Scorched-earth defense
The scorched-earth defense is a form of risk arbitrage and anti-takeover strategy.
Battle of the Dnieper
Additionally, on 7 September 1943, the SS forces and the Wehrmacht received orders to implement a scorched earth policy, by stripping the areas they had to abandon of anything that could be used by the Soviet war effort.Despite a great superiority in numbers, the offensive was by no means easy. German opposition was ferocious and the fighting raged for every town and city. The "Wehrmacht" made extensive use of rear guards, leaving some troops in each city and on each hill, slowing down the Soviet offensive.