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Soldiers who lose the will to fight either fight poorly or throw down their weapons with relatively little encouragement. Commanders who are demoralized will likewise avoid battle and more readily sue for peace.
Soldiers who lose the will to fight either fight poorly or throw down their weapons with relatively little encouragement. Commanders who are demoralized will likewise avoid battle and more readily sue for peace.
Demoralization also works with the people back in the home nation. If the population supports the war, then there will be many more volunteers and a broad support for a bellicose government. If, on the other hand, the population believes the war is unwinnable and unjust, then any political party supporting the war will be seen as arrogant and out of touch with its electorate.<ref>[http://changingminds.org/disciplines/warfare/principles/demoralization.htm Demoralization - Changing Minds website]</ref>}}
Demoralization also works with the people back in the home nation. If the population supports the war, then there will be many more volunteers and a broad support for a bellicose government. If, on the other hand, the population believes the war is unwinnable and unjust, then any political party supporting the war will be seen as arrogant and out of touch with its electorate...
Demoralizing the opposing force can be done in many ways and the effect of constant attacks on their confidence can be like a death from a thousand cuts.
One of the main demoralizing forces is unexpected defeat, for example when a weaker enemy outsmarts you with a superior strategy. Likewise, a smarter enemy who keeps you guessing can lead you to fear humiliating or terrifying defeat at any time.<ref>[http://changingminds.org/disciplines/warfare/principles/demoralization.htm Demoralization - Changing Minds website]</ref>}}
The [[China|Chinese]] military strategist [[Sun Tzu]] wrote: "For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill (a variant translation is "Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.").<ref>[https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sun_Tzu Sun Tzu - Wikiquote]</ref>
The [[China|Chinese]] military strategist [[Sun Tzu]] wrote: "For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill (a variant translation is "Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.").<ref>[https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sun_Tzu Sun Tzu - Wikiquote]</ref>