THE STRATEGY OF INDIRECT APPROACH

Continuing the "Military Thought" series we present the summary of the work of the largest English military theorist Basil Liddel Hart, published in 1954, "The Strategy of Indirect Approach", addressed not only to a wide range of readers, but also useful for the command staff of the armed forces.

Acute issues and original assessments of this work caused a lot of controversy. But in fact it is the result of many years of research by the author. According to Liddell Hart, the successful outcome of wars is mainly due to indirect, unexpected for the enemy military actions. Both physical and psychological actions were indirect, with the former being frequent and the latter constant. "Moral and physical actions are correlated in a ratio of three to one."

According to L. Hart, in war more important is not the decisive battle, but rather the indirect actions preceding and following it. The longest detour is often the shortest path to the goal. Moreover, absolutizing the role of indirect actions in the theater of military operations, he concludes that the history of strategy is essentially a chronicle of the application and development of the indirect action method. The work contains highly remarkable provisions concerning the psychological suppression and decomposition of the enemy army before battle, as well as strengthening and developing the success achieved in battle through further indirect actions.

Liddel Hart B.H. Strategy The Indirect Approach. — N.-Y., 1954.

Published: 13/02/24