they were the little mistakes and huge oversights that altered the course of
oversights that altered the course of
oversights that altered the course of world history welcome to watchmojo.com
world history welcome to watchmojo.com
world history welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks
and today we’re counting down our picks
and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten military mishaps for
for the top ten military mishaps for
for the top ten military mishaps for this list we’re choosing those blunders
this list we’re choosing those blunders
this list we’re choosing those blunders mishaps or actions that the militaries
mishaps or actions that the militaries
mishaps or actions that the militaries in question would most likely not want
in question would most likely not want
in question would most likely not want to go through with again if they could
to go through with again if they could
to go through with again if they could go back in time number 10 the Battle of
go back in time number 10 the Battle of
go back in time number 10 the Battle of Little Bighorn led by Lieutenant Colonel
Little Bighorn led by Lieutenant Colonel
Little Bighorn led by Lieutenant Colonel George Custer the seventh Cavalry
George Custer the seventh Cavalry
George Custer the seventh Cavalry Regiment set out to overthrow a small
Regiment set out to overthrow a small
Regiment set out to overthrow a small Indian village at Little Bighorn
Indian village at Little Bighorn
Indian village at Little Bighorn anticipating an opposition of no more
anticipating an opposition of no more
anticipating an opposition of no more than 800 men American troops were
than 800 men American troops were
than 800 men American troops were ambushed by over 1500 Lakota North
ambushed by over 1500 Lakota North
ambushed by over 1500 Lakota North Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors and the
Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors and the
Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors and the entire regiment including Custer were
entire regiment including Custer were
entire regiment including Custer were killed though he was criticized for not
killed though he was criticized for not
killed though he was criticized for not using new technology to subdue his foes
using new technology to subdue his foes
using new technology to subdue his foes this mishap is mainly attributed to
this mishap is mainly attributed to
this mishap is mainly attributed to Custer’s sheer miscalculation of Native
Custer’s sheer miscalculation of Native
Custer’s sheer miscalculation of Native American tactical savvy and military
American tactical savvy and military
American tactical savvy and military efficacy number 9 the Bay of Pigs
efficacy number 9 the Bay of Pigs
efficacy number 9 the Bay of Pigs invasion during the night of April 16 to
invasion during the night of April 16 to
invasion during the night of April 16 to 1961 and into the early morning of the
1961 and into the early morning of the
1961 and into the early morning of the 17th over 1,400 American sponsored
17th over 1,400 American sponsored
17th over 1,400 American sponsored paramilitary fighters launched an
paramilitary fighters launched an
paramilitary fighters launched an amphibian attack on Cuba as an attempt
amphibian attack on Cuba as an attempt
amphibian attack on Cuba as an attempt to take over Fidel Castro’s communist
to take over Fidel Castro’s communist
to take over Fidel Castro’s communist regime the operation was a total debacle
regime the operation was a total debacle
regime the operation was a total debacle they were immediately overwhelmed by
they were immediately overwhelmed by
they were immediately overwhelmed by local militia and then soundly defeated
local militia and then soundly defeated
local militia and then soundly defeated by Castro’s army after being captured
by Castro’s army after being captured
by Castro’s army after being captured and interrogated the troops were sent
and interrogated the troops were sent
and interrogated the troops were sent back to the States a costly
back to the States a costly
back to the States a costly embarrassment for the u.s. the Bay of
embarrassment for the u.s. the Bay of
embarrassment for the u.s. the Bay of Pigs invasion only served to escalate
Pigs invasion only served to escalate
Pigs invasion only served to escalate tensions between the Democratic super
tensions between the Democratic super
tensions between the Democratic super power and the fledgling communist state
power and the fledgling communist state
power and the fledgling communist state number eight the Battle of the Alamo a
number eight the Battle of the Alamo a
number eight the Battle of the Alamo a critical moment in the Texas Revolution
critical moment in the Texas Revolution
critical moment in the Texas Revolution the Battle of the Alamo highlights the
the Battle of the Alamo highlights the
the Battle of the Alamo highlights the importance of never letting your guard
importance of never letting your guard
importance of never letting your guard down unaware of the Mexicans close
down unaware of the Mexicans close
down unaware of the Mexicans close proximity to the Alamo mission defense
proximity to the Alamo mission defense
proximity to the Alamo mission defense post most of its garrison left for a
post most of its garrison left for a
post most of its garrison left for a fiesta
fiesta
fiesta and since that meant it was now
and since that meant it was now
and since that meant it was now significantly undermanned Mexican troops
significantly undermanned Mexican troops
significantly undermanned Mexican troops were able to scale the walls of the
were able to scale the walls of the
were able to scale the walls of the mission and kill all Texian defenders
mission and kill all Texian defenders
mission and kill all Texian defenders inside having learned from this mistake
inside having learned from this mistake
inside having learned from this mistake and emboldened by revenge the Texians
and emboldened by revenge the Texians
and emboldened by revenge the Texians defeated the Mexican army later that
defeated the Mexican army later that
defeated the Mexican army later that year which ended the revolution number
