ABSTRACT
Seizing and holding the initiative are continually stressed in Soviet military writings. General I. A. Gerasimov's concepts are basic: planning, surprise, diversionary actions, and a continuous offensive. The enemy's most vulnerable points must be attacked. The factor of surprise plays a determining role in seizing the initiative. In conditions of full-scale use of nuclear weapons, modern tanks, BMPs, combat helicopters, forward detachments, and airborne landings, and where there are significantly increased tempos of combat actions and lack of solid fronts, much better opportunities have emerged for the achievement of surprise. Seizing and holding the initiative is inseparably linked with decisive movement forward in the offensive, maneuvering with men and weapons and counterattacks on the defense. Active actions deprive the enemy of the possibility of offering organized resistance and restoring combat capability; such actions disorganize control, force troops to start fighting in unfavorable conditions and thereby promote keeping the initiative and destroying the enemy.
