ShopDreamUp AI ArtDreamUp
Deviation Actions
Description
While doing some background research I happened to read up on the dreaded scorched earth tactics.
For those not familiar with this military strategy basically its wanton destruction of persons , property and all resources of an occupied land.
The areas to be abandoned are left unfit for use by the advancing army, anything of worth to the enemy is blasted , burned , killed, levelled , ripped up and destroyed.
The areas to be abandoned are left unfit for use by the advancing army, anything of worth to the enemy is blasted , burned , killed, levelled , ripped up and destroyed.
With total disregard of the inhabitants, buildings and shelter are burned down to deprive the enemy of accommodation -- over 2 million ( thats 2 million!) home and buildings were rendered useless by a beaten German force in their retreat from Ukraine in 1943-44, orders were also not to leave behind ANY persons who could be of assistance to the advancing forces - to this end innocent people were ordered into churches the doors barred and then the buildings set alight - in total around 28000 villages in Ukraine were wilfully destroyed by the Wehrmacht.
The destruction didn't end there - no cattle was to be left , even grains and stored food were completed destroyed. instructions also stated that not a galleon of fuel was to be left and all roads were to be made unusable
Even the railroad network was ruined, in fact 18414 miles of perfectly good rail tracks were ripped up by the German army, who even designed a railway plough for this purpose, dragged behind a locomotive and it would tear up the sleepers and twist runners.
Everything was ravaged, from natural resources to roads and infrastructure such as bridges and hydroelectric facilities , all blasted and burnt into uselessness - traffic, food supplies, communications , shelter all bombed and burnt.
Wells and other water sources were also poisoned - not only do these actions hinder and effect the efficiency of the advancing forces but it has a catastrophic effect on the remaining civilians causing untold deprivation and misery.
Saddest fact of all --- it was here on the Eastern front for the first time in warfare that the civilian casualties outweighed military causalities.
Wells and other water sources were also poisoned - not only do these actions hinder and effect the efficiency of the advancing forces but it has a catastrophic effect on the remaining civilians causing untold deprivation and misery.
Saddest fact of all --- it was here on the Eastern front for the first time in warfare that the civilian casualties outweighed military causalities.
Image size
1500x1174px 2.19 MB
Make
Panasonic
Model
DMC-TZ7
Shutter Speed
1/100 second
Aperture
F/3.3
Focal Length
4 mm
ISO Speed
80
Date Taken
Jul 3, 2014, 4:33:48 PM
© 2014 - 2024 TheGurch
Comments81
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Wow, nasty history lesson
and a fun, dark pic.
and a fun, dark pic.