year which ended the revolution number
year which ended the revolution number seven the Battle of AD WA late to
seven the Battle of AD WA late to
seven the Battle of AD WA late to Europe’s Scramble for Africa Italy set
Europe’s Scramble for Africa Italy set
Europe’s Scramble for Africa Italy set its colonial interest on Ethiopia at the
its colonial interest on Ethiopia at the
its colonial interest on Ethiopia at the end of the 19th century in the evening
end of the 19th century in the evening
end of the 19th century in the evening of February 29th 1896 and into the early
of February 29th 1896 and into the early
of February 29th 1896 and into the early morning of March 1st the Italians
morning of March 1st the Italians
morning of March 1st the Italians advanced towards the northern town of AD
advanced towards the northern town of AD
advanced towards the northern town of AD WA but with little understanding of the
WA but with little understanding of the
WA but with little understanding of the terrain and poor navigational tools the
terrain and poor navigational tools the
terrain and poor navigational tools the troops were unintentionally split up
troops were unintentionally split up
troops were unintentionally split up totally disoriented one Italian Brigade
totally disoriented one Italian Brigade
totally disoriented one Italian Brigade advanced right into enemy hands
advanced right into enemy hands
advanced right into enemy hands outmanned and outmaneuvered the Italian
outmanned and outmaneuvered the Italian
outmanned and outmaneuvered the Italian troops were soundly defeated by
troops were soundly defeated by
troops were soundly defeated by Ethiopian forces while it was a
Ethiopian forces while it was a
Ethiopian forces while it was a humiliation for the Italians the Battle
humiliation for the Italians the Battle
humiliation for the Italians the Battle of agua is a celebrated moment in
of agua is a celebrated moment in
of agua is a celebrated moment in Ethiopian history number 6 the Vietnam
Ethiopian history number 6 the Vietnam
Ethiopian history number 6 the Vietnam War in 1956 the u.s. deployed regular
War in 1956 the u.s. deployed regular
War in 1956 the u.s. deployed regular combatants to assist anti-communist
combatants to assist anti-communist
combatants to assist anti-communist forces in Vietnam by the late 1960s the
forces in Vietnam by the late 1960s the
forces in Vietnam by the late 1960s the number of American troops tripled
number of American troops tripled
number of American troops tripled despite their military advantage the
despite their military advantage the
despite their military advantage the Americans had difficulty fighting in the
Americans had difficulty fighting in the
Americans had difficulty fighting in the tropics against the guerrilla tactics of
tropics against the guerrilla tactics of
tropics against the guerrilla tactics of the Vietcong with mass death and
the Vietcong with mass death and
the Vietcong with mass death and casualties on either side this veritable
casualties on either side this veritable
casualties on either side this veritable stalemate was seen as atrocious and
stalemate was seen as atrocious and
stalemate was seen as atrocious and immoral by most of the American public
immoral by most of the American public
immoral by most of the American public as it was several years before the end
as it was several years before the end
as it was several years before the end of the American military’s participation
of the American military’s participation
of the American military’s participation the Vietnam War is considered a dark
the Vietnam War is considered a dark
the Vietnam War is considered a dark moment in US history
moment in US history
moment in US history number 5 the Gallipoli campaign in April
number 5 the Gallipoli campaign in April
number 5 the Gallipoli campaign in April 1915 Allied forces sprang a naval attack
1915 Allied forces sprang a naval attack
1915 Allied forces sprang a naval attack and amphibian invasion on the Gallipoli
and amphibian invasion on the Gallipoli
and amphibian invasion on the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Ottoman Empire as part
Peninsula in the Ottoman Empire as part
Peninsula in the Ottoman Empire as part of the first world war the initiative
of the first world war the initiative
of the first world war the initiative failed resulting in a drawn-out
failed resulting in a drawn-out
failed resulting in a drawn-out eight-month battle that once again ended
eight-month battle that once again ended
eight-month battle that once again ended an allied defeat a myriad of reasons
an allied defeat a myriad of reasons
an allied defeat a myriad of reasons have been given to explain this
have been given to explain this
have been given to explain this catastrophe but moe
catastrophe but moe
catastrophe but moe experts agree that the Allies were
experts agree that the Allies were
experts agree that the Allies were simply underprepared ill-equipped and
simply underprepared ill-equipped and
simply underprepared ill-equipped and inexperienced a combination of mistakes
inexperienced a combination of mistakes
inexperienced a combination of mistakes that would cost the lives of over
that would cost the lives of over
that would cost the lives of over 100,000 troops number four the French
100,000 troops number four the French
100,000 troops number four the French invasion of Russia it was on June 24th
invasion of Russia it was on June 24th
invasion of Russia it was on June 24th 1812 that Napoleon began his attempt to
1812 that Napoleon began his attempt to
1812 that Napoleon began his attempt to invade Russia with a coalition force of
invade Russia with a coalition force of
invade Russia with a coalition force of more than half a million troops but
more than half a million troops but
more than half a million troops but after pushing his Grande armée to
after pushing his Grande armée to
after pushing his Grande armée to Moscow he found the city abandoned and
Moscow he found the city abandoned and
Moscow he found the city abandoned and burned the Russian opposition would
burned the Russian opposition would
burned the Russian opposition would neither fight nor surrender forcing
neither fight nor surrender forcing
