Part 9/14:
Military campaigns were typically brief, intense, and disruptive. A majority of soldiers were landless peasants motivated by food, pay, or plunder; desertion was rampant. Victory often hinged on capturing key strategic locations like railway hubs, with large-scale open-field battles less common due to logistical and morale issues.
Combat was characterized by small arms fire, cavalry charges, and limited artillery, as heavy weaponry was scarce and expensive. The chaos meant that defeated armies frequently defected to the victors rather than surrender, blurring the line between enemy and ally.