
What is a scorched earth political policy?
A scorched earth political policy is aimed at destroying either the opposition party or the system itself so that it cannot continue. Has a Scorched Earth Policy Been Used in Business?
What does scorched earth mean?
What does scorched earth mean? Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word scorched earth. A scorched earth policy is a military strategy which involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area.
What is “scorched earth litigation?
A definition of “scorched earth litigation” is conduct whose goal is to wear down the other side, create excessive amounts of work, and act relentless. In one case, I received more than 1,600 requests for admission at one time (the usual amount is 20 to maybe 40 or 50). The tactics may also involve a level of underhandedness.
What are some examples of scorched earth tactics?
The concept of scorched earth is sometimes applied figuratively to the business world, where a firm facing a takeover attempt will make itself less valuable by selling off its assets. Notable historic examples of scorched-earth tactics include the Russian army's strategy during the failed Swedish invasion of Russia,...

What is meant by scorched-earth?
adjective. Britannica Dictionary definition of SCORCHED–EARTH. — used to describe a military policy in which all the houses, crops, factories, etc., in an area are destroyed so that an enemy cannot use them. The retreating army adopted a scorched-earth policy.
Which is an example of a scorched-earth tactic?
During times of war, troops would destroy valuable goods – crops, buildings, routes in and out of towns – in order to make them unusable by enemy troops. The downside to the scorched tactic is that the items and infrastructure that were destroyed could also no longer be used by the troops who destroyed them.
What country used the scorched-earth policy?
the Soviet UnionAfter the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, Soviet soldiers followed a "scorched earth" policy to hinder the German advance.
When was the scorched-earth policy used?
During World War 2, the scorched-earth policy was used in several difference instances. When Germany attacked the Soviet Union in June, 1941, many district governments in the Soviet Union in the Eastern Theater initiated a partial scorched-earth policy to deny the German soldiers foodstuffs and supplies.
What is a scorched earth legal defense?
The scorched-earth defense is a form of risk arbitrage and anti-takeover strategy. When a target firm implements this provision, it will make an effort to make itself unattractive to the hostile bidder.
Who came up with scorched earth tactics?
Scorched earth as a combat strategy was described by Carl von Clausewitz in his work Vom Kriege, as follows: First, all that the country has to offer will be taken for the benefit of the retreating army, and mostly consumed.
Is Russia using a scorched earth policy?
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022 under the guise of a "Special Military Operation." Russia is using a scorched earth policy to destroy the Ukrainian economy to cause panic within the civilian population and to destroy the civil infrastructure of cities and villages.
What are scorched earth attacks?
Scorched Earth. A military strategy that targets anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area. All assets that are used or can be used by the enemy are targeted, such as food sources, transportation, communications, industrial resources, and even the people in the area.
How do you beat scorched earth?
0:2720:30How to Beat the SCORCHED EARTH Map on Ark - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd the basics are fairly simple you just loot bushes. You hit trees you pick up stones the sameMoreAnd the basics are fairly simple you just loot bushes. You hit trees you pick up stones the same thing you do in normal arc. The only big difference in scorched earth is that whenever you go near.
What is Hitler's scorched earth policy?
During WWII, Ukraine suffered through two episodes of scorched earth – as the Wehrmacht retreated from Ukrainian territory in 1943-44, Hitler also ordered a scorched earth policy; some 28 000 villages were burned by the retreating Germans, and any and all resources that could be used by the advancing Red Army were ...
What is the scorched earth policy from the French Revolution?
The fleeing Russian forces adopted a “scorched earth” strategy, seizing or burning any supplies that the French might pillage from the countryside. Meanwhile, Napoleon's supply lines became overextended as he advanced deeper and deeper into the Russian expanse.
What was the purpose of the scorched earth tactic that the British used against the Japanese in the Bengal province?
They enacted a scorched earth policy to deprive all the inhabitants of the guerrilla region of means of survival.
What is scorched earth policy?
What Is a Scorched Earth Policy? A scorched earth policy is an aggressive defense strategy utilized by a target company to discourage attempts of a hostile takeover by an acquirer.
How can businesses implement scorched earth policies?
They can include taking on additional debt, adopting golden parachutes for senior executives, selling off prized assets, or rescheduling debt repayment for after the proposed takeover.
What was the purpose of the scorched earth?from corporatefinanceinstitute.com
During times of war, troops would destroy valuable goods – crops, buildings, routes in and out of towns – in order to make them unusable by enemy troops.
What happens if all the board of directors agree on scorched earth?from investopedia.com
If all the board of directors (B of D) do somehow agree that a scorched earth policy is worth implementing, they still must overcome some potentially difficult obstacles. The hostile company may seek an injunction against the company's defensive actions and might be able to prevent the board from stopping the takeover bid.
