Front (military)

In this article, we are going to thoroughly explore Front (military) and all aspects related to this topic. From its origin to its impact on current society, through its evolution over time. We will analyze different perspectives and opinions of experts on the subject, as well as studies and research that shed light on this topic. No matter if you are an expert in the field or just curious to learn more about it, this article will provide you with detailed and up-to-date information about Front (military). So get ready to immerse yourself in a journey of discovery and intellectuality.
For the Russian military formation, see Front (military formation).
"Battlefront" redirects here. For other uses, see Battlefront (disambiguation).
The Western Front in 1915–16

In a military context, the term front can have several meanings. According to official US Department of Defense and NATO definitions, a front can be "the line of contact of two opposing forces." This front line can be a local or tactical front, or it can range to a theater. An example of the latter was the Western Front in France and Belgium in World War I.

Relatedly, front can refer to the direction of the enemy or, in the absence of combat, the direction towards which a military unit is facing. Conversely, the term "home front" has been used to denote conditions in the civilian sector of a country at war, including those involved in the production of matériel.

Front can also refer to the lateral space occupied by a military unit as measured from the extremity of one flank to the other. The amount of front occupied by a unit depends on many factors, including time period and available technology. For example, under the military doctrine of the Soviet Army and those which copied it, the amount front occupied by an attacking unit depended on its size. A division attacking with three regiments in the first echelon would maintain an attack zone of 15 to 25 kilometers wide. A regiment's front was typically 4 to 5 kilometers wide, but could vary between 3 and 8 kilometers. This frontage decreased with each smaller unit involved: 2 to 3 kilometers for a battalion, 500 to 800 meters for a company, and 100 to 200 meters for a platoon.

Additionally, the Soviet Army used the term "front" to mean an army group; the Polish Armies used the same terminology during the Polish-Soviet War and World War II.

The term "front line city" was used by the Germans during their long retreat from Moscow/Stalingrad to refer to metropolitan centres that had become disputed by the two combatants. Designation of a city as such resulted in administrative changes (largely the imposition of martial law). In the film Downfall, the term was briefly referenced.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Leonard, B. (2011). Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms: As Amended Through April 2010. (n.p.): DIANE Publishing Company. p. 193
  2. ^ FM 5-34 Engineer Field Data. Department of the Army. 30 August 1999. Threat 2-11


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