Biggest Failures in History!

[Colonel Howe]

Say what you think the biggest failures in history were. They can be events, people, nations, laws, battles, etc. Don't make your decisions based off race, nationality, or just plain idiotic grounds.


For me:
The Austrian Empire
Why: Battle of Karánsebes. That's why

[Wismar]

John Sedgwick

"They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance" -His last words.

Sedgwick fell at the beginning of the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, on May 9, 1864. His corps was probing skirmish lines ahead of the left flank of Confederate defenses and he was directing artillery placements. Confederate sharpshooters were about 1,000 yards (900 m) away and their shots caused members of his staff and artillerymen to duck for cover. Sedgwick strode around in the open and was quoted as saying, "What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line?" Although ashamed, his men continued to flinch and he repeated, "I'm ashamed of you, dodging that way. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." Just seconds later he fell forward with a bullet hole below his left eye.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sedgwick

[Pinball Wizard]

John Sedgwick

"They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance" -His last words.

Sedgwick fell at the beginning of the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, on May 9, 1864. His corps was probing skirmish lines ahead of the left flank of Confederate defenses and he was directing artillery placements. Confederate sharpshooters were about 1,000 yards (900 m) away and their shots caused members of his staff and artillerymen to duck for cover. Sedgwick strode around in the open and was quoted as saying, "What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line?" Although ashamed, his men continued to flinch and he repeated, "I'm ashamed of you, dodging that way. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." Just seconds later he fell forward with a bullet hole below his left eye.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sedgwick

Classic example of speaking too soon.

[Archduke Sven]

Stop this. You've been warned multiple times.

[weaverwarrior12]

Stop this. You've been warned multiple times.

[Archduke Sven]

Oh Weaver, you're adorable 

[Turin Turambar]

I don't think they failed in what they did..

[Colonel Howe]

Karl Marx forever!!!!

And yeah, Turin's right...they didn't fail...in fact, all that murder suggests they succeeded in their goals. This is meant for failures, actual failures. Like Austrians killing thousands of their own men, that's a failure

[Furrnox]

Speaking of shitty people this guy should be sent to prison or worse.

Spoiler

[close]

Karl Marx forever!!!!

<3

[Newkirk]

I saw this, immediately thought of something, clicked on it, and realized Howe already took it. :/

[Colonel Howe]

Muhahahahahaha

[Desert Thunda]

The butt hurt is so strong, may your butt hurt be eternal.
Anyway...

•Russia and the US took an interest in Afghanistan in the Cold War
•The US armed Afghanis who didn't like the Russians fucking with their country even more than the Americans fucking with their country
•Russia left Afghanistan
•Leave behind a bunch of pissed, well trained, and armed militants

[Augy]

A lot of people on here don't seem to make the distinction between Marxism (Karl Marx' writings) and Marxism-Leninism. Two very different things. Marx's critique on Capitalism was spot on (das Kapital) , now the authoritarian regimes that have sprouted with Marx' name attached (Lenin, Trotsky, Mao, etc.) are in no way shape or form related to Karl Marx himself or actual socialism for that matter.

I wouldn't call anything a failure in history because if were not making mistakes, how can humanity expect to learn?

[Ililsa]

The Austrian Empire
Why: Battle of Karánsebes. That's why

I'd be very surprised if you can find me a contemporary reference of that battle even happening.

The butt hurt is so strong, may your butt hurt be eternal.
Anyway...

•Russia and the US took an interest in Afghanistan in the Cold War
•The US armed Afghanis who didn't like the Russians fucking with their country even more than the Americans fucking with their country
•Russia left Afghanistan
•Leave behind a bunch of pissed, well trained, and armed militants

This, but expanded to involve every Afghan war involving the West.

Pattern recognition is apparently not something we're good at.

[TORN]

How about the numerous crusades on the Holy lands?