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So with the ongoing interest in the russo-ukraine war thread and all the other wars, i thought there might be interest in discussing tactics and strategy. i found these articles on marxists.org and plan to post them as quotes, with my own interjections to encourage discussion. the main thing is these articles came out in 1915, so it might be worthwhile to discuss what is still true and what have technology and tactics made worthless. here's the link if anyone wants to read ahead https://www.marxists.org/archive/connolly/1915/rw/revwar.htmJames Connolly posted:We propose to give under this heading from time to time accounts of such military happenings in the past as may serve to enlighten and instruct our members, in the work they are banded together to perform. A close study of these articles will we hope, be valuable to all those who desire to acquire a knowledge of how brave men and women have at other times and in other place, overcome difficulties and achieved something for a cause held to be sacred. It is not our place to pass verdict on the sacredness or worth of the cause for which they contended: our function is to discuss their achievements from the standpoint of their value to those who desire to see perfected a Citizen Army able to perform whatever duty may be thrust upon it. Might as well go straight into the first article. Moscow Insurrection of 1905 James Connolly posted:In the year 1905, the fires of revolution were burning very brightly in Russia. Starting with a parade of unarmed men and women to the palace of the Tsar, the flames of insurrection spread all over the land. The peaceful parades were met with volleys of shrapnel and rifle fire, charged by mounted Cossacks, and cut down remorselessly by cavalry of the line, and in answer to this attack, general strikes broke out all over Russia. From strikes the people proceeded to revolutionary uprisings, soldiers revolted and joined the people in some cases, and in others the sailors of the navy seized the ironclads of the Tsar’s fleet and hoisted revolutionary colours. One incident in this outburst was the attempted revolution in Moscow. We take it as our task this week because, in it, the soldiers remained loyal to the Tsar, and therefore it resolved itself into a clean-cut fight between a revolutionary force and a government force. Thus we are able to study the tactics of (a) a regular army in attacking a city defended by barricades, and (b) a revolutionary force holding a city against a regular army. James Connolly posted:The revolutionists of Moscow had intended to postpone action until a much later date in the hope of securing the co-operation of the peasantry, but the active measures of the government precipitated matters. Whilst the question of “Insurrection” or “No Insurrection yet” was being discussed at a certain house in the city, the troops were quietly surrounding the building and the first intimation of their presence received by the revolutionists was the artillery opening fire on the building at point-blank range. A large number of the leaders were killed or arrested, but next morning the city was in insurrection. the insurrectionary forces are outnumbered, often a problem. the bigger problem is lack of weaponry. pistols are all well and good, but rifles are what makes it possible to defend yourself against all small arms. anyone whose shot both knows pistols are pretty hard to shoot accurately at any range. So how did they fight for nine days against 18,000 troops with rifles and artillery? James Connolly posted:Of the barricades, he says that they were erected everywhere, even the little boys and girls throwing them up in the most out-of-the-way places, so that it was impossible to tell which was a barricade with insurgents to defend it and which was a mock barricade, a circumstance which greatly hindered the progress of the troops, who had always to spend a considerable period in finding out the real nature of the obstruction before they dared to pass it. James Connolly posted:Noteworthy as an illustration of how all things, even popular revolutions, change their character as the conditions change in which they operate, is the fact that no barricade was defended in the style of the earlier French or Belgian revolutions. James Connolly posted:Criticism it's interesting to read this for me and see how it may have influenced his decision to launch the Easter uprising. although they didn't have so much success as melting away as in this case, it could be argued that staying and either dying or being taken prisoner (and then executed) did more to inflame passions in ireland against british rule. what's more, although he is proven wrong in an army's willingness to bombard a city as the british did in the easter uprising, he was right in the moral value of such actions towards insurrectionary feeling. Well, what do you think? Should i go on or hang my head in shame at a terrible thread?
