2023/01/24

Tactical psychology and the tip of the spear

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Western entertainment businesses have warped many of their sourced quite a lot. I don't quite recognise the Grimm's fairy tales of my childhood in their American interpretations, for example.

Hercules is another example. I remember to have read a translation of ancient texts, and was shocked by this sociopath. In one battle he was about to murder a friend of his because said friend had dared to run in front of Hercules. Luckily, he quickly noticed and fell back voluntarily.

The Romans had a special medal for the legionary who was the first to reach the walls of a city or fortress to be stormed (corona muralis).

I remembered these anecdotes when I read the following description of what would go on in a 19th century assault:

"Even if the distance is short and the enemy only a moment away, it is again the instinct that takes over. We rush forward, but most of us will rush forward with caution in the back of their minds, allowing the rash to pass us and the daring to rush ahead. It is peculiar but absolutely true that the closer we get to the enemy the further we get from each other. Goodbye to the theory of surge. And if the head of the column is stopped those who are behind it will fall to the ground rather than push it forward."

The pre-800 BC Greek ethos and the Roman medals served the purpose of helping the leading men sustain the charge. Only one of many could possibly be honoured for being the very tip of the spear, but that didn't matter. The spear had to begin somewhere, and it doesn't move forward if its tip doesn't.

S O

defence_and_freedom@gmx.de

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