RUSE DE GUERRE (ruse of war or stratagem) is a deception permitted by the charter, elevated to the rank of a high art. If a regular soldier lies, he will be punished, and if the general bluffs so that the enemy himself brings him the keys to his fortress, he will be rewarded. The point is to force the enemy to do exactly what is beneficial to you, sincerely believing that this is his brilliant idea. For instance, the Zaporozhian Cossacks once, complaining about their hungry life, lured a whole wagon train with provisions from the Turkish pasha «out of pity.» And in 1942, Soviet sappers near Staling... Show more... Show more