Deep Battle: The Soviet Answer to the Blitzkrieg

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  • čas přidán 28. 06. 2023
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Komentáře • 479

  • @warographics643
    @warographics643  Před rokem +25

    Go to sheathunderwear.com and use the code “Warographics” to get 20% off your order! Thank you Sheath for the sponsorship!

  • @jajssblue
    @jajssblue Před rokem +318

    I definitely want to see more theory focused analysis videos!

    • @Ihavpickle
      @Ihavpickle Před rokem

      SHUT UP

    • @secretagent5954
      @secretagent5954 Před rokem +2

      nope, not allowed

    • @futurechef08
      @futurechef08 Před rokem +5

      That would be awesome. I liked his breakdown of the Gulf War & Invasion of Iraq. I've been watching his videos for a few years. Love watching his Content geow

    • @jajssblue
      @jajssblue Před rokem +4

      @@futurechef08 Agreed. The Iraq invasion video was excellent! The detail they go into really helps to recontextualize those events.

    • @--enyo--
      @--enyo-- Před rokem +2

      Yeah, definitely.

  • @pedroberrizbeitia1231
    @pedroberrizbeitia1231 Před rokem +159

    I, for one, quite enjoy these military theory videos! Please make more! Thanks, guys.

    • @simonkevnorris
      @simonkevnorris Před rokem +1

      I agree they are informative and interesting.

  • @HypaxBE
    @HypaxBE Před rokem +8

    That attempt at "bewegungskrieg" got me good. Thanks for leaving it in the video, loved it.

  • @hewhoshallnotbenamed5168
    @hewhoshallnotbenamed5168 Před rokem +92

    While it's true the concept of "blitzkrieg" had been around for decades the reason it was so revolutionary, and something largely forgotten when the subject is talked about today, was the implementation of shortwave radio into German tanks and other armored units, something no other army had. Couple this and the well trained and disciplined nature of German units at the time comparative to the other major powers and it's no wonder that the "lightning war" was so effective in the early stages of the war.

    • @Vandelberger
      @Vandelberger Před rokem +15

      Agreed, but please start using the term “war of movement.” No German Officer would ever say Blitzkrieg. That term was invented by the Allie’s and is mentioned in ONE German manual late in the war.

    • @jonhall2274
      @jonhall2274 Před rokem +29

      Or we can use Blitzkrieg, because anyone that had middle school history knows what you are talking about, where as an extremely small percentage of the population would associate "war of movement" with the Germans tactics during WW2! 🤷🙃

    • @pantherace1000
      @pantherace1000 Před rokem +6

      It could be argued that the Prussian concept of "maneuver war" had been in use since the 1600s.
      Robert Citino's The German Way of War is a fantastic book that delves into such concepts.

    • @ex-navyspook
      @ex-navyspook Před rokem +20

      A friend of mine was in 'Eagle Troop' during the First Gulf War. He told me that, when they captured some Iraqi tankers after (during) the Battle of 73 Easting or Medina Ridge, one of the Iraqi officers noticed a picture of Rommel in the Bradley. He apparently asked how the Americans could have a picture of their sworn enemy in their tank, someone said, "If you had studied him, you wouldn't be sitting in my tank."

    • @secretagent5954
      @secretagent5954 Před rokem +3

      you forgot laboratory grade crystal meth

  • @cameronferguson7145
    @cameronferguson7145 Před rokem +5

    Tukachevsky was also pioneering in the definition of Operations, as a layer of military planning between tactics and strategy. Bagration is a textbook example, multiple armies of varying arms composition were integrated into Fronts - not dissimilar to the Wehrmacht's Army Groups during Barbarossa - and the fronts were deployed simultaneously in a feigned thrust into Ukraine, to draw off German units, and in the main assault in the north. The Germans were denied rear area security by Soviet artillery to such an extent that they couldn't rush second line units to the front, and by the time the rockets and shells let up, the First Belorussian Front's breakthrough units were beginning the encirclement of Vitebsk. The units holding the line in Vitebsk were thus isolated from any reinforcement, while the flanking units to the north and south began engaging the second level of the German defensive line, denying Busch the luxury of sending his reserves to relieve the garrison. Operations, in the Soviet order of battle, aimed to seize initiative over a broad front using coordinated breakthrough efforts, and simultaneously to paralyze the enemy's ability to mount a flexible defense-in-depth.