neither fight nor surrender forcing Napoleon to retreat at this point it was
Napoleon to retreat at this point it was
Napoleon to retreat at this point it was November and Russia’s brutal winter
November and Russia’s brutal winter
November and Russia’s brutal winter decimated the ill-prepared troops and
decimated the ill-prepared troops and
decimated the ill-prepared troops and reduced the French army to 1/6 its
reduced the French army to 1/6 its
reduced the French army to 1/6 its original size the Patriotic War of 1812
original size the Patriotic War of 1812
original size the Patriotic War of 1812 marked the beginning of the end for
marked the beginning of the end for
marked the beginning of the end for Napoleon’s grand Empire
Napoleon’s grand Empire
Napoleon’s grand Empire number three the Dieppe raid in August
number three the Dieppe raid in August
number three the Dieppe raid in August of 1942 six thousand Allied troops led
of 1942 six thousand Allied troops led
of 1942 six thousand Allied troops led by Canadians swooped in on the French
by Canadians swooped in on the French
by Canadians swooped in on the French coastal city of Dieppe intended to be a
coastal city of Dieppe intended to be a
coastal city of Dieppe intended to be a rapid seizure of the German stronghold
rapid seizure of the German stronghold
rapid seizure of the German stronghold this World War two battle lasted less
this World War two battle lasted less
this World War two battle lasted less than three hours and resulted in the
than three hours and resulted in the
than three hours and resulted in the deaths of more than half of the Allied
deaths of more than half of the Allied
deaths of more than half of the Allied forces involved no military objectives
forces involved no military objectives
forces involved no military objectives were realized and while it was also
were realized and while it was also
were realized and while it was also meant to boost morale
meant to boost morale
meant to boost morale Dieppe only showed the Allied forces
Dieppe only showed the Allied forces
Dieppe only showed the Allied forces glaring vulnerability on the Western
glaring vulnerability on the Western
glaring vulnerability on the Western Front
Front
Front number two the Iraq war under the
number two the Iraq war under the
number two the Iraq war under the auspices that the Middle Eastern nation
auspices that the Middle Eastern nation
auspices that the Middle Eastern nation was stockpiling weapons of mass
was stockpiling weapons of mass
was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction a US coalition force began
destruction a US coalition force began
destruction a US coalition force began occupying Iraq in March 2003 despite the
occupying Iraq in March 2003 despite the
occupying Iraq in March 2003 despite the fact that they never found WMDs Iraqi
fact that they never found WMDs Iraqi
fact that they never found WMDs Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was ousted and
president Saddam Hussein was ousted and
president Saddam Hussein was ousted and a so called democratic government was
a so called democratic government was
a so called democratic government was established but growing insurgency
established but growing insurgency
established but growing insurgency against the American occupation later
against the American occupation later
against the American occupation later marred these initial victories with
marred these initial victories with
marred these initial victories with increasing casualties and deaths the
increasing casualties and deaths the
increasing casualties and deaths the u.s. finally exited the war in 2011
u.s. finally exited the war in 2011
u.s. finally exited the war in 2011 though the loss of life is clear what
though the loss of life is clear what
though the loss of life is clear what America gained from it remains ambiguous
America gained from it remains ambiguous
America gained from it remains ambiguous before we unveil our number one pick
before we unveil our number one pick
before we unveil our number one pick here are a few honorable mentions
number one Operation Barbarossa Adolf
number one Operation Barbarossa Adolf Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union
Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union
Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union during World War two bore an uncanny
during World War two bore an uncanny
during World War two bore an uncanny resemblance to Napoleon’s fateful
resemblance to Napoleon’s fateful
resemblance to Napoleon’s fateful blunder already waging a two-front war
blunder already waging a two-front war
blunder already waging a two-front war his plans to invade the state were
his plans to invade the state were
his plans to invade the state were delayed by two months though German
delayed by two months though German
delayed by two months though German forces initially crushed resistance from
forces initially crushed resistance from
forces initially crushed resistance from the USSR they were deep within
the USSR they were deep within
the USSR they were deep within opposition territory by November like
opposition territory by November like
opposition territory by November like the French before them they were also
the French before them they were also
the French before them they were also ill-prepared for the country’s brutal
ill-prepared for the country’s brutal
ill-prepared for the country’s brutal winter
winter
winter Hitler’s loss in Soviet territory marked
Hitler’s loss in Soviet territory marked
Hitler’s loss in Soviet territory marked the beginning of his ultimate defeat and
the beginning of his ultimate defeat and
the beginning of his ultimate defeat and one of the deadliest military operations
one of the deadliest military operations
one of the deadliest military operations ever it also showed the importance of
ever it also showed the importance of
ever it also showed the importance of knowing your history do you agree with
knowing your history do you agree with
knowing your history do you agree with our list
our list
our list what blunder and battle deserves more
what blunder and battle deserves more
what blunder and battle deserves more attention for more historical top 10s
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