Not every failed campaign is a blunder :pVery true old chap!
Operation Barbarossa.
It is very, very stupid to start two-front wars.
Operation Barbarossa.
It is very, very stupid to start two-front wars.
The western front was silent, britain was recovering, and there's still one great enemy left. Hitler had no choice but to invade Russia. Mind you, the operation went very succesful at the start.
The retreat and destruction of Elphinstone's army during the First Anglo Afghan war.
Firstly, a show of British force following the murder of Sekundar Burnes may have quelled the Afghans, but the practically infirm Elphinstone instead wasted the time by dithering in the British cantons.
He then lost a party of political officers in a meeting with tribe leaders and did nothing.
The next bit can't quite be all Elphinstone's fault. The British army was meant to be granted safe passage through the Khyber by Akbar Khan, instead, throughout the passage through the frozen Khyber, the army was relentlessly hounded by the ghazis, losing huge numbers to both the tribesmen and the snow. Elphinstone, of course, did nothing.
Then Akbar Khan came forward again and took the married officers and their wives under his protection. While I don't believe anything ill happened to these prisoners, their loss did weaken the army further.
Perhaps the full destruction of the army could be seen with the last stand of the 44th East Essex. In the end, as I recall, only one man made it to the Army's destination (which I forget but I think it was Kandahar.)
Battle of Gallipoli
Battle of Gallipoli
Military defeats aren't blunders.
The blunder that always gets me is Boudica trapping herself and her army in with the Romans because they were so confident of victory. Damn wagons.
The Vietnam war, what a waste.That wasn't really a blunder, but it was a waste. We didn't come out any worse after the conflict and we kind of just decided to pull out because we didn't feel like defending the south Vietnamese anymore.
We didn't come out any worse after the conflict
We didn't come out any worse after the conflict
58,000 dead isn't worse off?
I feel that "oh, we don't feel like defending the southern vietnamese anymore, oh and yeah 58,000 confirmed dead." is a total blunder
So we should kill people because they believe in a different political system?Last I checked the North Vietnamese, who were backed by the Chinese and the Russians were the aggressors in the situation, because, ya know, they invaded south vietnam.
Vietnam wasn't a blunder, but a truly terrible event.
Hmm... Yeah, that looks like a pretty big waste to meWe didn't come out any worse after the conflict
58,000 dead isn't worse off?
I feel that "oh, we don't feel like defending the southern vietnamese anymore, oh and yeah 58,000 confirmed dead." is a total blunder
American and co. total dead: 430,538–714,564
Communist and co. total dead 451,462-1,166,462
Not a waste.
Not anymore than any other wars. Stop being angsty.Hmm... Yeah, that looks like a pretty big waste to meWe didn't come out any worse after the conflict
58,000 dead isn't worse off?
I feel that "oh, we don't feel like defending the southern vietnamese anymore, oh and yeah 58,000 confirmed dead." is a total blunder
American and co. total dead: 430,538–714,564
Communist and co. total dead 451,462-1,166,462
Not a waste.
Not anymore than any other wars. Stop being angsty.Hmm... Yeah, that looks like a pretty big waste to meWe didn't come out any worse after the conflict
58,000 dead isn't worse off?
I feel that "oh, we don't feel like defending the southern vietnamese anymore, oh and yeah 58,000 confirmed dead." is a total blunder
American and co. total dead: 430,538–714,564
Communist and co. total dead 451,462-1,166,462
Not a waste.
That was my point. Modern day teenagers like to think that they live in a special time where wars now are somehow different than they've been for thousands of years.Not anymore than any other wars. Stop being angsty.Hmm... Yeah, that looks like a pretty big waste to meWe didn't come out any worse after the conflict
58,000 dead isn't worse off?
I feel that "oh, we don't feel like defending the southern vietnamese anymore, oh and yeah 58,000 confirmed dead." is a total blunder
American and co. total dead: 430,538–714,564
Communist and co. total dead 451,462-1,166,462
Not a waste.
Maybe all wars are big waste ;)
That was my point. Modern day teenagers like to think that they live in a special time where wars now are somehow different than they've been for thousands of years.Not anymore than any other wars. Stop being angsty.Hmm... Yeah, that looks like a pretty big waste to meWe didn't come out any worse after the conflict
58,000 dead isn't worse off?