  • @elonmuch491
    @elonmuch491 Před rokem +54

    I’d love to see you guys cover more military theory! I think your format is actually better suited to wider overviews (like the „special operators“ series, „art of war“ series, and videos like this) than anything else. I’d love to see you continue doing stuff like this!

  • @raylast3873
    @raylast3873 Před 11 měsíci +3

    The major problem of the 1941 Soviet Tank Corps is that they were pretty much only tanks. By comparison, the German Panzer Divisions had as many or more infantry batallions as they did tank batallians (the exact proportion changed throughout the war). Concentrated tank formations, yes. But always with generous amounts of supporting infantry (and obviously artillery and assault guns as well) which always played a vital role in either directly supplementing the armored attacks, defending against counterattacks, eliminating pockets or putting pressure on the enemy frontline to create weakspots for the tanks to exploit. This was vital.
    Tank formations with tanks were a catastrophe waiting to happen. The unsupported (and inexperienced) Soviet Tank crews were frequently annihilated by the German infantry and artillery.
    The British incidentally made a very similar mistake against Rommel. They had no experience with combined arms warfare, and the tank proponents they listened to for advice were operating under the assumption that the tanks could punch through enemy lines by themselves. Which they could not, at least not if the enemy put up a credible defense, which the Germans at this point invariably did.

  • @mpersad
    @mpersad Před rokem +30

    It's very impressive that the channel has the research to cover the "Deep Battle" doctrine of the USSR. Terrific video!

  • @Jayjay-qe6um
    @Jayjay-qe6um Před rokem +18

    Ever since the 1960s when the Sino-Soviet alliance came to an abrupt end, the Soviet High Command considered invading China by deep battle offensive operations, envisaging a rapid drive deep towards the latter's main industrial centers before they could have a chance to mount a credible defense or even stage a counterattack. However, the extremely vast numbers of Chinese People's Liberation Army and their knowledge of the terrain, coupled with their then-recent possession of nuclear weapons, made such a drive the Soviets were to execute extremely unlikely.

    • @michaelsnyder3871
      @michaelsnyder3871 Před 11 měsíci +4

      The Soviets would have used tactical nuclear weapons to destroy PLA concentrations, fortifications and cover the flanks of Soviet tank armies driving to operational depths.

    • @occam7382
      @occam7382 Před 11 měsíci +4

      @@michaelsnyder3871, yes, because it's not like using nukes on another nuclear power would ever possibly trigger M.A.D.

    • @suckyourdeadnan4805
      @suckyourdeadnan4805 Před 8 měsíci

      @@occam7382invading a nuclear power would mean MAD it’s insanity you drag there army out and destroy them that way if war the only way but you avoid attacking territory at all

    • @JDDC-tq7qm
      @JDDC-tq7qm Před 7 měsíci

      ​​@@occam7382Soviets didnt give F just like they were close to nuking America with a sub Russians are different beasts 🐻😂😂

  • @JDFloyd
    @JDFloyd Před rokem +28

    Good video, and please create more military theory ones in the future.

  • @just_a_turtle_chad
    @just_a_turtle_chad Před rokem +110

    Wow you mean the Soviets didn't just throw thousands of people without weapons at the enemy?! surprising !

    • @stc3145
      @stc3145 Před rokem +26

      They still lost twice as many men as the enemy despite having 2 to 1 in men and material. Sometimes the ratio was higher

    • @santymartin7383
      @santymartin7383 Před rokem +27

      ​@@stc3145yeah, that tends to happens on offensive action

    • @stc3145
      @stc3145 Před rokem +14

      @@santymartin7383 At defensive as well.

    • @phuntshodorji3903
      @phuntshodorji3903 Před rokem +53

      ​@@stc3145might sound weird but at the beginning of operation Barbarossa the Germans along with their allies outnumbered the Soviets.

