Red Army's barrier troops (anti-retreat forces)

[Böri]

Barrier troops, blocking units, or anti-retreat forces are formations of soldiers that in some armies are placed behind regular troops on a battle line to prevent unauthorized withdrawal or retreat. Barrier troops are used to prevent unauthorized withdrawal of soldiers from the battlefield by any means, including indiscriminate killing.

In the Red Army of the Soviet Union, the concept of barrier troops first arose in August 1918 with the formation of the (zagraditelnye otriady), translated as "blocking troops" or "anti-retreat detachments". The barrier troops were composed of personnel drawn from Cheka punitive detachments or from regular Red Army infantry regiments.

The concept was re-introduced on a large scale during the Second World War. On June 27, 1941, in response to reports of unit disintegration in battle and desertion from the ranks in the Soviet Red Army, the 3rd Department (military counterintelligence of Soviet Army) of the USSR's Narkomat of Defense issued a directive creating mobile barrier forces composed of NKVD personnel to operate on roads, railways, forests, etc. for the purpose of catching 'deserters and suspicious persons'.

On September 12, 1941, Joseph Stalin issued the Stavka Directive No. 1919 (Директива Ставки ВГК №001919) concerning the creation of barrier troops in rifle divisions of the Southwestern Front, to suppress panic retreats. Each Red Army division was to have an anti-retreat detachment equipped with transport totalling one company for each regiment. Their primary goal was to maintain strict military discipline and to prevent disintegration of the front line by any means, including the use of machine guns to indiscriminately shoot any personnel retreating without authorization.



It was hardcore method to keep soldiers on front anyone retreating or desertion killed with machine guns.

[Böri]

Stalin ordered Soviet forces to fight to the last man.

After seeing millions of Soviet troops captured in the early days of the German blitzkrieg, Joseph Stalin issued August 1941’s “Order No. 270,” which proclaimed that any troops who surrendered or allowed themselves to be captured were traitors in the eyes of the law and would be executed if they ever returned to Russia. The dictator later upped the ante with July 1942’s famous “Order No. 227,” better known as the “Not One Step Backward!” rule, which decreed that cowards were to be “liquidated on the spot.” Under this order, any troops who retreated were to be shelled or gunned down by so-called “blocking detachments”—special units who were positioned behind their own lines and charged with shooting any soldier who tried to flee. Stalin’s draconian orders were designed to increase the Red Army’s fighting spirit, but they weren’t empty threats. According to some estimates, Soviet barrier troops may have killed as many as 150,000 of their own men over the course of the war, including some 15,000 during the Battle of Stalingrad.http://www.history.com/news/history-...-eastern-front

Method really cold blood TBH but success in end. I guess China and Nord Korea similar practices

[Colonel Frank Grimes]

Method really cold blood TBH but success in end. I guess China and Nord Korea similar practices

I wouldn't say it was successful. The Soviets won because Hitler was an arm chair general telling experienced men what to do. If he had left his generals alone instead of making one foolish mistake after another the results would have been different.

Think of this: if the German army had portrayed themselves as liberators of the Russian people from Communist/Stalin rule instead of the harsh measures they took how many of those Soviet soldiers would have switched sides? Who would a person prefer to fight? The army who claims they're there to liberate the Russian people from Communism or your supposed comrades who will shoot you even if you fall back because a position simply can't be held?

There is a difference between running away and falling back to take up a position with better support than the position you currently hold.

[Fantomas]

I wouldn't say it was successful. The Soviets won because Hitler was an arm chair general telling experienced men what to do. If he had left his generals alone instead of making one foolish mistake after another the results would have been different.

Think of this: if the German army had portrayed themselves as liberators of the Russian people from Communist/Stalin rule instead of the harsh measures they took how many of those Soviet soldiers would have switched sides? Who would a person prefer to fight? The army who claims they're there to liberate the Russian people from Communism or your supposed comrades who will shoot you even if you fall back because a position simply can't be held?

There is a difference between running away and falling back to take up a position with better support than the position you currently hold.

In reality, Germans promoted campaign of agitation to attract Russians. They supported creation of Russian Army, socialistic political party "Viking" and even independent Russian state in 1941. But nothing could help them. Axis lost war not because of Hitler was worthless strategist, its just a myth. Point is that united Allied forces and their capabilities were incomparably superior to the Axis in all respects. Hitler made only one strategic mistake- he began war that can't be won

[Sekarotuinen]

I wouldn't say it was successful. The Soviets won because Hitler was an arm chair general telling experienced men what to do. If he had left his generals alone instead of making one foolish mistake after another the results would have been different.

Think of this: if the German army had portrayed themselves as liberators of the Russian people from Communist/Stalin rule instead of the harsh measures they took how many of those Soviet soldiers would have switched sides? Who would a person prefer to fight? The army who claims they're there to liberate the Russian people from Communism or your supposed comrades who will shoot you even if you fall back because a position simply can't be held?

There is a difference between running away and falling back to take up a position with better support than the position you currently hold.

Germany could have presented itself as an anti-communist bulwark, allies with Poland who had a sizable military and were pseudo-fascist anti-communists themselves, allies with the baltics, etc. But instead, they chose racial hatred against other white people, and policies which dree the ire of the world.

[Böri]

Germany could have presented itself as an anti-communist bulwark, allies with Poland who had a sizable military and were pseudo-fascist anti-communists themselves, allies with the baltics, etc. But instead, they chose racial hatred against other white people, and policies which dree the ire of the world.

There are conspiracies like Hitler was British agent and in reality he never died but left Berlin and go to Spain or Argentina like other conspiracy says Lenin was another agent.

[Sarmatian]

...creating mobile barrier forces composed of NKVD personnel to operate on roads, railways, forests, etc. for the purpose of catching 'deserters and suspicious persons'.

Wow. There is a bit of truth in your pile of garbage.

In first days of war Germany paradropped hoards of saboteurs to disrupt functioning of important transportation nodes, destroy bridges, warehouses. The main purpose of barrier troops was to catch them to ensure evacuation and retreat remains organized and going according to plan. That's why they operated mostly far behind frontlines. Sure they caught deserters too but for most part they just sent them back to fight. Occasionally they'd shoot a few provocateurs but only after investigation and still send the rest of fleeing troops to front.

The stories of machineguns firing at retreating troops are utter garbage.

[Hexachordia]

It is still strange why the West keeps pretending that Russia is a normal country. When will Russia and China stop their melodramatic anniversary parade of WWII victory. The communist propagandas of peace, love, justice are SOSOSOSOSOSOSO annoying. I am so tired of them that would not tolerate foreign complacency toward communism anymore.

[Hexachordia]

The west will still sell humanity to red devils, we have to fight the red plague by ourself. Germany was right when she tried to pioneer anticommitern movement, but radical racialist policy undermined their ideological achievement. Communism is a plague, humanity just has to deal with it no matter what.

[Böri]

The west will still sell humanity to red devils, we have to fight the red plague by ourself.

Good luck but seeing how they are this looks difficult