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The first world war effectively drilled into Europe and America the terror of modern rifle-based warfare. Rifles could keep people penned in their trenches, or kill anything that moved out of them. Rifle-defended trenches were highly effective at stopping invasions (a fact that the American South should have considered during the Civil War), but one could make very few advances from them. However, by the time of the second world war, the lessons of the rifles had been relatively well learned. In preparing for the next war, Germany invented "lightening strike" capacities, focusing on mobility and range and suppressive fire. "Speed, and still more speed, and always speed was the secret... And that demanded audacity, more audacity and always audacity." During that war, cover was provided for the rifle-bearing infantry by planes and tanks, and once a hole was made in defenses, infantry could pass through without running a gauntlet of rifle fire. Tanks seem like the only reasonable answer to rifles in terms of fielding a good invasion, for only armored vehicles or individuals could safely march across an open field towards a trench or fortress defended by rifles.
Bibliography
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Dick Weeks. "Weapons of the American Civil War." Home of the Civil War. http://www.civilwarhome.com/weapons.htm.(accessed 21 April 2005).
DDerby. "Rifle." Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifles.(accessed 21 April 2005).
Edward Czarnecki. "A Brief History of U.S. Infantry Tactics (1855-1865)." U.S. Regulars Archive. http://www.usregulars.com/library.htm (accessed 21 April 2005).
Trueman, C. "Blitzkrieg." History Learning Site. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/blitzkrieg.htm.(accessed 21 April 2005).
William S. Frisbee...
World War I Tactics and Weaponry In many ways, the "War to End All Wars" was fought with a wide range of increasingly modernized weaponry that was matched with obsolete tactics that resulted in millions of deaths and casualties on both sides of the conflict. Indeed, during the period between 1914 and 1918, the full brunt of early 20th century technology was brought to bear on the battlefields of Europe and
And call each man by his name and his father's line, show them all respect. Not too proud now. We should be the ones doing the work. On our backs, from the day we were born, It seems that Zeus has piled on the hardships." With his order clear, he sent his brother off while he went after Nestor, the old commander. He found him beside his black ship and shelter, stretched on a polyurethane
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