Glossary entry

Italian term or phrase:

guerra di posizione

English translation:

positional warfare

Added to glossary by Kimberly De Haan
Dec 18, 2013 14:13
10 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Italian term

guerra di posizione

Italian to English Social Sciences History Medieval warfare
This is from a text discussing fortified cities.

Strategia della **guerra di posizione**
La **guerra di posizione** si basa sui principi di non mettere a rischio il proprio esercito mercenario esponendolo al confronto in campo aperto e di puntare sulla forza deterrente esercitata dalla guerra di posizione .
A tal fine i punti strategici del territorio formano oggetto di una radicale fortificazione con rilevanti investimenti desinati sia alle opere edili che agli armamenti e possono essere espugnati solamente con lunghi ed estenuanti assedi dall’esito incerto.
D’altra parte, la conquista di una piazzaforte di confine costituisce una condizione preliminare vincolante, in quanto nessun attaccante penetra in un territorio nemico lasciandosi alle spalle un simile rischio. Ne consegue un effetto deterrente che dissuade ogni ipotesi di aggressione, effetto che è evidenziato dalla storia stessa di Palmanova e dall’affermazione superficiale che la città-fortezza “non è servita a niente”.
La strategia della **guerra di posizione** finisce con la rivoluzione francese e con la creazione di eserciti volontari di massa che Napoleone porterà alla vittoria in tutta Europa con una nuova formula della guerra di movimento.

Can anyone help?

Proposed translations

27 mins
Selected

positional warfare

Hi,

positional warfare

could be what you are looking for:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A Genius for Fortification: Va...

or as in:

"The term positional warfare as employed in this chapter, encompasses the construction, defense, and attack of fortifications, be they fortresses or entrenched lines; by the close of the grand siècle, it was the most common form of military operation. Although the French were no strangers to sieges under Louis XIII, warfare of maneuver played a more important role during his reign than it would under his son's. Louis XIV displayed an overriding taste for positional warfare. In part this preference reflected a personality that abhorred violation of his lands and desired control."

http://ebooks.cambridge.org/chapter.jsf?bid=CBO9780511572548...

Hope this helps :)


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Note added at 1 hr (2013-12-18 15:28:21 GMT)
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Your chioce depends on the period you are talking about; this proposal would be correct if speaking about Middle Age and Renaissance and NOT about modern times :)
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "And indeed this is the period the text refers to. Thanks so much."
+1
7 mins

war of position

Peer comment(s):

agree philgoddard
7 mins
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7 mins

stationary warfare

.

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Note added at 8 mins (2013-12-18 14:22:25 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_the_Aisne

Without training for stationary warfare, the troops merely dug shallow pits in the soil.

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Note added at 9 mins (2013-12-18 14:23:11 GMT)
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http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerra_di_trincea

Per guerra di trincea s'intende un tipo di guerra di posizione nella quale la linea del fronte consiste in una serie di trincee.
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22 mins

tactical warfare

war of position is the obvious choice here but I think there is a problem with its obvious reference to Gramsci which may not be appropriate in your context?? Limited warfare may be another option. See below
Studies in Military Geography and Geology
books.google.it/books?isbn=1402031041 - Traduci questa pagina
Douglas R. Caldwell, ‎Judy Ehlen, ‎Russell S. Harmon - 2005 - ‎Nature
The development of the technology of warfare and the influence of ... The relatively small linear tactical forms of pre-Napoleonic warfare, limited in length and ...

Another option may be limited warfare:

Ground Warfare: An International Encyclopedia
books.google.it/books?isbn=1576073440 - Traduci questa pagina
Stanley Sandler - 2002 - ‎History
Jomini's conclusions rested on his knowledge of the wars of Frederick the Great ... armies in the field, always recommending limited wars along pre-Napoleonic ...
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1 hr

fortification strategy

Hi Kimberly,

I wanted to suggest *fortification strategy*, because that seems to be what the text is explaining.

Fortification, in military science, is any work erected to strengthen a position against attack.
In order to avoid putting an army at risk in an open battle field, one chooses a deterrent strategy such as a fortification, by errecting structures that discourage attacks.

Moreover, at the end of the text, the author contrasts 'querra di posizione' with Napoleon's 'guerra di movimento', or maneuvers which was an offensive strategy. In reality they seem to speaking of two different battle strategies: offensive vs. defensive. Offensive often entails movement, while a defensive strategy which entails immobility, entrenchment.

I also agree with other posts that mention *positional warfare* which would be a generic term to indicate immobility in contrast with Napoleon's famous maneuvers.

Good luck!
Maria
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