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0 pointsbee_rider2mo ago0 comments

I haven’t heard “dead man zone” (although I don’t really engage much with military stuff so maybe it is just an expression I’m not familiar with).

I think “no man’s land” is a pretty popular and similar expression. Out of curiosity, did you translate “dead man zone” from another language?

I just find it interesting because it seems conceptually similar but much bleaker, so if it comes from, like, French or German or something maybe it reflects an even bleaker WW1 experience.

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5 comments · 4 top-level

overfeed2mo ago· 1 in thread

> I think “no man’s land” is a pretty popular and similar expression.

No man's land is generic and is used in other non-combat scenarios, it could appear in an HOA pamphlet.

I like "dead man's zone" or "kill zone" as it clearly communicates both the contestation and lethality very clearly.

verdverm2mo ago

During WW1, many bodies which remained in the zone between the trenches, unable to be removed, so it became an accurate description

hkpack2mo ago

You can call it whatever you like: kill zone, gray zone, dead zone - everyone usually understands what does it means.

Good article on what it is: https://texty.org.ua/projects/116021/20-kilometers-of-the-gr...

aleksiy1232mo ago

It seems like there could actually be a difference between them?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_man_zone - is related to bush fires but seems like it could apply to a battlefield?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_man%27s_land

Something more akin to actually being in "measure" or strike distance vs just contested territory in between?

Edit: Sibling comment I think clears it up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_zone

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verdverm2mo ago

> I haven’t heard “dead man zone”

It's the space between trenches. I've been watching a WW1 chronological documentary where they use it, but it's also been said in various ways, as you say.

Said playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB2vhKMBjSxOb_127vxja...

Time Ghost makes awesome chrono documentaries for the major wars. And a ton of mini series on special topics.

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