Rear guard

Rear guard

In military language, rear guard troops have always been the troops tasked to protect the important positions behind the front lines (if used in the defensive role) or to clear pockets of enemy resistance (if used in the offensive role).

In history

Despite they have always been used in every army,particular notes can be made of 20th century-styles of employing rear guard troops.

In blitzkrieg

In the inter-war period German commanders (in particular Heinz Guderian) developed the doctrine of blitzkrieg.In this doctrine (see the voice blitzkrieg for more):in this military doctrine the rear-guard troops (mainly dismounted infantry) were tasked to eliminate the remaining enemy groups after Panzer and motorized troops had broken through the enemy positions.

oviet doctrine

During and after World War II the Soviets developed the doctrine of the echelons, influenced by blitzkrieg.In spite of sending all the troops to the attack,they divided the force in various parts accordng to the mission:for example,in a [division] -launched attack, a regiment could overrun enmey defences,the second could have exploited the breech and the third (the rear guard troops) could have mopped up the enemy pockets of resistance and guard the supply lines.For example,in an hypothetical attack on NATOlines during the Cold War,Red Army had created the operational manoeuvre groups,corp-sized units(in general 5 or 6 tank or mechanized divisions) that had to exploit the success of an attack of the shock army creating the chaos behind Western lines,leaving disorganized enemy troops to be cleared off.To counter the operative manoeuvre groups,NATO created a lot of quickly deployable units(the bulk of NATO special forces)

Rear guard troops can also be troops that protect the withdrawal of an army blocking the enemy advance.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Rear guard — Rear Rear, a. Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company. [1913 Webster] {Rear admiral}, an officer in the navy, next in rank below a vice admiral and above a commodore. See {Admiral}. {Rear front} (Mil.), the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rear-guard — (rîrʹgärd ) adj. 1. Of or relating to a rear guard. 2. Of or relating to economic, political, or social resistance: mounting a rear guard effort to prevent tax increases. * * * …   Universalium

  • rear guard — rear′ guard′ n. mil a part of a military force assigned to guard the rear from attack, esp. in a retreat rear′guard , adj …   From formal English to slang

  • rear|guard — «RIHR GAHRD», adjective. designed or carried out to prevent, delay, or evade; diverting or delaying as a defensive measure: »rearguard tactics. Figurative. In seeking to keep races apart he is fighting a rearguard action against a world trend… …   Useful english dictionary

  • rear guard — n. [ME rier garde < Anglo Fr reregard < OFr < riere, backward (< L retro: see RETRO ) + gard,GUARD] a military detachment to protect the rear of a main force or body …   English World dictionary

  • rear guard — noun Etymology: Middle English reregarde, from Middle French, from Old French reregarde, rereguarde, from rere, riere backward, behind (from Latin retro) + garde, guarde guard more at retro , guard : a military detachment detailed to bring up and …   Useful english dictionary

  • Rear Guard — Infobox VG title = Rear Guard developer = Neil Larimer publisher = Adventure International designer = engine = released = 1982 genre = Combat modes = Single player ratings = platforms = Apple II, Atari 8 bit, TRS 80, TRS 80 CoCo media =… …   Wikipedia

  • rear guard — ariergardas statusas T sritis Gynyba apibrėžtis Puolančias ar atsitraukiančias pajėgas saugantys iš užnugario padaliniai. Jie turi atlikti šias funkcijas: saugoti vorą iš užnugario nuo priešo pajėgų; atsitraukiant sulaikyti priešą; judant į… …   NATO terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • rear guard — ariergardas statusas T sritis Gynyba apibrėžtis Saugos padalinys, kurį žygiuojančios sausumos pajėgos paskiria į užnugarį, kad jas dengtų ir teiktų informaciją. atitikmenys: angl. rear guard pranc. arrière garde …   NATO terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • rear guard — 1. The rearmost elements of an advancing or a withdrawing force. It has the following functions: to protect the rear of a column from hostile forces; during the withdrawal, to delay the enemy; during the advance, to keep supply routes open. 2.… …   Military dictionary

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