Part 5/14:
Widespread retreating: After the fall of Rostov and ongoing German advances, many soldiers abandoned their positions without orders.
Preventing total collapse: Loss of morale threatened to turn the battlefield into a rout, risking trench or logistical breakdowns.
Saving resources and territory: Every piece of land was precious in the overall war effort, and disorganized retreats risked losing strategic positions and critical resources such as oil in the Caucasus.
In essence, the order aimed to suppress insubordination and enforce rigid discipline that was deemed necessary for national survival.