Second season

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The second season ( Russian второй эшелон ) is an element of the combat structure of the troops. It includes the troops that serve to reinforce efforts during a battle or an operation. A second season can be provided on a tactical , operational and strategic level. Basically, the second season comprised only a small part of the available forces and resources. Such a division of the troops in combat is or was provided in all armies, but this was only expressly referred to as the second squadron in the Soviet army or in armies structured and led according to their model. In asymmetrical conflicts , the division of battle into squadrons becomes less important.

A staggered division of troops can already be found in ancient times . The troops deployed in the second line had to reinforce the thrust of the troops in the first line during the battle or to intercept the enemy who had broken through. A staggered line-up of troops was also common in the Middle Ages and early modern times. During the First World War , a staggered order of battle was established for the breakthrough through the opposing defense, with infantry regiments forming two to three squadrons, divisions as a rule two squadrons.

In the Red Army , the staggered structure in the concept of deep operation was further developed. It was seen as an indispensable element of the order of battle and could comprise up to a third of the forces and resources. This concept was used by the Red Army during the Second World War . The task of the second season in the attack was to expand the attack in the main direction of attack or a direction of attack in which success is emerging, to repel counter-attacks and to break up groups of the enemy who are counter-attacking or attacking on the flanks and in the rear . Until the introduction to the battle, the second squadron was behind the troops of the first squadron and followed them in marching order or deployed. In defense, the task of the troops of the second squadron was to smash a broken-in enemy in the depths of the defensive area. The troops of the second squadron took up prepared positions in the depths of the defensive area or were held ready in concentration rooms. Another task of the troops of the second squadron was to relieve the troops of the first squadron when they suffered large losses. The second season could be used as a whole, but also in parts. After the end of the Second World War, these principles were adopted by the Soviet Army or in armies structured and led according to their model, but were constantly adapted.

The second strategic season was also referred to as the second strategic season . For example, during the Cold War, the second strategic squadron of Warsaw Treaty troops in the West European theater of war consisted of most of the Polish armed forces, the Czechoslovak armed forces in Slovakia, the Belarusian, Baltic and Carpathian military districts with the exception of those who were already assigned to the first squadron or the strategic reserve, the Minsk and Kiev military districts. The task of the second strategic squadron was to expand the attack on a strategic level. The 2nd front , which consisted of troops from the Belarusian military district, was supposed to be introduced into the battle to reinforce the Gießen - Frankfurt am Main strip to reinforce the force of the attack.

At the operational level, the first season comprised around 40 percent of the forces and resources. The strategic grouping of the United Forces in the west consisted of a first and a second operational squadron, each consisting of several fronts . These fronts, in turn, were also divided into seasons. For example, the coastal front of the Warsaw Treaty troops in the western theater of war was divided into two squadrons and an airborne unit. The first squadron of the front comprised the 1st and 2nd Army , the second squadron the 4th Army.

On a tactical level, the second season usually comprised 30-10 percent of the forces and resources. For example, the second squadron of the 5th Army was formed from the 9th Panzer Division , while the first squadron of the army comprised four motorized rifle divisions and two independent tank regiments of the Soviet Army. The divisions of the first squadron of the army were again divided into two squadrons, with the first squadron consisting of the motorized rifle regiments, the second squadron of the tank regiments.

See also

literature

  • Soviet Military Encyclopedia , No. 7, Military Publishing House of the GDR, Berlin, 1979.
  • Frank Umbach: The red alliance: Development and disintegration of the Warsaw Pact 1955 to 1991 , Volume 10 of military history of the GDR / military history of the GDR, Ch. Links Verlag, 2005. ISBN 3861533626 .
  • Rüdiger Wenzke: The armed forces of the GDR and Poland in the operational planning of the Warsaw Pact , Volume 12 of Potsdam writings on military history, BoD - Books on Demand, 2010. ISBN 3941571095 .
  • Daniel Giese: The SED and its army: The NVA between politicization and professionalism 1956-1965. , Oldenbourg Verlag, 2002. ISBN 3486645854 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Frank Umbach: The red alliance: Development and disintegration of the Warsaw Pact 1955 to 1991 , p. 261
  2. ^ Rüdiger Wenzke: The armed forces of the GDR and Poland in the planning of operations of the Warsaw Pact , p. 118
  3. ^ Rüdiger Wenzke: The armed forces of the GDR and Poland in the planning of operations of the Warsaw Pact , p. 53
  4. ^ Rüdiger Wenzke: The armed forces of the GDR and Poland in the planning of operations of the Warsaw Pact , p. 80