eli5 Why is it so important to „capture“ the capital city in a war?

Question

Does it really change the outcome of the war? Does a country fall when the capital city is captured?

In: 462

Answer 1

Symbolic Importance: The capital city represents the seat of political power and the heart of a nation. Capturing it sends a powerful message to both the people of the nation and the international community. It can demoralize the enemy and boost the morale of the attacking force. Symbolically, it signifies that the invading force has control over the government and can dictate the direction of the conflict.

Political Control: Governments often have their headquarters, administrative offices, and key decision-makers located in the capital city. Capturing the capital allows the attacking force to gain control over the central authority, disrupt governance, and potentially force the enemy leadership into retreat or surrender. It can destabilize the enemy’s political structure and create a power vacuum that the attacking force can exploit.

Strategic Advantage: The capital city often serves as a hub for transportation, communication, and infrastructure networks. By capturing it, the attacking force gains control over vital resources and strategic assets, such as major airports, seaports, railway systems, and government-controlled institutions. This can give them a significant advantage in terms of logistics, mobility, and the ability to project power.

Symbolic Legitimacy: Capturing the capital city can also grant the attacking force a sense of legitimacy. By taking control of the seat of government, they can claim to represent the rightful authority, potentially attracting support from both the local population and international actors who view the captured capital as the legitimate source of power.

Psychological Impact: The capture of a capital city can have a profound psychological impact on the enemy and its population. It can create fear, uncertainty, and a sense of vulnerability among the civilian population. This can potentially lead to public disapproval of the enemy’s leadership, erosion of support, and increased chances of a surrender or negotiated settlement.