    • @stc3145
      @stc3145 Před rokem +18

      @@phuntshodorji3903 Only at the beginning. They suffer 4 millions casualties to the 1 million Germans. The Red Army was inferiour to the German one that is why they lost so many. Even at Kursk were the Germans were attacking.

  • @elonmuch491
    @elonmuch491 Před rokem +16

    I really hope that you guys make more videos about general concepts like deep battle, urban warfare, etc. Overviews like this are great!

  • @Sorunia
    @Sorunia Před rokem +22

    I have a video suggestion!
    On Biographics, you did a video on Jane Goodall, in which you briefly mentioned the 1974-78 Gombe Chimpanzee War. I think the Warographics audience would especially appreciate a more detailed video on that conflict - especially considering its novelty as a war occurring between animals. I think anyone interested in the history of warfare would love to hear more about this obscure animal conflict!

  • @Bubble998Grunge
    @Bubble998Grunge Před rokem +7

    Seeing Isserson get a well deserved shoutout is blowing my mind--Evolution of Operational Art was translated by the US Army Command and General Staff College at Ft Leavenworth and is a crisp, cogent 110 pages. Really does a good job of highlighting how the traditional ends-means concepts of strategy and tactics crystallized in the early 19th Century by the likes of Clausewitz and Jomini started to get confused and blurred as land operations grew in scope, scale, and frequency.

  • @ex-navyspook
    @ex-navyspook Před rokem +13

    This was an excellent video on military theory. It was well-researched and, more importantly, well-distilled for the non-military people who watch your channel. Well done!

  • @krustytoast
    @krustytoast Před rokem +9

    I definitely would love to see more military theory discussed here please!

  • @CacklingAntagonist
    @CacklingAntagonist Před rokem +7

    Loved this and would love more! One of the best explanations of deep battle I've heard

  • @daveanderson3805
    @daveanderson3805 Před rokem +5

    Great video. I definitely would like to see more of this type of subject. You did an excellent job of compressing a complicated subject into a relatively short time span and making it easily understandable 👍

  • @Scientist118
    @Scientist118 Před rokem +5

    Honestly, thisis a great video on the subject. It is quite difficult to find videos that go to the in-depth detail with such a time frame.

  • @dinsdalemontypiranha4349

    Yes Simon. I would like to see more videos like this one.
    Great video. Thanks!

  • @leobezard5998
    @leobezard5998 Před rokem +2

    this is awesome, please talk more about specific modern and ancient doctrines, how they emerged, how they were perceived, thought of, and implemented

  • @thejudgmentalcat
    @thejudgmentalcat Před rokem +3

    Yes, these war theory/tactics videos are very informative 👍

  • @peterknudsen3490
    @peterknudsen3490 Před rokem +1

    Excellent video, please continue on this path.

  • @anibalbautistaacosta2876
    @anibalbautistaacosta2876 Před 11 měsíci +2

    Love military theory and doctrine videos, keep them coming

  • @aymonfoxc1442
    @aymonfoxc1442 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Deep battle, as seen in WW2, was essentially a concept from the interwar years and came before the almost accidental lightning war in France. Deep battle however, had been quashed (several times) by the Soviet leadership and military bureaucracy amid power plays and the battle for influence. Stalin eventually realised the error of his ways but deep battle was still implemented in a somewhat haphazard way and the records were sanitised for history.
    The Soviets developed their combined arms approach integrating armour after observing exercises in Britain. Whilst the US and the USSR learned the lessons of these exercises, the British floundered and their procurement of armour suffered.

  • @jackpugh4168
    @jackpugh4168 Před rokem

    Wonderful video! Please do continue making content about military theory and tactics, I found this very interesting.

  • @raptor7547
    @raptor7547 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Love the video! A suggestion that would make it even better with something like this would be a map illustration with arrows on how this plays out against enemy lines. I’d love if you incorporated some of that in your war video. Great work Simon!

  • @jamesbyrd8907
    @jamesbyrd8907 Před rokem +1

    Would love to see more videos like this!

