Cooperation?

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Excerpts from " The Evolution of Cooperation " by Robert Axelrod

"The Live-and-Let-Live System in Trench Warfare in World War I"

[here is a description, thanks to Robert Axelrod, of how the phenomenon of the trench raid came to be!!]

During the early stages of what become known as the GREAT WAR [World War One], those soldiers actually occupying the trenches, enlisted and officers, ON BOTH SIDES, quickly came to a realization that there was to be no swift end to the war, and no possibility of movement in any direction, as was wished by the senior commanders.

[early stages of the GREAT WAR would have included the initial movement of armies, "The Battle of the Frontiers", "First Battle of the Marne", and "The Race to the Sea"!!]

PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF AUTOMATIC WEAPONRY [the machine gun], NEITHER SIDE WOULD BE ABLE TO PREVAIL OVER THE OTHER. THIS WAS OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE IN THE TRENCHES, BUT NOT TO THOSE GENERAL OFFICERS SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY ENSCONCED IN THEIR FANCY COMMANDEERED CHATEAUS!!

Consequently, at least until the famous Christmas truce of 1914 [and for sometime thereafter?], a modus vivendi was reached between the warring parties actually occupying the trenches. An accommodation, a compromise, a "Live-and-Let-Live System" developed, at odds with - - again - - the desires of both allied and German High Commands.

"modus vivendi - - A compromise between adversaries that allows them to get along temporarily"

A modus vivendi that became institutionalized, at least for those in the trenches. A quid pro quo understood to mean:

* If you shell us, we will shell you, otherwise, no shelling!
* If you snipe at us, we will snipe at you, otherwise, no sniping!
* Troops drawing rations are out of bounds for one hour!
* Troops out of the trenches at 0900 hours are work parties, and not to be fired upon!

"quid pro quo - - one thing in return for another. 2. something that is given or taken in return for something else"

Violations of the quid pro quo could result in swift and sure retaliation that neither side desired.

" If the British shelled the Germans, the Germans replied, and the damage was equal: if the Germans bombed an advanced piece of trench and killed five Englishmen, an answering fusillade killed five Germans."

Tit-for-tat type behavior!

Behavior of this sort on the part of the combatants COULD NOT BE TOLERATED BY HIGHER ECHELON COMMANDERS! Those general officers in command wanted action, movement, aggressiveness, casualty reports, etc.

A solution was devised to remedy the problem of accommodation and compromise. THIS WAS THE TRENCH RAID!!

"What finally destroyed the live-and-let-live system was the institution of a type of incessant aggression that the headquarters could monitor. This was the raid [TRENCH RAID], a carefully prepared attack on enemy trenches which involved from ten to two hundred men [squad to company size. Raids also may have involved battalion sized units as well??]. Raiders were ordered to kill or capture the enemy in his own trenches. If the raid was successful, prisoners would be taken; and if the raid was a failure, casualties would be proof of the attempt. There was no effective way to pretend that a raid had been undertaken when it had not."

"The live-and-let-live system could not cope with the disruption caused by the hundreds of small raids."

Christmas Truce, modus vivendi, quid pro quo, compromise, accommodation, let-and-let-live - - all went by the wayside!! The general officers got their way - - and let the slaughter begin!!

coolbert.

Trench Raid.

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Here is a very interesting web site that describes some of what is known about World War One [WW1] combatives [martial arts] as used by soldiers during a TRENCH RAID.

[thanks here to Clint Sporman for permission]

"WWI Combatives???"

BY: Carl Cestari.

Carl and Clint still teach the martial arts techniques of DEFENDU! The martial arts "form" as espoused by William Ewald Fairbairn [referred to as WEF in the web article]. An all-encompassing martial arts form that includes elements of wrestling, boxing, jujitsu, kung fu, knife fighting, firearms, and just plain "gutter fighting"!

coolbert.

Trench Gun/Combat Shotgun.

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Believe it or not, the Model 97 shotgun, in the trench gun variety is still available. Reproductions manufactured by the Chinese firm, Norinco, exported to the U.S. and purchased by those individuals preparing for trench raids.

Norinco Model 97 Trench Gun 12g 20" barrel.



"This is an authentic reproduction of the original 1917 WWI Trench Gun,a hammer pump shotgun complete with proper markings, finish and wood. Norinco's modern manufacturing technology has enabled them to recreate this classic beauty with it's ruggedness, durability, and balance."

Twenty [20] inch [51 centimeters] barrel, twelve gauge shotgun, pump action.