What is the tactic of a flip over?from corporatefinanceinstitute.com
Trying to “scorch” the acquirer as well by using a “poison pill” tactic such as the flip-over strategy, which enables shareholders of the target company to purchase discounted shares of the acquiring company if the takeover is successful. This move will dilute the value of the acquiring company’s outstanding shares.
What is marketable securities?from corporatefinanceinstitute.com
Marketable Securities Marketable securities are unrestricted short-term financial instruments that are issued either for equity securities or for debt securities of a publicly listed company.
How can businesses implement scorched earth policies?from investopedia.com
They can include taking on additional debt, adopting golden parachutes for senior executives, selling off prized assets, or rescheduling debt repayment for after the proposed takeover.
What was the punishment for ignoring the scorched earth order?from en.wikipedia.org
The punishment for ignoring the order was execution, with destruction of the defector's properties.
What was the name of the church that was blown up by the Germans in 1917?from en.wikipedia.org
Ruins of the church of St. Jean in Péronne, blown up by the Germans in March 1917. On the Eastern Front of World War I, the Imperial Russian Army created a zone of destruction by using a massive scorched-earth strategy during their retreat from the Imperial German Army in the summer and the autumn of 1915.
What is a scorched earth policy?
e. A scorched-earth policy is a military strategy that aims to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy. Any assets that could be used by the enemy may be targeted, which usually includes obvious weapons, transport vehicles, communication sites, and industrial resources.
What was the purpose of the scorched earth campaign?
In response to Greek guerrilla attacks on his forces in the Peloponnese, Ibrahim launched a scorched earth campaign which threatened the population with starvation and deported many civilians into slavery in Egypt. He also allegedly planned to bring in Arab settlers to replace the Greek population. The fires of burning villages and fields were clearly visible from Allied ships standing offshore. A British landing party reported that the population of Messinia was close to mass starvation. Ibrahim's scorched-earth policy caused much outrage in Europe, which was one factor for the Great Powers ( United Kingdom, the Kingdom of France and the Russian Empire) decisively intervening against him in the Battle of Navarino .
What was the first use of scorched earth?
The first was used when the Celtic Helvetii were forced to evacuate their homes in Southern Germany and Switzerland because of incursions of unfriendly Germanic tribes: to add incentive to the march, the Helvetii destroyed everything they could not bring. After the Helvetii were defeated by a combined Roman-Gallic force, the Helvetii were forced to rebuild themselves on the shattered German and Swiss plains they themselves had destroyed.
Who used scorched earth in the war?
Further use of scorched-earth policies in a war was seen during the 16th century in Ireland, where it was used by English commanders such as Walter Devereux and Richard Bingham .
What was the punishment for ignoring the scorched earth order?
The punishment for ignoring the order was execution, with destruction of the defector's properties.
What was the purpose of the scorched earth?
During times of war, troops would destroy valuable goods – crops, buildings, routes in and out of towns – in order to make them unusable by enemy troops.
What is marketable securities?
Marketable Securities Marketable securities are unrestricted short-term financial instruments that are issued either for equity securities or for debt securities of a publicly listed company.
Is the scorched earth policy successful?
For some companies, the scorched earth policy is successful and the company recovers after the takeover bid fails. For the rest, however, either the takeover is not prevented or the self-sabotage effectively ruins the company.
What is a scorched earth policy?from en.wikipedia.org
e. A scorched-earth policy is a military strategy that aims to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy. Any assets that could be used by the enemy may be targeted, which usually includes obvious weapons, transport vehicles, communication sites, and industrial resources.
What was the purpose of the scorched earth campaign?from en.wikipedia.org
In response to Greek guerrilla attacks on his forces in the Peloponnese, Ibrahim launched a scorched earth campaign which threatened the population with starvation and deported many civilians into slavery in Egypt. He also allegedly planned to bring in Arab settlers to replace the Greek population. The fires of burning villages and fields were clearly visible from Allied ships standing offshore. A British landing party reported that the population of Messinia was close to mass starvation. Ibrahim's scorched-earth policy caused much outrage in Europe, which was one factor for the Great Powers ( United Kingdom, the Kingdom of France and the Russian Empire) decisively intervening against him in the Battle of Navarino .
What was the first use of scorched earth?from en.wikipedia.org
The first was used when the Celtic Helvetii were forced to evacuate their homes in Southern Germany and Switzerland because of incursions of unfriendly Germanic tribes: to add incentive to the march, the Helvetii destroyed everything they could not bring. After the Helvetii were defeated by a combined Roman-Gallic force, the Helvetii were forced to rebuild themselves on the shattered German and Swiss plains they themselves had destroyed.
