| ID | 187244 |
| Title Proper | Still Misreading Svechin |
| Other Title Information | Annihilation, Attrition, and Their Strategic and Operational Implications |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Dmitry Plotnikov ; Plotnikov, Dmitry |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Russian and Soviet military theorist Aleksandr Svechin developed his theory of military art based on the two cornerstone concepts: annihilation and attrition. Yet these concepts frequently have been misunderstood by his critics, who demoted them from the strategic to the operational level. A close examination of Svechin’s legacy allows reinstating annihilation and attrition as characterizations of the overall dynamics of war rather than mere styles of warfare freely adopted by a given belligerent. When viewed in the context of operational/strategic distinction, moreover, the Soviet theorist's concepts remain as important and practically applicable today as they were in the early 20th century. |
| `In' analytical Note | Journal of Military History Vol. 86, No.3; Jul 2022: p. 670–87 |
| Journal Source | Journal of Military History 2022-09 86, 3 |
| Key Words | Attrition ; Annihilation ; Strategic and Operational Implications |