  • @michaelsnyder3871
    @michaelsnyder3871 Před 11 měsíci +1

    "Deep Battle" was developed by a number of Russian Soviet officers with professional education in the Tzar's army and exposure to the German concept of operational art during the 1920s and tested through Red Army exercises in the early 1930s, in parallel with such concepts in the German General Staff based on the application of WW1 experience and technology to the operational level of war. Stalin's Purges and the return to a form of war more politically acceptable to Stalin's cronies like Voroshilov and Budenny ended any official consideration or education on "deep battle" within the Red Army's senior leaders, yet Timoshenko, Shaponishkov, Vatutin and Zhukov understood and exercised "deep battle" (or tried to) from Kalkhin Gol/Nomohan to the Operation Bagration.

  • @blabbergasted4380
    @blabbergasted4380 Před 11 měsíci

    Gr8 format! Thanks!

  • @MarcoC.130
    @MarcoC.130 Před 4 měsíci +1

    War of attrition, a good war tactic that costs time as two nations have to out produce each other.

  • @akevabanshee3632
    @akevabanshee3632 Před rokem +1

    More of this please.

  • @hansvermeir4949
    @hansvermeir4949 Před rokem +1

    please continue this serie 🙂

  • @gmalsa
    @gmalsa Před 11 měsíci +1

    Awesome video. We want more military theory videos

  • @edwardgilmour9013
    @edwardgilmour9013 Před 9 měsíci

    I like the analysis, thankyou

  • @bradlevantis913
    @bradlevantis913 Před rokem +1

    I do enjoy the theory. Hope to see more of this type of video

  • @kevinmahecha9969
    @kevinmahecha9969 Před rokem +1

    Love the military theory stuff 🙏 thunder run and this video was dope.

  • @bretthyde3874
    @bretthyde3874 Před rokem

    Well written video, with great analysis

  • @silmarilya
    @silmarilya Před rokem

    great video, i'm glad i subscribed

  • @futurechef08
    @futurechef08 Před rokem

    Thanks for ALL your content. Ive been watching for YEARS. I like how he always trys to give his opinions in a centrist view.😁😁😁

  • @theironblitz
    @theironblitz Před rokem

    YASSSSS! MOAR!!! Thanks, Simon.

  • @StayPrimal
    @StayPrimal Před rokem

    You are a beast man, I enjoy your channels

  • @javiermoya2801
    @javiermoya2801 Před rokem

    Loving this channel so much. A recommendation if possible, the Sino Vietnamese war of 1979

  • @raylast3873
    @raylast3873 Před 11 měsíci +1

    There are a couple of key components that enabled the Red Army to successfully force breakthroughs almost at-will during the late war (post-Kursk):
    1. Extreme concentration of forces. The Soviets took this much further than the Germans or Allies ever did, often concentrating entire divisions in tiny sectors of the front to achieve overwhelming numerical superiority against the smaller formations defending those sectors. This led to the Germans believing they were being attacked by endless human waves of enemy soldiers. This was only true for the breakthrough areas and they had to weaken other sectors of the front to do it.
    2. This made it even more important that the Red Army was also able to achieve total surprise by way of Maskarovka, successfully deceiving the enemy as to where and when an attack was coming. Entire armies were able to move into position in total secrecy, with German reconnaissance being completely unaware.
    3. The Red Army was usually able to infiltrate forward German lines before the offensive began, often without the defenders taking notice. In doing so they took advantage of the German elastic defense doctrine, which called for thinly manned forward defenses; this was exacerbated by the German manpower shortage, leaving even more gaps in the defensive lines. When the offensives were launched, the Germans were attacked from their own trenches with no time to prepare.
    All this is in addition to massiv artillery support and usually having air superiority as well.

  • @zipfslaw3771
    @zipfslaw3771 Před 11 dny

    Very interesting. Theory is useful for understanding!

  • @zulfchoudhary2746
    @zulfchoudhary2746 Před měsícem

    Great video

  • @ebredenberg
    @ebredenberg Před rokem

    Loved this!

