Inner line

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In the Seven Years' War decreed Prussians the advantage of interior lines

The Inner Line is a term used in military operations management . It is a privilege primarily enjoyed by the defender. When operating on the inner line, you are the center of attention and can concentrate your forces on a short distance in certain places in order to deliver effective blows. The attacker operating on the outer line has to make much greater efforts to establish focal points. In order to be able to carry out a successful attack on a defender of equal value, the attacker must be clearly outnumbered. According to von Clausewitz , the advantage of the inner line is only one of several that the defender has. He also enjoys more, namely:

  • the benefit of familiarity with the terrain
  • the advantage of the prepared position
  • the benefit of rest
  • the possibility of an attack from several sides [correspondingly correct "failure after several sides?]
  • the use of great moral forces
  • the help of the local population.

Furthermore, v. Clausewitz the "advantage of surprise in battle", which he sees mainly in the defender. This surprise can be seen in the use of the troops (at which point how many troops are deployed). However, the attacker can also use this for himself. A one-sided assignment is therefore not advisable.

In the military field, due to the manifold advantages, one reckons with a quantitative superiority of the attacker of about 3: 1, if the attack is to have a chance of success. Under certain circumstances (e.g. colonial wars ) they are added

  • Familiarity with the climate
  • Getting used to the local pathogens
  • Familiarity with the form of combat in overcast terrain

The attacker, on the other hand, is only supported by the element of surprise of the actual attack.

In the course of the war, according to v. Clausewitz, the advantages of the two parties are increasing, because the defender himself has to take over the role of the attacker at times in order to defend himself successfully or to bring the defense to an end.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Carl von Clausewitz : From the war. (Various editions of the work are currently available in stores. English version On War - Volume 1 in Project Gutenberg ( currently not available to users from Germany ) )