Strategic Breakthrough
Strategic breakthrough, an attacker‘s troop movement against the center of an enemy army deployed in extended line, across a wide area, or in separate detachments. The operation aims to separate the wings of the enemy army, which, if successful, can lead to significant gains, as the attacker might be able to defeat the separated parts in succession. However, every breakthrough (in large-scale operations as well as on the battlefield) carries the risk of being encircled by the enemy, thereby reversing the initial advantage.
With the growth and improvement of communication and transportation systems, strategic breakthroughs have become much more difficult than before (on the battlefield, the increased intensity and range of weaponry makes a breakthrough attempt virtually impossible). Examples of successful strategic breakthroughs include Frederick the Great‘s invasion of Bohemia in 1757, and Napoleon Bonaparte‘s campaign in 1796; in contrast, the breakthrough attempted by Napoleon I in 1815 failed.
Source: Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, 6. Auflage 1905–1909