Morale Issues

[Krotos]

Hey Basileus,

An excellent piece on the Battle of the Imjin River.

Notice though how the Brits and Chinese reacted differently. The Brits often fell back while the Chinese advanced regardless of cost. A similar comparision could be made with the Soviets in certain battles in WW II, and the Iranians in the Iran-Iraq war. What is being described are human wave tactics. In the case of the Iranians and Soviets, Guards Units and Commisars respectively were behind the waves and shoot anyone retreating on sight -- in the case of the Soviets, even their families would be exicuted! In such a case the ordinary soldier is, to put it bluntly, screwed! He is likely dead no matter what happens, so he might as well take a bullet from the enemy as one of his own. Human wave assaults are not the usual strategy or tactic of most of the worlds armies though -- thank the gods.

I will admit, certain "motivated" opponents, and / or, extremely professional formations (like some of the Waffen SS Divisions) will rally and fight inspite of alarming losses, but such formations (and the individuals that lead them) are the exception not the rule.

Krotos