Front bow

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The Ypres arch (green) around Ypres , then the Wytschaete arch (brown) to the south , 1915

A front arch or arch (e.g. Ypres arch and Wytschaete arch ) or a front bulge or front projection ( English Salient , French Saillant ) is a bulge of the military front into hostile territory (or vice versa).

A front arch is surrounded by the enemy on three sides. It can be the preliminary stage of an encirclement . The warning of an impending encirclement is given as soon as enemy units tie up the troops holding the front arch and advance on the flanks. (cf. front bulge in the great Donbogen as a prerequisite for the battle of Stalingrad ).

In this case, an effective means of avoiding the encirclement would be an orderly retreat in the context of straightening the front . A front projection can also lead to the encirclement of enemy forces after a courageous attack and breakthrough through the front itself, if it swings in accordingly or takes place in several places.

Basically, a front arch and even more of these bulges extend the front length and bind more forces, but on both sides, than with a straight front. However, in individual cases it may be advisable to keep a front arch despite the disadvantages shown, if z. B. thereby a key position remains occupied.