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# ? Jan 15, 2023 18:59 |
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# ? May 21, 2024 15:45 |
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Reserved
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# ? Jan 15, 2023 20:25 |
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# ? Jan 15, 2023 23:15 |
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Alright, the massive interest has inspired to me to continue.James Connolly posted:Insurrection in the Tyrol James Connolly posted:In the revolt, alike in its preparation and in its execution there were three leading figures. These were Andreas Hofer, Spechbacher, and Joseph Haspinger. Hofer, the chief, was an innkeeper, and of great local influence, which he owed alike to his high character and to the opportunities of intercourse given him by his occupation, a more important one before the advent of railroads than now. Spechbacher was a farmer and woodsman, and had been an outlaw and poacher for many years before settling clown to married life. Joseph Haspinger was a monk, and from the colour of his beard was familiarly known at Roth-Bart or Redbeard. i like the tales of the different ways the revolution was promulgated. Fire is a classic, it was probably reminiscent of that scene in lord of the rings. i know none of us is planning a revolution or anything like that, but it's still interesting to me to think of ways to spread the news quickly. some would probably say internet, and protests have started by such means, but i think it would be incumbent on anyone to have other ways to spread the news widely, as the internet, being a series of tubes, can be turned off at points or in geographical areas. the french army, lately maligned but historically successful, operated the corps system where armies were split into smaller portions so that living off the land was less ruinous, as well as keeping the roads in better shape. well, anyways, the relevant part is how they knew when a separate part of the army had come into action, they could hear the sound of the guns and the operative saying "when in doubt, move towards the sounds of guns" gave them the ability to mass during battle and spread out after. obviously this has value, especially in the early days of a revolution where individual forces may be spread out geographically. James Connolly posted:At one place, St. Lorenzo, the revolt had been precipitated by the action of the soldiers, whose chiefs, hearing of the project, attempted to seize a bridge which commanded communications between the upper part of the valley and Brunecken. Without waiting for the general signal the peasants in the locality rose to prevent the troops getting the bridge. The Bavarian, General Wrede, with 2,000 men and three guns marched to suppress this revolt, but the peasants hid behind rocks and trees, and taking advantage of every kind of natural cover poured in a destructive fire upon the soldiers. The latter suffered great loss from this fire, but pushed forward, and the peasantry were giving way before the disciplined body whcn they were reinforced by the advanced guard of an Austrian force coming to help the insurrection. The Bavarians gave way. When they reached the bridge at Laditch the pursuit was so hot that they broke in two, one division going up, the other down, the river. The greater part were taken prisoners at Balsano, amongst the prisoners being one general. trained soldiers don't love fighting in mountainous terrain, the taliban have shown that even airpower doesn't make it completely unfair for a guerrilla force fighting in the mountains, especially with long range weapons capable of shooting from mountain heights. airpower does have its advantages, as the basques found out during the spanish civil war, where they tried to hold mountain peaks without enough concealment from the air, and without the means to shoot the planes down. it mentions trading terrain for time, remember terrain is only useful for how it can help you, once in it becomes a hindrance it's always a good idea for the revolutionary to abandon it and save oneself, it's a world revolution, baby, you can make the revolution wherever you are. James Connolly posted:Meanwhile another large body of peasants had attacked and taken Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol, and when Bisson and Wrede eventually forced their way up the Brenner with the insurgents everywhere harrying on their flanks and rear, picking them off from behind cover, and rushing upon and destroying any party unfortunate enough to get isolated, as they advanced into the open it was only to find the city in possession of the insurgents, and vast masses of armed enemies awaiting them at every point of vantage. After a short fight Bisson, caught between two fires, surrendered with nearly 3,000 men. James Connolly posted:After the total defeat of the Austrians and the capture of Vienna by Napoleon, the city of Innsbruck was retaken by a French army of 30,000 men. Hofer was summoned by the French General to appear at Innsbruck. He replied stating that he James Connolly posted:Remarks
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# ? Jan 17, 2023 04:31 |
I like your thread please continue
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# ? Jan 17, 2023 05:16 |
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Same, I don't have anything to say in terms of discussion but this is interesting to read.
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# ? Jan 17, 2023 09:21 |
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Alright, i'll continue. got a short one which is good.James Connolly posted:Defence of the Alamo James Connolly posted:Fighting took place at several places, notably at San Antonio de Bexar, where the insurgents after five days battle in the street, compelled the garrison to surrender. On hearing of this disaster to his forces, the Mexican President, Santa Anna, crossed the Rio Grande, the river which forms the boundary line between Texas and Mexico, with an army of 10,000 men, and advanced against the insurgents. In the path of their advance lay an old wooden fort known as the Alamo, into which a Texan officer named Travis threw himself with a garrison of 145 men. The Mexican force laid siege to the place, and Travis sent off the following message for reinforcements:– James Connolly posted:But the defence of the Alamo had enabled the insurgents elsewhere to organise their resistance, and General Samuel Houston with twelve hundred men was by this time in the field and in a position to conduct a regular campaign. Houston pursued a retreating and waiting policy refusing to be drawn prematurely into a baffle, but patiently biding his time and keeping his men together until he had made them into an army. James Connolly posted:Remarks
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# ? Jan 18, 2023 09:14 |