  • @TheBin-fc8gh
    @TheBin-fc8gh Před 11 měsíci

    Definitely liked the subject and the video, and would like more of this. Maybe also something about the psychological factor in battles, since I think a lot of (ancient) battles were won/lost bc one side panicked and routed while not necessarily in fact losing

  • @beefybreaker
    @beefybreaker Před 6 měsíci

    Very interesting stuff

  • @johnwood5150
    @johnwood5150 Před 4 měsíci +1

    this is great

  • @dansicklesmissingleg1841

    Loved the video! I chuckle whenever I see Kutuzov come up again because I always remember how revered he is in various Russian written works, yet the real deal made his fair share of mistakes, a few of which arguably allowed Napoleon to escape Russia in 1812.

    • @JDDC-tq7qm
      @JDDC-tq7qm Před 7 měsíci

      Kutuzov did play a huge role in the French invasion

  • @321-Gone
    @321-Gone Před 11 měsíci

    great Video

  • @FrontLinePub
    @FrontLinePub Před rokem

    Love this indepth analysis

  • @timambridge2545
    @timambridge2545 Před rokem +1

    I would definitely like to see more on military theory and doctrine..

  • @batticusmanacleas510
    @batticusmanacleas510 Před rokem +1

    All hail Whistler's Beard. Just a little bumpity bump and a request for more military theory vids. I'm not aware of any series done on that topic

  • @Rob-ou5pl
    @Rob-ou5pl Před rokem +1

    I want to see more of this kind of content.

  • @collidinggamers4348
    @collidinggamers4348 Před rokem

    More videos like this would be great.

  • @stevedaenginerd
    @stevedaenginerd Před rokem

    This is facinating stuff! More please! 🤓

  • @prestonchrisman7382
    @prestonchrisman7382 Před 11 měsíci

    Enjoyed the theory video!

  • @matthiaspfisterer2066
    @matthiaspfisterer2066 Před rokem +1

    Please more of this! The only thing I was missing is the story how the German Reichswehr and the Soviets worked together in the years before 1933 in trying and developing tank warfare doctrine.

  • @garyb9167
    @garyb9167 Před rokem

    Yes please. I love this channel

  • @R0bobb1e
    @R0bobb1e Před 11 měsíci

    I, for one, really enjoy learning about this. It has very little prospect of ever being helpful in my day to day life, but that is half the point isn't it? To learn for the sake of learning!? :) Please continue to make these kinds of films.

  • @johnscrimgeour6505
    @johnscrimgeour6505 Před 11 měsíci

    well done

  • @isisnmagic1812
    @isisnmagic1812 Před 9 měsíci

    This is a mind blowing video, please please do one on the Zulus.

  • @rtonib2103
    @rtonib2103 Před rokem

    Great man

  • @indybruining
    @indybruining Před rokem +1

    Would like to see more like this. :)

  • @dasberk4971
    @dasberk4971 Před 11 měsíci

    Excellent video I love military theory

  • @papabear90
    @papabear90 Před 11 měsíci +4

    "long defensive wars of attrition". This is what Russia is doing to Ukraine today. Because it's not happening quick, we for some reason think it's weakness, but slowly Ukraine is being dismantled.

  • @Attofoxy
    @Attofoxy Před 11 měsíci

    Yes please to more military theory videos. I liked that you didn't pick the more famous German blitzkrieg doctrine as that has been covered many times before. I would also love a more detailed video on the Russian campaign in Manchuria, mentioned at the end of this video.

  • @pamelamays4186
    @pamelamays4186 Před rokem +2

    I'd like to see more military theory videos, please.

  • @Bubble998Grunge
    @Bubble998Grunge Před rokem +1

    Please do more military theory! Clausewitz's On War could be a series episodes all its own. Mahan and Corbett and their influence on 20th and 21st Century naval and amphibious thinking and operations could be another episode/series of episodes!

  • @PitboyHarmony1
    @PitboyHarmony1 Před rokem

    Actually ... I like this kind of deep look into specific battle movement design.
    Makes for a nice divergence from the usual war like stuff.

  • @timstylinski9061
    @timstylinski9061 Před 11 měsíci

    I'd have to agree. I like the theory side of the house. Continue to do more. Maybe you want to talk about the US's multi-domain battle doctrine

  • @shturmovik3033
    @shturmovik3033 Před rokem

    Very Informative! More! аплодисменты!

