Human wave attack
Soviet Red Army
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In the [[Winter War]] of 1939–1940 the [[Red Army|Soviet Red Army]] used human wave charges repeatedly against fortified [[Finland|Finnish]] positions, allowing the enemy machine gunners to mow them down, a tactic described as "incomprehensible fatalism" by the Finnish commander [[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim|Mannerheim]]. This led to massive losses on the Soviet side and contributed to why the clearly weaker Finnish forces (both in manpower and armament) were able to temporarily resist the Soviet attacks on the Karelian Isthmus.{{cite book |last1=Engle |first1=Eloise |last2=Paananen |first2=Lauri |title=The Winter War: The Soviet Attack on Finland 1939-1940 |date=1973 |publisher=Stackpole Books |location=Mechanicsburg, PA |pages=123–125}}{{cite book |last1=Kamieński |first1=Łukasz |title=Shooting Up: A short history of drugs and war |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |pages=140–141}} Soviet attacks in other sectors were successfully halted by the Finns. |
In the [[Winter War]] of 1939–1940 the [[Red Army|Soviet Red Army]] used human wave charges repeatedly against fortified [[Finland|Finnish]] positions, allowing the enemy machine gunners to mow them down, a tactic described as "incomprehensible fatalism" by the Finnish commander [[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim|Mannerheim]]. This led to massive losses on the Soviet side and contributed to why the clearly weaker Finnish forces (both in manpower and armament) were able to temporarily resist the Soviet attacks on the Karelian Isthmus.{{cite book |last1=Engle |first1=Eloise |last2=Paananen |first2=Lauri |title=The Winter War: The Soviet Attack on Finland 1939-1940 |date=1973 |publisher=Stackpole Books |location=Mechanicsburg, PA |pages=123–125}}{{cite book |last1=Kamieński |first1=Łukasz |title=Shooting Up: A short history of drugs and war |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |pages=140–141}} Soviet attacks in other sectors were successfully halted by the Finns. |
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The Soviet Red Army used human wave attacks in the [[Siege of Leningrad|Battle of Leningrad]].{{Cite journal |last=Lyall |first=Jason |last2=Zhukov |first2=Yuri |date=2025 |title=Fratricidal Coercion in Modern War |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-organization/article/fratricidal-coercion-in-modern-war/FD297F9402D9C3E599F68CA114DA1313 |journal=International Organization |language=en |volume=79 |issue=1 |pages=173–192 |doi=10.1017/S002081832400033X |issn=0020-8183}} |
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[[Richard Overy]] in his book, ''The Oxford History of World War II'', talks about the eventual technological advancement of Soviet spearhead forces, becoming as effective as German forces, however he still acknowledges that elements of "unthinkable self-sacrifice, 'human wave' tactics, and draconian punishment" existed. |
[[Richard Overy]] in his book, ''The Oxford History of World War II'', talks about the eventual technological advancement of Soviet spearhead forces, becoming as effective as German forces, however he still acknowledges that elements of "unthinkable self-sacrifice, 'human wave' tactics, and draconian punishment" existed. |
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