What was the name of the event that led to the burning of Bandung?from en.wikipedia.org
This event is known as the Bandung Sea of Fire ( Bandung Lautan Api ).
What was the punishment for ignoring the scorched earth order?from en.wikipedia.org
The punishment for ignoring the order was execution, with destruction of the defector's properties.
What did the incendiary attacks do to the villages?from en.wikipedia.org
The incendiary attacks inflicted extensive damage to nature and destroyed objects essential for the survival of the villages (i.e., livestock, wood for the winter, water sources, etc.) in the vicinity of the affected areas. Some villages (e.g., Aknaghbyur) were the object of direct incendiary attacks or arson.
What was the name of the church that was blown up by the Germans in 1917?from en.wikipedia.org
Ruins of the church of St. Jean in Péronne, blown up by the Germans in March 1917. On the Eastern Front of World War I, the Imperial Russian Army created a zone of destruction by using a massive scorched-earth strategy during their retreat from the Imperial German Army in the summer and the autumn of 1915.

Overview
A scorched-earth policy is a military strategy that aims to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy. Any assets that could be used by the enemy may be targeted, which usually includes obvious weapons, transport vehicles, communication sites, and industrial resources. However, anything useful to the advancing enemy may be targeted, including food stores and agricultural area…
Ancient warfare
The Scythians used scorched-earth methods against the Persian Achaemenid Empire, led by King Darius the Great, during his European Scythian campaign. The Scythians, who were nomadic herders, evaded the Persian invaders and retreated into the depths of the steppes after they had destroyed food supplies and poisoned wells.
The Greek general Xenophon recorded in his Anabasis that the Armenians, as they withdrew, burn…
Post-classical warfare
The British monk Gildas wrote in his 6th-century treatise "On the Ruin of Britain" on an earlier invasion: "For the fire of vengeance ... spread from sea to sea ... and did not cease, until, destroying the neighbouring towns and lands, it reached the other side of the island".
During the First Fitna (656–661), Muawiyah I sent Busr ibn Abi Artat to a campaig…
Early modern era
Further use of scorched-earth policies in a war was seen during the 16th century in Ireland, where it was used by English commanders such as Walter Devereux and Richard Bingham.
The Desmond Rebellions were a famous case in Ireland. Much of the province of Munster was laid waste. The poet Edmund Spenser left an account of it:
19th century
During the third Napoleonic invasion of Portugal in 1810, the Portuguese population retreated towards Lisbon and was ordered to destroy all the food supplies the French might capture as well as forage and shelter in a wide belt across the country. (Although effective food-preserving techniques had recently been invented, they were still not fit for military use because a suitably-rugged …
20th century
On the Eastern Front of World War I, the Imperial Russian Army created a zone of destruction by using a massive scorched-earth strategy during their retreat from the Imperial German Army in the summer and the autumn of 1915. The Russian troops, retreating along a front of more than 600 miles, destroyed anything that might be of use to their enemy, including crops, houses, railways and entire cit…
21st century
The government of Sudan used scorched earth as a military strategy in Darfur War.
During the 2009 Sri Lankan Civil War, the United Nations Regional Information Centre accused the government of Sri Lanka of using scorched-earth tactics.
During the 2011 Libyan Civil War, forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi planted a large number of landmines within the petroleum port of Brega to prevent advancing rebel forces from utilizing the po…
See also
• Area bombing
• Area denial
• Bellum se ipsum alet, the strategy of relying on occupied territories for resources
• Burmah Oil Co. v Lord Advocate
Scorched Earth Policy Tactics
- In order to make itself less attractive, a targeted company may do a number of things, including: 1. Liquidating or terminating significantly valuable assets and securities 2. Making agreements to repay debts as soon as the hostile takeover is completed. The acquiring company would then be forced to pay off the outstanding debt, thereby eroding its profits. 3. Trying to “scorch” the acquir…
Origin of The Scorched Earth Policy
- The term “scorched earth” started as a military term. During times of war, troops would destroy valuable goods – crops, buildings, routes in and out of towns – in order to make them unusable by enemy troops. The downside to the scorched tactic is that the items and infrastructure that were destroyed could also no longer be used by the troops who de...
Issues with The Scorched Earth Policy
- When a company deliberately takes action to make itself less attractive, the goal is to prevent a takeover attempt. In the event that the policy works, the targeted company achieves its desired result, escaping the takeover. There are two major problems that may arise from implementing the scorched earth policy: 1. The acquirer may still see underlying value in the targeted company an…
Final Word
- The scorched earth policy is, at its core, a final, desperate effort by a company to stop a hostile takeover. Other anti-takeover strategies are often better options because they don’t sabotage the value and earning potential of the targeted company. For some companies, the scorched earth policy is successful and the company recovers after the takeover bid fails. For the rest, however…
More Resources
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