  • @blastpast4642
    @blastpast4642 Před 10 měsíci

    I love all your videos and channels! I do wish you would add a more visual element. Being a visual learner, I feel like maps of the area you’re talking about, maps of the progress an army made or the ground the army lost, would help me better understand and keep my attention. In the meantime, thank you for the current content!!

  • @brianazcona458
    @brianazcona458 Před rokem +1

    Yes I do like military theory stuff

  • @ajb229
    @ajb229 Před 8 měsíci +1

    I nickname my little boy ‘glubokay’ after this.

  • @lewiswestfall2687
    @lewiswestfall2687 Před rokem

    thanks

  • @lewissmith1148
    @lewissmith1148 Před rokem

    This should 100% be an Art of War Topic

  • @coreykendrick6302
    @coreykendrick6302 Před rokem +1

    Absolutely - more theory, please. Bring on the red X's and dotted lines.

  • @bryanseguin3943
    @bryanseguin3943 Před rokem

    Big fan of the theory videos Simon

  • @marktinsley1477
    @marktinsley1477 Před rokem

    Yes more Please

  • @BrotherDark
    @BrotherDark Před rokem +1

    This was legit, tactical theory is under represented

  • @troystaunton254
    @troystaunton254 Před rokem

    I’d love a look at the doctrine Sir John Monash came up with for Hamel that was later used for the 100 days offensive.

  • @jeffganz2681
    @jeffganz2681 Před 11 měsíci

    I do like it.
    It’s interesting.

  • @Gradysmokestoomuch
    @Gradysmokestoomuch Před 11 měsíci

    @warographics would you put links to your previous videos on related topics when you reference them please.

  • @321-Gone
    @321-Gone Před 11 měsíci

    I searched youtube for - History of bomb Smelling Dogs. I didn't find much. Maybe you guys could do a video.? How long have dogs been used to smell for explosives or just gun powder in war? I'd also be interested in types of Siege used throughout history.

  • @johnscott107
    @johnscott107 Před rokem

    yes, like, more please

  • @kurtflint64
    @kurtflint64 Před rokem

    More!

  • @rxt1366
    @rxt1366 Před rokem +1

    Hey. Could you guys make a video about wargames. How does wargames work in military? What do they do and how? What is the history of wargames?

  • @diedertspijkerboer
    @diedertspijkerboer Před rokem

    This vpid perfectly illustrates how tools like tanks have very low value if there isn't a good military doctrine that describes how they should be used, nor the training in that doctrine.

  • @bradhartman1097
    @bradhartman1097 Před rokem

    yes, yes, yes......more military theory!

  • @bigdaddyburchy
    @bigdaddyburchy Před 11 měsíci

    5:19
    Sneeze in the background Simon didn’t edit 😂

  • @caseymacdonald878
    @caseymacdonald878 Před rokem

    Simon, Can you do an episode on the Vietnamese tactics against the US.

  • @Jimtheneals
    @Jimtheneals Před rokem

    Invincibility lies in the defense and the possibility of victory in the attack -Sun Tzu

  • @darkhobo
    @darkhobo Před měsícem

    This is kinda funny knowing the Soviets and Germans developed the tactics we would call "Blitzkrieg" in union while working together to subvert the treaty of Versailles. A lot of the tactics were ones the Soviets developed fighting the White army in the Russian Civil war. Short but concentrated artillery fire closely followed by Armored assaults supported by infantry. That was a halmark of the Red Army. (Western armies still liked to rain artillery down for days at a time thinking that was "softening defenses" or whatever) Until it became the preferred tactic of Germany and became the "Blitzkrieg"

  • @jesurenbnb
    @jesurenbnb Před rokem

    Do another biographics video simon!

  • @Bullet-Tooth-Tony-
    @Bullet-Tooth-Tony- Před rokem +1

    Do a video on Operation Compass, Richard O Connor applied German tactics in the North African campaign.

  • @isisnmagic1812
    @isisnmagic1812 Před 9 měsíci

    I did not know the Soviets had troops in the Spanish Civil war, thanks fir that heads up.