I feel that "oh, we don't feel like defending the southern vietnamese anymore, oh and yeah 58,000 confirmed dead." is a total blunder
American and co. total dead: 430,538–714,564
Communist and co. total dead 451,462-1,166,462
Not a waste.
Maybe all wars are big waste ;)
Not anymore than any other wars. Stop being angsty.
Right, you guys want to know a military blunder? The Convention of Alkmaar.
Yeah, We got a combined army of Russians and Brits by the balls...and we let them go peacefully, with all their loot. WHY?
Definately, DEFINATELY the Byzantine blunder in the defence of Constantinople. Someone left a small gate (Kerkaporta) open through which the Ottomans rushed in and opened more gates. The Byzantines got overwhelmed. They could've won, but there are the small mistakes in battles that can tip the balance. :'(
Definately, DEFINATELY the Byzantine blunder in the defence of Constantinople. Someone left a small gate (Kerkaporta) open through which the Ottomans rushed in and opened more gates. The Byzantines got overwhelmed. They could've won, but there are the small mistakes in battles that can tip the balance. :'(
The Byzantines was heavily out numbered, they were isolated from rest of the world that meant no fresh food, the Ottomans pushed their boats with their hands, oxes and logs under the boats over the golden horn and then put the boats back into the water again. They had much more advanced artillery. It was just a matter of time. I have seen nowhere a claim of a small gate being left open. If you have sources, can you give me a link?
Definately, DEFINATELY the Byzantine blunder in the defence of Constantinople. Someone left a small gate (Kerkaporta) open through which the Ottomans rushed in and opened more gates. The Byzantines got overwhelmed. They could've won, but there are the small mistakes in battles that can tip the balance. :'(
The Byzantines was heavily out numbered, they were isolated from rest of the world that meant no fresh food, the Ottomans pushed their boats with their hands, oxes and logs under the boats over the golden horn and then put the boats back into the water again. They had much more advanced artillery. It was just a matter of time. I have seen nowhere a claim of a small gate being left open. If you have sources, can you give me a link?
Much more advanced artillery? I hope you don't mean Urban's gun..... ;)
I have it in a book here (about the kerkaporta), It's called ''Great battles of history''. And here a link, read under ''the final assault'' alinea 3, sentence 2: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars14011600/p/Byzantine-Ottoman-Wars-Fall-Of-Constantinople.htm
Definately, DEFINATELY the Byzantine blunder in the defence of Constantinople. Someone left a small gate (Kerkaporta) open through which the Ottomans rushed in and opened more gates. The Byzantines got overwhelmed. They could've won, but there are the small mistakes in battles that can tip the balance. :'(
The Byzantines was heavily out numbered, they were isolated from rest of the world that meant no fresh food, the Ottomans pushed their boats with their hands, oxes and logs under the boats over the golden horn and then put the boats back into the water again. They had much more advanced artillery. It was just a matter of time. I have seen nowhere a claim of a small gate being left open. If you have sources, can you give me a link?
Much more advanced artillery? I hope you don't mean Urban's gun..... ;)
I have it in a book here (about the kerkaporta), It's called ''Great battles of history''. And here a link, read under ''the final assault'' alinea 3, sentence 2: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars14011600/p/Byzantine-Ottoman-Wars-Fall-Of-Constantinople.htm
Thanks for source
And of course im talking about Urban's gun. He first offered the Byzantines his help, but they rejected, then he asked the Ottomans who accepted his offer, the rest of the story we all know. BUT not only that cannon, the cannons of the Ottomans outranged the Byzantines. Ottomans could just sit back and fire the city to the ground if they wanted to basically
Definately, DEFINATELY the Byzantine blunder in the defence of Constantinople. Someone left a small gate (Kerkaporta) open through which the Ottomans rushed in and opened more gates. The Byzantines got overwhelmed. They could've won, but there are the small mistakes in battles that can tip the balance. :'(
The Byzantines was heavily out numbered, they were isolated from rest of the world that meant no fresh food, the Ottomans pushed their boats with their hands, oxes and logs under the boats over the golden horn and then put the boats back into the water again. They had much more advanced artillery. It was just a matter of time. I have seen nowhere a claim of a small gate being left open. If you have sources, can you give me a link?
