Revolutionary War
American Civil War
WWI
WWII
Korean War
Vietnam War
Desert Storm/Iraqi Freedom/War on Terror
Napoleonic Wars
Crimean War
Spanish-American War
Boer War
War of 1812
Other (explain)
The War on Drugs
War (the band)
What is/was your favorite war to study, read about, watch films about, or even play games about (for you gamer fans)? Having never served in the military myself, I'm not trying to make light of any conflicts, but I do love military history. Personally--and I'm not sure why--but WWI has always fascinated me more than any other conflict. Started by a single bullet, employed both primitive and modern weaponry, and involved arguably the scariest and most ineffective strategy in history: trench warfare. Most people are big WWII buffs (and I enjoy it from a historical perspective as well), but WWI has always peaked my interest more and I wish there were more than just a handful of movies about it.
What's your pick? Any specific battles in particular?
For me it's Gallipoli, Verdun, Jutland, 2nd battle of Ypres, and the Somme in WWI
Montecassino, Stalingrad, and Battle of Britain in WWII.
Antietam in American Civil War
Battle of the Ia Drang Valley and Hamburger Hill in Vietnam.
Last edited by DeadlyDynasty; 11-17-2010 at 09:12 AM.
I liked ww2 in school. It's was really interesting. I know I never had to learn at home for the test, cause I was really interested in it and was listening to what the teacher was saying about the war. And that was like the only thing I was paying attention in school.
Here's an interesting do entary done 5-6 years ago about the conflict: World War 1 in Colour.
Thirty years war. Have to go with Gustavus Adolphus
No love for the War of the Roses??
Without all that protracted bickering between Lancaster & York (2 factions of the same royal house) the Tudor dynasty would never have arisen.
And where would Showtime, modern historical romance novels, and several hollywood producers be now if they didn't have Henry VIII or Elizabeth I ?
It's the longest running telenovela of all time! all time!
clearly wwii ... can't top the holocaust
I took a course on the Mexican Revolution in college. It was great, and having grown up in west Texas, it had some geographical significance. And lots really outrageous, over the top characters too.
You might like this:
http://www.historyonthenet.com/Lesso...sheets/ww1.htm
Also:
Google the term:
World War One simple version angus macleod
You will find it funny. the follow up for WW2 wasn't quite as funny, and seemed a bit rushed.
I would have to go with Dubya Dubya 2 on this one...just for the sheer amount of combatants and the lingering effect it had on the world that is still apparent today. You had two Axis powers that were essentially taking a free pass at the basket and controlled almost all of the map. It also flung the U.S. and the Soviet Union into the spotlight for the next 40 years with the Cold War and also helped the Germans and Japanese look elsewhere rather than military conquest.
The Civil War would probably be second in my opinion. That was a make-it-or-break-it moment for the United States...
sadly, i'll be doing some of those crosswords today
Solid points, but it can be argued that the Treaty of Versailles undoubtedly caused WWII, thusly creating the lingering effects of today. It's just fascinating how petty WWI was set off, and the dire consequences since then
Very true. The Treaty of Versailles left Germany in shambles and cultured the environment that allowed for the rise of the National Socialist party to ascend. It also left Japan off the table as an up-and-coming super power and totally discredit them when they were asking for increased export of goods. Thus, you are entirely correct that WWI and the resulting ignorance of the Treaty of Versailles was a direct cause of WWII and its importance on the future.
Also, in WWI there were a number of opportunities for Hitler to have met his maker...but for some twist of fate, he was always one step ahead of death.
I was torn between the American Revolution and the Civil War.
The worst war: the war on drugs. Shows our government's ignorance and stupidity.
+420i was torn between the american revolution and the civil war.
The worst war: The war on drugs. Shows our government's ignorance and stupidity.
No love for the Falklands War?I was torn between the American Revolution and the Civil War.
The worst war: the war on drugs. Shows our government's ignorance and stupidity.
WW1 was far more brutal than WW2 imo, on the psyche of the world and sheer carnage. Notably the Battle of the Somme, debut of tanks, poison gas in warfare, and the trenches.
The Trojan War
I've always been enthralled by Greek Mythology.
Just as an FYI, both killed roughly the same % of the global population, although ww2 killed more in absolute terms.
Over 2% of the global population (2.3bn) died between 1939 and 1945.
Over 2% of the global population then (1.8bn) died between 1914 and 1918. (not sure if this includes disease deaths)
Spanish Civil War
Both were horrific no doubt, but I agree with Lee in the "psyche and carnage" arguments. I can't imagine anything scarier than "going over the top" and running head first into machine gun fire and artillery bombardments while getting stuck in barbed wire in No Man's Land. Not to mention the landmines and gas attacks. It would be akin to landing on Omaha Beach in WWII--but EVERY DAY, with little or nothing to show for it. Most of the early combatants of WWI also thought the war would be over by Christmas 1914, but it dragged on till November 1918. WWI had significant losses with both sides barely gaining any ground in 5 years. Both were beyond tragic, but the degree of daily carnage on a European battlefield in WWI must have been maddening.
For sheer brutality? The Civil War tops probably both. The death stats were about the same, but WWII came with a weapon that trumps all that and created a psyche of mass paranoia, the atomic/nuclear bomb. The millions killed to end the war and thousands of death post-Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the advent of the Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the arms race. Also, you have to factor in the untold thousands that died in the game of espionage. People who weren't around the inner circles of the government rarely knew or digested how close we were to a nuclear holocaust in the 50's and 60's. Just imagine what might have happened if the fortunes were not as favorable during the Cuban Missle Crisis. All because we were the first to unleash that terror that was weaponized in WWII.
However, I don't think there should be war...all of them are chock full of brutality...I had a great uncle and grandpa that fought in the Second World War, and perhaps that lends to a little bias, but man...
Props on getting the #'s. We lose 2% of the world's population twice. Absolutely disgusting.
Plus, if WWI soldiers were asked why they were fighting, most would probably not have an answer.
That could've been said of the Korean Conflict...the Vietnam War...and quite possibly the Civil War as well since the majority of the soldiers for the North or South were uneducated and might've been amiss with the current events of the 1860's...
All Quiet On the Western Front is definitely a must read for anyone wanting a quality story on WWI.
True...my maternal grandfather was in the Pacific theater, and was on the USS Edmonds (I believe that was the ship) when they rescued crew from the Indianapolis. My paternal grandfather fought in the european theater
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