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Alright apparently i skipped one, but we'll just ignore that and do it now.James Connolly posted:Revolution in Belgium James Connolly posted:On the 25th of August, 1830, a partially armed mob attacked the house and printing establishment of the chief pro-Dutch paper, the National. After wrecking these they obtained more arms by sacking gunsmiths’ shops. Then the official residence of the Dutch Minister of Justice, M. van Mannen, was attacked, gutted, and burned to the ground. James Connolly posted:A Committee of Public Safety elected by the Burgher Guard issued a Manifesto setting forth the grievances of the Belgian Nation, and instituting reforms. Clause XI of the Manifesto ordered that James Connolly posted:On this point, like Ireland in our day, the country was divided. Antwerp and Ghent petitioned against separation. Tournay, Verviers, Mons and Namur declared for separation, and in each of them the Civic Guard seized the town and proclaimed the revolution. Bruges followed suit. In each of those places, whilst the Civic Guard was hesitating, the working class took the lead and forced the pace, bringing the guard eventually into line. James Connolly posted:Barricades were thrown up in all the streets and at the gates. Pavements were torn up, stones carried to the top of houses in streets through which the troops would have to pass, and every preparation made, the women being specially busy in the preparations. The attack began on the 22nd, the middle class citizens who had been in the Burgher Guard kept carefully to their houses and out of the fighting. The troops made the attack upon six different points, or districts towards which they opened, Flanders, Auderlecht, Lacken, Schaarbeck, Namur, Louvain. The artillery easily broke through the gates and adjoining barricades but as they advanced, obstacle succeeded obstacle, resistance seemed to multiply itself with every step, and the fighting increased in intensity the farther into the city they penetrated. At the Flanders gate the troops swept at first everything before them with their artillery fire. They advanced with great steadiness until they were met by a strong barricade at a curve in the street which prevented the artillery from being brought to bear. Here they were exposed to a deadly fire from behind the barricade, and overwhelmed from above with showers of paving stones, heavy pieces of furniture, hatchets, fire-irons and every species of missile. Beaten back, they were compelled to retreat. At Auderlecht gate the same fate overtook the soldiery, and at Lacken the insurgents compelled a retreat with great loss. James Connolly posted:Remarks
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# ? Jan 22, 2023 03:49 |
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Alright, like any true revolutionary i will continue on despite the people not rising up and supporting me James Connolly posted:Revolution in Paris, 1830 James Connolly posted:Liberty of the press was suspended. Writings published in violation of the regulations were to be seized, and types and presses used in printing them to be taken into custody, or rendered unfit for their purposes. James Connolly posted:The police attempted to clear the streets and failed, and soldiers were ordered to assist. As they pushed the people back in the Rue St. Honorè the first shot was fired from a house in that thoroughfare. It came from a shot gun and wounded some of the soldiers. James Connolly posted:The second column entered by Porte St. Martin, and was met by sharp firing. After firing two rounds from the artillery, and a number from the muskets of the infantry it crushed the opposition at this point, but as it advanced into the centre of the city the insurgents built barricades behind it, and the further it advanced the more barricades they built in its rear. It reached its objective the great square of the Place de la Bastille, but when it attempted to return was stopped by the aforementioned barricades, and fired upon from all the intersecting streets. The commanding officer after several fruitless attempts to return by the route marked out for him, at last fearing that he would lose his artillery broke out in another direction, leaving the ground he had occupied in the hands of the insurgents, and reaching a point entirely out of touch with the General in command. This column had passed through the insurgents, but it had left them just as it had found them, except, as one writer remarks, “that they had been taught to meet the royal troops without fear, and to know the value of the method of fighting they had adopted.” James Connolly posted:Eventually finding the place untenable they fought their way out, attacked all the way by the people who closed in like a sea as the troops passed. James Connolly posted:Remarks anyways, there's two particular chapters left, and then a summary left for me to cover. anyone got any tips for encouraging further discussion? people just reading and absorbing and keeping their mouths shut? it's all good, hopefully it gets some minds thinking.
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# ? Feb 3, 2023 03:33 |
I'm just reading but I'd be interested to know how people think the modern version of smashing the printing presses would look and how that presumably online suppression would be resisted. Or is the modern technological panopticon simply irresistible? Wrt: barricades they are surely useful if you have lots and lots because even modern militaries have finite engineering resources and they can't be everywhere at once, a barricade is a low effort way to draw a lot of resources into it's dismantling imo
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# ? Feb 3, 2023 03:58 |
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It's pretty interesting to read the piece a hundred years (give or take a decade) later. The most applicable advice are those that are more abstract such as the importance of combat engineering, the need to keep pushing the envelope of the moment, and being on the ball wrt seizing armories and gun shop inventory. At the same time there's also a lot of examples that have not aged well. Many of the examples in the work presumes single-shot firearms that suffer inherent disadvantages that modern repeating firearms don't. Likewise, the common infantryman these days are accustomed to working in small formations due to evolutions in training and communications technology. And then there are technological inventions such as motorized and armored vehicles, airpower, drones, etc. that simply didn't exist back when the work was published. For that we would inevitably have to look at other conflicts such as Vietnam, China, Angola, Cuba, Iraq, Asghanistan, etc. for examples relevant to the present day.
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# ? Feb 3, 2023 08:02 |
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# ? May 21, 2024 15:45 |
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Slavvy posted:I'm just reading but I'd be interested to know how people think the modern version of smashing the printing presses would look and how that presumably online suppression would be resisted. Or is the modern technological panopticon simply irresistible? Danann posted:It's pretty interesting to read the piece a hundred years (give or take a decade) later. The most applicable advice are those that are more abstract such as the importance of combat engineering, the need to keep pushing the envelope of the moment, and being on the ball wrt seizing armories and gun shop inventory.
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# ? Feb 3, 2023 08:29 |