„When a real army is in retreat, machine guns are kept ready, and when an orderly retreat degenerates into a disorderly one, the command to fire is given, and quite rightly, too.“

— Vladimir Lenin
„One always abandons something in retreat. Look at Napoleon at the Beresina! He abandoned his whole army.“
— George Orwell
„This leads to the conclusion, it is time to finish retreating. Not one step back! Such should now be our main slogan. … Henceforth the solid law of discipline for each commander, Red Army soldier, and commissar should be the requirement — not a single step back without order from higher command.“
— Joseph Stalin