Much more advanced artillery? I hope you don't mean Urban's gun..... ;)
I have it in a book here (about the kerkaporta), It's called ''Great battles of history''. And here a link, read under ''the final assault'' alinea 3, sentence 2: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars14011600/p/Byzantine-Ottoman-Wars-Fall-Of-Constantinople.htm
Thanks for source
And of course im talking about Urban's gun. He first offered the Byzantines his help, but they rejected, then he asked the Ottomans who accepted his offer, the rest of the story we all know. BUT not only that cannon, the cannons of the Ottomans outranged the Byzantines. Ottomans could just sit back and fire the city to the ground if they wanted to basically
They could, but Urban's Gun was really innacurate and could only be fired a few times a day. And the Byzantines were brilliant fortifiers. They could try to repair the walls, which they did. The Byzantines COULD've won ,but the Ottomans would come again and again, and eventually Constantinople would fall anyway.
Definately, DEFINATELY the Byzantine blunder in the defence of Constantinople. Someone left a small gate (Kerkaporta) open through which the Ottomans rushed in and opened more gates. The Byzantines got overwhelmed. They could've won, but there are the small mistakes in battles that can tip the balance. :'(
The Byzantines was heavily out numbered, they were isolated from rest of the world that meant no fresh food, the Ottomans pushed their boats with their hands, oxes and logs under the boats over the golden horn and then put the boats back into the water again. They had much more advanced artillery. It was just a matter of time. I have seen nowhere a claim of a small gate being left open. If you have sources, can you give me a link?
Much more advanced artillery? I hope you don't mean Urban's gun..... ;)
I have it in a book here (about the kerkaporta), It's called ''Great battles of history''. And here a link, read under ''the final assault'' alinea 3, sentence 2: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars14011600/p/Byzantine-Ottoman-Wars-Fall-Of-Constantinople.htm
Thanks for source
And of course im talking about Urban's gun. He first offered the Byzantines his help, but they rejected, then he asked the Ottomans who accepted his offer, the rest of the story we all know. BUT not only that cannon, the cannons of the Ottomans outranged the Byzantines. Ottomans could just sit back and fire the city to the ground if they wanted to basically
They could, but Urban's Gun was really innacurate and could only be fired a few times a day. And the Byzantines were brilliant fortifiers. They could try to repair the walls, which they did. The Byzantines COULD've won ,but the Ottomans would come again and again, and eventually Constantinople would fall anyway.
Thats why they bring alot of soldiers I guess...............
SpoilerDefinately, DEFINATELY the Byzantine blunder in the defence of Constantinople. Someone left a small gate (Kerkaporta) open through which the Ottomans rushed in and opened more gates. The Byzantines got overwhelmed. They could've won, but there are the small mistakes in battles that can tip the balance. :'(
The Byzantines was heavily out numbered, they were isolated from rest of the world that meant no fresh food, the Ottomans pushed their boats with their hands, oxes and logs under the boats over the golden horn and then put the boats back into the water again. They had much more advanced artillery. It was just a matter of time. I have seen nowhere a claim of a small gate being left open. If you have sources, can you give me a link?
Much more advanced artillery? I hope you don't mean Urban's gun..... ;)
I have it in a book here (about the kerkaporta), It's called ''Great battles of history''. And here a link, read under ''the final assault'' alinea 3, sentence 2: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars14011600/p/Byzantine-Ottoman-Wars-Fall-Of-Constantinople.htm
Thanks for source
And of course im talking about Urban's gun. He first offered the Byzantines his help, but they rejected, then he asked the Ottomans who accepted his offer, the rest of the story we all know. BUT not only that cannon, the cannons of the Ottomans outranged the Byzantines. Ottomans could just sit back and fire the city to the ground if they wanted to basically
They could, but Urban's Gun was really innacurate and could only be fired a few times a day. And the Byzantines were brilliant fortifiers. They could try to repair the walls, which they did. The Byzantines COULD've won ,but the Ottomans would come again and again, and eventually Constantinople would fall anyway.
Thats why they bring alot of soldiers I guess...............[close]
Heh, yeah indeed. It all went wrong after Manzikert. Do you know another blunder? Hattin perhaps?