This weapon has an apparent bead front-sight ONLY. NO rear sight. Modern combat shotguns come with rifling, front and rear sights. Can employ a variety of SABOT rounds of awesome capability [flechettes/armor piercing/canister]. For those that want a BIG bore weapon, a SABOT round that fires a .68 caliber slug is available! Can stop an elephant if you encounter one.
coolbert.

Combat Shotgun.

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Here is a unique American addition to the weaponry as carried by the common soldier of World War One [WW1] during that particularly brutal and savage form of warfare known as the TRENCH RAID! [effective when employed either on the offense or defense!!]

The combat shotgun!

"The Winchester Model 1897 is a pump-action shotgun with an external hammer and tube magazine. It was offered in 12 and 16 gauge, solid frame or take down. Numerous barrel lengths were offered"



"the first true combat shotgun--the Winchester[R] Model 1897 (known as the Model 97)."

The Winchester Model 97 -- firing a modern 12-gauge shell -- with pump action; six-round magazine capacity; and short, 18-inch barrel was brought over by American military police and infantrymen and soon became known as the 'trench sweeper' . . . A soldier with a shotgun, fast to pump and fire, could quickly suppress German trench assaults and clear dugouts with devastating effectiveness.

The Model 97 had a particularly unique feature about it that allowed it to be used almost as an automatic weapon:

"Unlike most modern pump-action shotguns, the Winchester Model 1897 (versions of which were type classified as the Model 97 or M97 for short) fired each time the action closed with the trigger depressed (that is, it lacks a trigger disconnector)."

Let us get this straight. With the trigger pulled and held down after the first round is fired, merely operating the pump action will fire susequent rounds until the tube magazine is empty. This allows for a high rate of fire.

[according to the guru of combat pistol shooting, Ray Chapman, a man with an auto loading [semi-automatic] shotgun, firing # 1 shot, can put more lead on the target faster than can a man armed with an Uzi!!]

Dig this amazing stuff. What one man could do with a shotgun. Unstoppable until overcome by exhaustion.

"On 27 September 1918, Sergeant Fred Lloyd, using a Model 97, advanced alone into a German-held village and began methodically clearing it, pumping and firing the shotgun as he moved. He finally collapsed with exhaustion after routing thirty German soldiers."

Exhaustion NOT ONLY a result of physical exertion. The stress of combat, fear, a hyper-rush and flow of chemicals in his body, adrenaline and such, wore the man out until his muscles probably just plain collapsed. The good sergeant just could not go on any further. Well, no need to. He had done his bit.

I know that ever since the use of combat shotguns in WW1, there has been considerable controversy regarding the use of this weapon. CAN BE CATEGORIZED AS AN ILLEGAL WEAPON??!! Causes unnecessary suffering in that fires a round [buckshot] that is not a military style full-metal-jacketed bullet!!

"The Hague Convention of 1899 . . . defining[ed] illegal rounds as a jacketed bullet with an exposed lead tip"

A buckshot round of whatever size is not even jacketed and therefore illegal!! Rendering the shotgun as a weapon of war illegal in the process?!

coolbert.

Club!

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Came across a web site for savate’. The French form of “kickboxing”. A martial art discipline totally indigenous to France. Developed without outside influence.

Found an item on that web site pertinent to a previous blog entry on the World War One [WW1] tactic of the trench raid.

"Of the trench club I am not sure of all the details?! Some sort of baseball like club with metal spikes hammered through it?"

Weapons are a part of the savate’ martial art form. Of particular interest here is the truncheon. A club. Was based upon the belaying pin used by sailors in the age of the wooden sailing vessel. Savate’ was a popular fighting form used by French sailors for recreation purposes and also used when ashore and off-duty [bar fights and such undoubtedly!].

"Now classified as a truncheon this compact weapon is highly efficient in confined spaces especially indoors."

"Sailors used them as a weapon because they could easily be carried in their clothing

It may well be that the “trench club” wielded by soldiers of World War One engaging in a trench raid maybe have been the truncheon [belaying pin] as taught to savateurs’ [a savate’ practitioner is called in French a savateur’.].

Trench knife, trench club, revolver, grenade, bare hands, a heavy boot kicking away! That is all you need for the trench raid. Get in and get out quick. NO excessive impedimenta. The less the better. Hand-to-hand close quarters combat. Brutal cave man warfare of the simplest and most deadly type.

coolbert.

Hand-to-Hand.

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In a previous blog entry, I have mentioned the various forms of martial arts combatatives developed for soldiers of the modern era.

