Oblique order
military tactic / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The oblique order, also called the oblique attack is a military tactic to bring a larger force against one of the enemy's flanks.[1] At the same time the remainder of the force is used to distract and keep the enemy line in place.[1] This is a good tactic if the attacking force is larger in size.[2] Frederick the Great is credited with inventing the oblique order.[3] He would use a large number of troops on one of the flanks to destroy that section, then drive into the enemy from two directions.[3] The word oblique comes from the Middle English word oblike, which comes from the Latin word oblīquus meaning "slanted".[4] In military usage, oblique usually means at an angle, often 45 degrees.[4]