SpoilerDefinately, DEFINATELY the Byzantine blunder in the defence of Constantinople. Someone left a small gate (Kerkaporta) open through which the Ottomans rushed in and opened more gates. The Byzantines got overwhelmed. They could've won, but there are the small mistakes in battles that can tip the balance. :'(
The Byzantines was heavily out numbered, they were isolated from rest of the world that meant no fresh food, the Ottomans pushed their boats with their hands, oxes and logs under the boats over the golden horn and then put the boats back into the water again. They had much more advanced artillery. It was just a matter of time. I have seen nowhere a claim of a small gate being left open. If you have sources, can you give me a link?
Much more advanced artillery? I hope you don't mean Urban's gun..... ;)
I have it in a book here (about the kerkaporta), It's called ''Great battles of history''. And here a link, read under ''the final assault'' alinea 3, sentence 2: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars14011600/p/Byzantine-Ottoman-Wars-Fall-Of-Constantinople.htm
Thanks for source
And of course im talking about Urban's gun. He first offered the Byzantines his help, but they rejected, then he asked the Ottomans who accepted his offer, the rest of the story we all know. BUT not only that cannon, the cannons of the Ottomans outranged the Byzantines. Ottomans could just sit back and fire the city to the ground if they wanted to basically
They could, but Urban's Gun was really innacurate and could only be fired a few times a day. And the Byzantines were brilliant fortifiers. They could try to repair the walls, which they did. The Byzantines COULD've won ,but the Ottomans would come again and again, and eventually Constantinople would fall anyway.
Thats why they bring alot of soldiers I guess...............[close]
Heh, yeah indeed. It all went wrong after Manzikert. Do you know another blunder? Hattin perhaps?
Im sorry, never heard of that battle before :-\
SpoilerDefinately, DEFINATELY the Byzantine blunder in the defence of Constantinople. Someone left a small gate (Kerkaporta) open through which the Ottomans rushed in and opened more gates. The Byzantines got overwhelmed. They could've won, but there are the small mistakes in battles that can tip the balance. :'(
The Byzantines was heavily out numbered, they were isolated from rest of the world that meant no fresh food, the Ottomans pushed their boats with their hands, oxes and logs under the boats over the golden horn and then put the boats back into the water again. They had much more advanced artillery. It was just a matter of time. I have seen nowhere a claim of a small gate being left open. If you have sources, can you give me a link?
Much more advanced artillery? I hope you don't mean Urban's gun..... ;)
I have it in a book here (about the kerkaporta), It's called ''Great battles of history''. And here a link, read under ''the final assault'' alinea 3, sentence 2: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars14011600/p/Byzantine-Ottoman-Wars-Fall-Of-Constantinople.htm
Thanks for source
And of course im talking about Urban's gun. He first offered the Byzantines his help, but they rejected, then he asked the Ottomans who accepted his offer, the rest of the story we all know. BUT not only that cannon, the cannons of the Ottomans outranged the Byzantines. Ottomans could just sit back and fire the city to the ground if they wanted to basically
They could, but Urban's Gun was really innacurate and could only be fired a few times a day. And the Byzantines were brilliant fortifiers. They could try to repair the walls, which they did. The Byzantines COULD've won ,but the Ottomans would come again and again, and eventually Constantinople would fall anyway.
Thats why they bring alot of soldiers I guess...............[close]
Heh, yeah indeed. It all went wrong after Manzikert. Do you know another blunder? Hattin perhaps?
Im sorry, never heard of that battle before :-\
It was a battle during the Crusades, where the Crusaders got sincerely beaten by Saladin. It's 'famous' because its aftermath is shown in 'Kingdom of Heaven'. It was more of a genius victory for Saladin then a utter blunder for the Crusasders, though.
A sword bent double? Even for a dress sword that sounds utterly ridiculous. It might break, but certainly not BENT.
The Battle of Karánsebes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kar%C3%A1nsebes)
It may have never happened, but if it did..
The Battle of Karánsebes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kar%C3%A1nsebes)
It may have never happened, but if it did..
"The hussars refused to give them any of the schnapps, and while still drunk, they set up makeshift fortifications around the barrels."
They obviously had their priorities in order here.
"Never interrupt an enemy when he is making a misstake"
-Napoleon Bonaparte