategic plan originally consisted precisely of defense, forcing to throw huge efforts on strengthening already conquered territories. Thus, the parties tried to prevent the enemy from attacking and make their future offensive easier and more convenient. In preparing for defense, the geographic position of states, their borders, the size of the population, the army, its training and composition were taken into account. That is, maneuverability was reduced to almost zero.

Positional crisis of the First World

The crisis consisted in the impossibility of breaking through the defense and consolidating success. The problem was in the communications of the advancing army. Even without directly getting under fire, it was very difficult to deliver food and reinforcements to the seized territory. Speed of delivery was also hampered by their own fortifications left behind.

The defending side, while the enemy was dragging ammunition, food and human reserves, organized the defense anew. And it turned out that the success achieved did not matter much, we had to gather strength and again attack the well-fortified enemy. As a result, the situation again equalized, and everything began anew. The position war of the First World War was a kind of slaughter, where thousands of soldiers died, trying to seize every 100 meters of the front.