Capturing Cities in War: Strategies and Methods
Typically, a city is captured when no enemy forces remain within its bounds, allowing your friendly troops to walk around freely without fear of ambush or attack.
Traditional Capture Methods
The ancient form of city capture involves direct attack, siege, or famine. Historical examples include sieges like the Siege of Suiyang, Siege of Vienna, and Siege of Leningrad. These involved prolonged encirclement, preventing the city from receiving food or supplies, leading to starvation and surrender.
Another unconventional method is through stealth and infiltration. An example is the Trojan Horse, where Trojans secretly entered the city and, upon revealing themselves, opened the gates internally.
While a city is not captured per se, the hostile forces are driven away or defeated. The control area of the city then transitions to the conqueror.
Control and Governance
The next step in capturing a city is to change the local government in place. Since cities typically have a mayor and other local administrators, these positions are either peacefully accepted or forcibly removed and replaced by those loyal to the conqueror.
The general populace follows the local government, so the successful replacement of these leaders ensures that the city's administration aligns with the new power. Think of it as replacing the teachers and principal in a school, prompting the students to adapt.
Resisting Cities and Additional Measures
Rebellion and resistance often necessitate greater control measures. If the city's population continues to resist, additional police forces and rule changes are implemented, such as curfews and new laws.
Evil regimes may even resort to detainment and questioning of civilians to identify rebels. In extreme cases, innocent civilians become victims of these oppressive tactics as they are coerced to end the rebellion.
Urban Warfare in Modern Conflicts
Modern conflicts, such as those in Aleppo, Syria, showcase contemporary urban warfare strategies. Rebellious fighters often employ advanced filming techniques, documenting their movements and actions. Indiscriminate bombing, infantry advances, and the use of military vehicles and weapons are all common.
International news and video platforms provide ample evidence of these battles, illustrating the harsh realities of city capture in today's warfare.
Understanding these strategies is crucial for those involved in military operations and urban planning, ensuring a comprehensive approach to achieving and maintaining control over urban areas.