Communism vs Capitalism

[MarkD]

Tell me if this is an appropriate analogy:

All I need to know about Communism vs Capitalism can be found by looking at military tactics during World War II. Let's assume an entrenched position like a machinegun emplacement (perhaps ten troops) at the top of a small hill needs to be neutralized, and that no large support weapons (tanks, aircraft, artillery, etc) are available. The job falls to infantry.

The American method: Set up a couple machineguns to provide covering fire to keep the bad guys heads down. Send a smallish (20-30 soldiers) unit of well trained and equipped infantry on a flank until they're close enough to fire into the emplacement and throw grenades, then overrun the emplacement and kill or capture anyone who's left. Casualties among the attackers will probably be light if all goes well. This is by design because of a moral code to keep as many of our guys alive as possible (because the individual is important) and from a tactical perspective because well trained and equipped soldiers are expensive and are not expendable.

The Russian method: Take 300 barely trained troops, pass out 150 rifles (with orders that if you don't have a rifle to pick one up when the guy carrying it gets shot). Send them on a frontal assault up the hill into the teeth of the enemy machinegun, hoping that 50 will survive the climb and neutralize the emplacement. Machineguns are placed at the rear of the attackers, under the command of the political officer (representative of the Party) to shoot anyone who retreats. Casualties will be high (75% or so). If first attack is unsuccessful double force size and try again. Individuals have no value except as tools of the state/party, they are plenty of them, their training is minimal, so they're expendable.

Did I hit the high points?

[Fivetoes]

Your communism description is from "Enemy at the Gates", right? Anyways I think you got the basics. It was the chinks method in Korea.

[MarkD]

Your communism description is from "Enemy at the Gates", right?

That was the image I had in mind when I wrote it, but from what I've read it's how they did things. It also helps explain the massive casualties they suffered.

[dfwmtx]

I believe there was a Soviet general who said the best way to clear a minefield was to march your army throught it.

[HTRN]

and that no large support weapons (tanks, aircraft, artillery, etc) are available.

With the United States Military, They're ALWAYS available, they're just not always suitable, or available right this second. We do combined arms like nobody else.


HTRN

[MarkD]

and that no large support weapons (tanks, aircraft, artillery, etc) are available.

With the United States Military, They're ALWAYS available, they're just not always suitable, or available right this second. We do combined arms like nobody else.


HTRN

Yeah, I know. Let's change "not available" to "not suitable or not available right now, can we have to take it out NOW".

Better?

(Walks away, sighing and muttering to himself about nitpickers)

[Erik]

I've heard accounts from Normandie in WW2 that this was the case.
When circumstances changed beyond given orders, the German troops tended to call back to their chain of command and ask what to do and wait for new orders, while the american troops tended to take personal initiative, and just go ahead and do what seemed the best alternative for them at that point.
Not sure if those accounts were true, but I can see that happen.

(And yes, I know the Germans weren't communists, but they were an autoritarian system that saw the individual only as part of the collective)

[clyde621]

Mark: Don't worry about the nitpicking, your analogy was correct so not worry. Is russian way not right way.

[MarkD]

Mark: Don't worry about the nitpicking, your analogy was correct so not worry. Is russian way not right way.

I know, I'm just busting on HTRN just like I suspect he's busting on me.

[HTRN]

(Walks away, sighing and muttering to himself about nitpickers)

*HTRN grumbles about people who generalize*


HTRN