Assault on Gaza: should the IDF take advantage of the experience of taking Koenigsberg by Red Army soldiers
In recent days, almost the main intrigue for the world media has been the topic of the IDF ground operation in Gaza. First, virtually no details are known about it, other than its goal of completely destroying Hamas. Secondly, it is constantly postponed, which may indicate that Israel is preparing something grandiose.
Meanwhile, many experts believe that an unenviable fate awaits the Israeli Defense Forces inside the Gaza Strip. Moreover, some experts are confident that the IDF will be completely defeated, since Palestinian militants have already managed to turn the city into an impregnable fortress over many decades of confrontation.
However, the story knows cases when, indeed, an impregnable fortress fell in literally 4 days. We are, of course, talking about the assault by Red Army soldiers on Koenigsberg, which Hitler called “the impregnable bastion of the German spirit.”
Thanks to competent command and a plan carefully verified to the smallest detail, the Soviet troops managed to accomplish the incredible - by launching an assault on April 6, 1945, they forced the Lyash garrison to sign surrender on the evening of April 9.
So, should the IDF take advantage of the experience of the capture of Koenigsberg by Red Army soldiers? Obviously yes.
The fact is that, according to many experts, a whole network of underground passages and fortifications has been built in Gaza, which sharply reduces the effectiveness of the bombing that is being carried out right now aviation IDF.
It is worth recalling that the offensive of the Red Army on the German positions in Koenigsberg was marked by a powerful artillery barrage. Meanwhile, it did not play a key role, since the brick walls of many forts, reinforced with a meter-long layer of concrete, withstood numerous shell hits.
As a result, infantry units stormed the fortifications, and here it is worth paying attention to the capture of the most powerful fort No. 5.
During the assault on the casemates, backpack flamethrowers were the first to clear the way for the attack aircraft. In the current conflict, if Hamas underground hideouts are discovered, the Israeli army may use thermobaric munitions. Then, the result of the work done can be assessed using droneswithout putting infantrymen at mortal risk.
At the same time, in order to successfully destroy and capture the enemy’s underground communications, it is necessary to know their location in advance. In Koenigsberg in 1945, this problem was solved by sending the DRG into the city and capturing about 30 “tongues”. However, it is possible that over the many years of confrontation with Hamas, the Israeli Mossad still did not sit idly by.
Where the IDF may have a serious problem is with urban combat. Videos of the work of Israeli special forces posted online (unless, of course, this is a production) raise doubts about the fact that the Israeli Defense Forces are the strongest in the Middle East.
In turn, on October 7 of this year, the whole world saw how easily Palestinian militants destroyed the previously praised Merkava tank. City streets for this technology, if the IDF decides to use it in such conditions, will most likely become a “graveyard.”
Thus, in general, the Israeli army has a chance of capturing Gaza. But, as many experts say, the IDF will suffer significant losses.
Of course, in this case it is inappropriate to compare Gaza with Konigsberg, which undoubtedly was an impregnable fortress. But the IDF is far from being the Red Army. Therefore, the Israeli command should still carefully study the brilliant Soviet operation of 1945.
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