ŠTAB | varnost vs. konflikt

Searching for strategic concepts in nation’s military history

Objavil Matej Fugina, 30. julij 2010

Importance of studying and researching nation’s military history lies in building security culture, patriotism, understanding contemporary politics and defence policies but also in recognizing basic theoretical and doctrinal concepts from which we can gain knowledge to better prepare for future security threats. Current security systems of collective defence and collective security are organizationally and financially most suitable to maintain national security. Still, a country is responsible for developing and maintaining armed forces capable of autonomously assuring national security and national defence.¹

The main problem in development of suitable national security system is balancing these approaches. On one side, the Slovenian traditionalists glorify concept of total defence from the era of Slovenian Territorial defence in common state of Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia. Quite the opposite are modernists, who have accepted the concept of collective defence and collective security and are supporting the modernization and development of small professional expeditionary forces, also capable of working in the multinational forces and international peace operations.

Many ex-socialist countries faced a common problem: the West left them behind both technologically and in doctrine. In the eighties, American armed forces presented new doctrine of Air Land battle as an answer to eastern superiority in quantity of armour and artillery. Doctrine ought to guarantee victory with tactical nuclear heads, supremacy in space and combining military capabilities (branches), i.e. air forces with army and navy. Western armies would not clash eastern armies frontally (on borders of iron curtain), but in their strategic hinterland. In the nineties, ex-socialist countries faced a challenge, i.e. comprehensive organizational and technological modernization of their armed forces in accordance with changes in complex security environment (i.e. multidimensional approach in dealing with security issues), modern military operations and the last revolution in military affairs (informatization and digitalization) and revolution in attitudes toward military (lack of legitimacy for armed forces).

When dealing with complex model of security, we are talking about multidimensionality (relations between security threats on different dimensions – economic, military, information, etc.) and spill-over effect (internationality of security threats). Both helped transfer legitimacy and legality of using armed forces and with it the monopoly of using force on international organizations. Contemporary warfare became “joint”; forces in use became “combined.” Common military infrastructure, strategic planning and compatibility of technology and cadre became required.

Trends in orienting primarily on international military operations and missions can be analyzed in two ways: 1. Military transformation orientates armed forces in professionalization, combined arms warfare, logistical independence, mobility and transferability. Armed forces of 21st century are modular, highly responsive, expeditionary orientated and organized in battle teams; 2. Contemporary modernization efforts are result of unexpected effectiveness of opponent’s asymmetric warfare and consist of rapid technological modernization of armour (MRAP), usage of non-lethal and less-than-lethal weapons, improving situation awareness, combat against IEDs, etc.

Slovenian armed forces follow these trends and have faced and are still facing serious organizational and modernization efforts. Their development through Cold War is rather specific in comparison with socialist republic outside Yugoslavia and under influence of Soviet Union. The latter were and stayed heavily armoured and mechanized while Yugoslavia began to practice the concept of total defence after the occupation of Czech Republic in 1968 – when it saw the supremacy of Soviet forces in frontal clash.

Territorial defence and Yugoslavian concept of total defence gave rise to the build-up of Slovenian national armed forces. Reason was that although Territorial defence ought to be a part of common Yugoslavian national defence policy, security system and military doctrine, it was received as a national army. As the tensions for the national emancipation rose, the Territorial defence began to officially and formally transform into Slovenian armed forces.

The idea of David beating the Goliath stayed deeply inside Slovenian consciousness and was finally manifested when Slovenian Territorial defence won the short war in Slovenia against the Yugoslav People’s Army. This simplification of military history serves well to Slovenian traditionalists, who see partisan and guerrilla warfare under the hand of militia (armed people or nation) as the most suitable for a small country, unrecognized in international community. It is important to understand that the concepts of total defence and Territorial defence were not capable to defend the newly-declared Slovenian sovereignty against the elite Yugoslav People’s Army. After the Yugoslavian takeover of Territorial defence’s weaponry, the latter was dissolved, rebuilt and reorganized under formal Slovenian leadership.

New Slovenian armed forces were brought up on foundation of MSNZ – joint project of the professional core (Slovenian 30. razvojna brigada) of Territorial defence (Slovenian special force of that time), special police unit etc. Individuals that helped building new armed forces were armed with knowledge in guerrilla warfare (in terms of special operations and not partisan militia), urban warfare, close quarters battle etc. To conclude: maintaining professional, trained, educated force and keeping track of new strategic, operational and tactical concepts is essential. Our modern military history is a vital part of our security culture, national pride and national interest. But when we are scientifically considering and debating concept of our national defence, we have to remain realistic and rational. Territorial organizing, total defence, massive armies and partisans gave way to smaller, better organized and equipped units, prepared for modern asymmetric threats. Our study of Slovenian modern military history must create suitable theoretical and doctrinal answers to modern security threats and issues – not to dwell on old concepts, based on politically motivated ideas.

Hopefully, international conference Slovenian Independence under organization of Slovenian Students Association of Defence Studies (DŠOS) and under sponsorship of Student Organization of the University of Ljubljana (ŠOU Ljubljana) contributed to that.

This is one of the articles that will be published in the coming conference brochure,  published by Slovenian Students Association of Defence Studies (DŠOS) and under sponsorship of Student Organization of the University of Ljubljana (ŠOU Ljubljana).

1. Written by Matej Fugina, correction by Dunja Elikan. [↩]