ABSTRACT
The 1935 Instructions on Deep Battle and the 1936 Field Regulations emphasized the growing importance of deception within the confines of the battlefield. The Instructions recognized that new weaponry and the tactics of deep battle had increased the importance of surprise. It articulated the bases of surprise as being "air superiority; mobility and maneuverability of forces; concealed concentration of forces; secret fire preparations; misleading of the enemy; use of smoke and technical maskirovka" and "the use of night."6 While repeating the statements on the importance of surprise found in the 1929 regulations, the 1936 regulations added:
surprise constitutes one of the essential elements of maneuver and success in battle. The present day implements of war which combine great fire and striking power with high mobility make it possible for the commander of larger units, by skillful sudden maneuver, to place his own forces in a favorable position with respect to the forces of an adversary and to force the latter to accept battle under unfavorable conditions.7