Martial arts forms such as SAMBO, Krav Maga, or Defendu. NOT martial arts forms taught as a way to obtain physical fitness, self-discipline, mental awareness, etc. Martial arts forms designed as a military combatative style. For killing opponents with bare hands if necessary on the battlefield.

All that said, it is important to remember that all that training to kill with the bare hands is rarely, IF EVER used on the modern battlefield. NOT totally so, but extremely rare. Unarmed combatatives as taught [mostly to special operations type units], are just not used but with again, rare, exceptions.

About 80 % of the casualties in modern warfare is the result of automatic weapons fire or artillery. For soldiers to engage in mano-a-mano, one-on-one combat with bare hands or even using edged weapons is a great rarity.

Martial arts combatatives as taught to even special operations troops has more of the effect of a physical training regimen, which builds aggressiveness and self-confidence as a byproduct. Sort of like all the time spent in bayonet training.

Exceptions of course do occur. Even in the First World War [WW1] troops DID on a regular basis engage in hand-to-hand close quarters combat.

This occurred in the form of the trench raid.

Units, of up to battalion size, did carry out with frequency, trench raids. Raiding parties, specially equipped and prepared, did assault, mostly at night, the trenches of the foe, to capture prisoners for interrogation, along with documents of intelligence value. This did happen all the time.

"The tactic had several purposes; to kill or take prisoner enemy troops, to gather intelligence by seizing important documents or enemy officers for interrogation, to keep the enemy 'on his toes' (reducing his morale), and to maintain aggressiveness in troops by sending them on such missions."

Raiders assaulting a section of the enemy trench, did engage in hand-to-hand combat and close quarters battle with the foe. Battle necessitating forms of combat not normally seen in WW1. Soldiers on trench raids would use stealth techniques almost NEVER used in other WW1 style combat. Wool socks worn on the outside of boots, blackened faces, etc.

There could not be and was no need for the normal weapons of WW1, the machinegun and artillery, to be employed during a trench raid.

Soldiers on a trench raid would fight the enemy with:

* Grenades.

* Trench knife.

* Trench club.

* Pistol.

* Western boxing and wrestling techniques.

Some special comment is needed regarding these trench raid weapons.

* Grenades were used extensively for the first time in WW1. Trench raid teams of grenadiers were formed for task specific missions.

"The British bombing team usually consisted of nine men at a time: an NCO, two throwers, two carriers, two bayonet-men to defend the team and two 'spare' men for use when casualties were incurred.

As an attack or raid reached an enemy trench the grenadiers would be responsible for racing down the trench and throwing grenades into each dugout they passed: this invariably succeeded in purging dugouts of their human occupants in an attempt at surrender (often not accepted as they were promptly shot or stabbed)."

* The trench knife was a particularly useful and deadly weapon designed specifically with the trench raider in mind. Again, used in hand-to-combat, mano-a-mano. A knife that had a hand grip of brass knuckles [knuckle dusters to some]. With this weapon you could alternate between stabbing, slashing, and beating your opponent, depending on the blow and what you wanted to do! [a variety of Filipino martial arts employ knife fighting with a doubled edged knife.]

"The pommel incorporated a 'skull-crusher' extension"

* Of the trench club I am not sure of all the details?! Some sort of baseball like club with metal spikes hammered through it?

* Pistols of course would have been the .45 caliber American autoloading pistol or the British Webley .455 revolver. Handguns that with one round you instantly can incapacitate your opposition. Smaller caliber handguns do not have the stopping power of the former. The British had a lot of experience with handgun caliber and stopping power from their various colonial wars. Wars where officers need a handgun that could stop a charging spear carrying tribesman with a single shot and hit!

"were prized for their effectiveness at stopping charging opponents dead in their tracks, be they native warriors or German soldiers."

* Hand-to-hand combatatives would of course have involved western boxing and wrestling techniques of the most violent, quick and sure measures. The French of course had their home grown martial arts of savate' and la lette [some form of French traditional wrestling?].

[it has also been noted that some of the hand-to-hand combat techniques used in trench raids showed an influence from Oriental marital arts, not SOLELY western combatative skills. This is probably derived from the experiences of French and British long term career officers that had served in the European colonies of the Far East. These men had observed and absorbed Oriental fighting styles and taught them to their raiding parties!!]

Trench raids of WW1 were the sort of vicious, personal combat not normally seen in modern warfare.

After 9/11, a letter was posted on the internet from an American military man asking the U.S. populace the question, "are you ready for a knife fight??" Meaning the anti-jihadi, Global War On Terror [GWOT].

When thinking of how the GWOT has to be fought, think of the trench raid.

coolbert.