Task 3 (Fill in the gaps with the right words) Four Generations of Warfare
The age of modern warfare, at least in Europe, began around the middle of the 17th 1). Up until this period, wars were waged by families, tribes, religious groups, cities and even businesses. The Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 brought about the end of this period and from this time, the state had complete control on war and the way war was 2). Many analysts have called the period from 1648 to 1850 the first generation of modern warfare or 1GW. This first generation was characterised by massed manpower on the battlefield: cavalry charges, bayonet charges, massed fires and line and column tactics where troops stood shoulder-to-shoulder in densely packed 3). In turn, this highly ordered battlefield led to a military culture of order characterised by drill and ceremonial, uniforms, saluting and rigid rank structures. Second generation warfare was largely brought about by developments in firepower, communications and transport. New technologies, like barbed wire and the 4), greatly 5) the destructive power on the battlefield. Thus, the aim in war became attrition — to wear down the 6) to the point of collapse. 2GW was warfare fought by generals. Originally 7) by the Germans in response to the Allies' material superiority in WW 1, Third Generation Warfare emphasised speed and surprise. 3GW is commonly known as blitzkrieg or manoeuvre warfare. Manoeuvre warfare 8) using a part of one's force to find and then fix the enemy, while the rest of the force attacks his weakest point. Now, 3GW involves a combination of deep, dose and rear operations fought on land, in the air, at 9), in space. Information technology and the possibility of real-time 10) and total visibility of the battlefield have added another aspect to 3GW - the information battle. 3GW has led to a military culture that emphasises initiative and rapid, decentralised decision-making by junior commanders.