The practice of marking and mapping minefields was no longer followed strictly. They were used to terrorize communities, deny access to farming land, and restrict population movement. Over time, antipersonnel landmines began to be deployed on a wider scale, often in internal conflicts and specifically targeting civilians. This follows the "logic" that more resources are taken up caring for an injured soldier on the battlefield than dealing with a soldier who has been killed. They were used defensively, to protect strategic areas such as borders, camps, or important bridges and to restrict the movement of opposing forces.Ī key characteristic of the weapon is that it is designed to maim rather than kill an enemy soldier. Today, the weapon is still being used in a handful of conflicts.Īntipersonnel mines were initially developed to protect antitank mines and stop them being removed by enemy soldiers. During the Cold War, many states laid long stretches of landmines along borders. Since then they have been used in many conflicts, including in the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and the first Gulf War. But antipersonnel mines were first used on a wide scale in World War II. Precursors of the weapon are said to have first been used in the American Civil War in the 1800s.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |