International Military history thread

[Prutfis]

Been watching stuff on Napoleons Marshals. Some brilliant commanders in the Grand Arme.. Marshal Davout ran into the main Prussian army by accident while doing a flanking move. Proceeded to crush the Prussian army with a single corps.

As commander of the III Corps of the Grande Armée, Davout rendered his greatest services. At the Battle of Austerlitz, following a forced march of 48 hours to fall on the left flank of the Prussian army. the III Corps bore the brunt of the allies' attack. In the subsequent War of the Fourth Coalition, Davout, with a single corps, with the intention to fall on the Prussian left wing, fought and won the Battle of Auerstädt against the main Prussian Army,[6] under the Duke of Brunswick, which had more than twice as many soldiers at its disposal (more than 63,000, to Davout's 28,000).

 

[KnightTemplar]

Rations in the trenches bully beef and biscuits lol . In the book scottish voices from the great war there's a bully beef poem .I hated on rations in the field in this era wonder how brutal it was eating bully beef constant in the trenches . Might be hard to understand cause it's old Scottish .

My Bully Beef
The hours I spend with thee, dear friend, Are like a nightmare without end. On you alone for life I must depend My Bully Beef! My Bully Beef!
Each tin a meal, each meal a groan, There’s gristle, fat and ground-up bone, I finish up each tin and then – A biscuit comes alone. O Woeful Fate! That I should eat

This tramway accident for meat, In you I find odd arms and legs and feet My Bully Beef! My Bully Beef! Each meal a pain, each pain a pill, But, never mind, I’ll bear up still. The biscuit’s waiting by my side
It can’t do more than kill. With you I’m fed, till I’m fed up You’re breakfast, dinner, tea and sup You’re food and drink and clothes to this poor pup My Bully Beef! My Bully Beef!
Each bite a joy, each joy pure bliss, Do I want salmon when I’ve got this? You rich who banquet at the Ritz – Poor devils! What you miss!! When I get killed they’ll pack me in No! Not a coffin, but a tin
And when I’m served you’ll murmur ‘mid the din My Bully Beef! My Bully Beef! Each limb a tin, each tin good fare, All my equipment will be there It may be pleasant eating me But of my pack beware!

My Grandfather fought in the Second World War, when Bully Beef was still part of the rations. He said that for years after the War, he couldn't even look at corned beef without feeling sick.

 

[So Fresh]

Vietnam was America's most divisive and unsuccessful foreign war. It was also the first to be televised and the first of the modern era fought without military censorship. From the earliest days of the Kennedy-Johnson escalation right up to the American withdrawal, and even today, the media's role in Vietnam has continued to be intensely controversial. The Uncensored War gives a richly detailed account of what Americans read and watched about Vietnam. Hallin draws on the complete body of the New York Times coverage from 1961 to 1965, a sample of hundreds of television reports from 1965-73, including television coverage filmed by the Defense Department in the early years of the war, and interviews with many of the journalists who reported it, to give a powerful critique of the conventional wisdom, both conservative and liberal, about the media and Vietnam. Far from being a consistent adversary of government policy in Vietnam, Hallin shows, the media were closely tied to official perspectives throughout the war, though divisions in the government itself and contradictions in its public relations policies caused every administration, at certain times, to lose its ability to manage the news effectively. As for television, it neither showed the literal horror of war, nor did it play a leading role in the collapse of support: it presented a highly idealized picture of the war in the early years, and shifted toward a more critical view only after public unhappiness and elite divisions over the war were well advanced. The Uncensored War is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the Vietnam war or the role of the media in contemporary American politics. A groundbreaking study of the media's influence on the Vietnam War BLOverturns the conventional notions about the media's role in the war BLDraws directly on a huge body of newspaper and TV coverage

This is a good book about the role of media and journalism during the Vietnam war. It can be a bit dry trough out the book, nonetheless very interesting.

 

[flashNsmash]

Been watching stuff on Napoleons Marshals. Some brilliant commanders in the Grand Arme.. Marshal Davout ran into the main Prussian army by accident while doing a flanking move. Proceeded to crush the Prussian army with a single corps.

As commander of the III Corps of the Grande Armée, Davout rendered his greatest services. At the Battle of Austerlitz, following a forced march of 48 hours to fall on the left flank of the Prussian army. the III Corps bore the brunt of the allies' attack. In the subsequent War of the Fourth Coalition, Davout, with a single corps, with the intention to fall on the Prussian left wing, fought and won the Battle of Auerstädt against the main Prussian Army,[6] under the Duke of Brunswick, which had more than twice as many soldiers at its disposal (more than 63,000, to Davout's 28,000).

auerstadt was a twin battle w/ jena where boney simultaneously crushed the remainder of the prussian army, utterly demolished them and knocked them completely out of the war

 

[Boxeo12]

This is one of my favourite books and fastest book I ever read I think 2 days .Steel boats iron hearts a uboat crewmans life onboard U-505 .
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steel-Boat...05&qid=1660047644&sprefix=u505,aps,419&sr=8-1

 

[SanchoMF]

The French brought the goddamn Cuirassiers to WW1, the gear was from the Napoleonic wars..”
There are videos of the troops walking through the streets of Paris wearing shiny breastplates on their way to the frontier..

Admittedly, this gear is actually still around with the Republican Guard.
It looks so dope.

 

[Prutfis]

auerstadt was a twin battle w/ jena where boney simultaneously crushed the remainder of the prussian army, utterly demolished them and knocked them completely out of the war

Yeah. Prime grand arme was no joke.

 

[Prutfis]

I saw this one the other day, incredibly sad what happened to these people but the world needs to see it and feel it so it won't happen again

I went to auschwitz and birkenau in the 9th grade. Horrible places.

 

[Fugazy]

Thus guy does really good youtube vids about some of the more overlooked events in military history, and some famous ones too but they're still well done all the same

The Armchair Historian channel is really good too. All kinds of battles, I recommend it.

 

[Fugazy]

My Grandpa did the photography and the recce for The Dambusters.
I went to The Intrepid in New York and saw some of his photos. He was honoured with The Distinguished Fly Cross. Shot out of the sky twice. A true way hero.

Yet you somehow hate guns…

You wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for them.

 

[Fugazy]

Looks stabby

 

[fingercuffs]

Yet you somehow hate guns…

You wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for them.

When did I say I hate guns?

 

[Snubnoze707]

The French brought the goddamn Cuirassiers to WW1, the gear was from the Napoleonic wars..”
There are videos of the troops walking through the streets of Paris wearing shiny breastplates on their way to the frontier..

Admittedly, this gear is actually still around with the Republican Guard.
It looks so dope.

There was even various use of Cavalry all the way up into WW2.

I'm a big fan of the 19th century military aesthetic. I even collect military sabres, primarily Austrian and Swiss. I have a few that are over 150 years old that still look brand new.

 

[SanchoMF]

There was even various use of Cavalry all the way up into WW2.

I'm a big fan of the 19th century military aesthetic. I even collect military sabres, primarily Austrian and Swiss. I have a few that are over 150 years old that still look brand new.

Aye, when I was a penniless student, I spent hours browsing websites of militaria, mostly bladed weapons up until dress swords of WW2.
The blades until WW1 are absolutely a thing of wonder, when cutlery and sword making was as common artisanal trade as cabinet making or tailoring. All those old engravings of manufacturers workshop addresses in Paris are super cool.
Maybe one day I stop my other spending habits and I’ll finally lose money into these

 

[Karl_Hungus]

One of the most interesting aspects of military history, for me, is the diversion between what is reported, and what the truth really is. The winners of the conflicts get to write their version of the truth as history, while the losers don't get much of anything but salt on their fields. Just ask the Carthaginians. It concerns me when we glorify any conflict as being a "good war," when the truth is, there are no good wars. The same goes when one side is vilified as personified evil.

There is much exaggeration, and falsely applied blame for acts committed by the victors (false flags, lies about massacres, etc.). If modern conflicts have taught us nothing, it is that the "truth" is hidden as much as possible. We aren't even allowed to talk openly about it because of the influence of those who are connected to the power and control mechanisms of the State and its crony, non-State actors. Some of you will understand what I am saying. Most of you won't.

There was even various use of Cavalry all the way up into WW2.

Yup. The Poles used cavalry valiantly against the Nazis, but to no avail. Heck, much of the German army still used horses for transportation of guns, supplies, etc., at that time.

 

[Snubnoze707]

Yup. The Poles used cavalry valiantly against the Nazis, but to no avail. Heck, much of the German army still used horses for transportation of guns, supplies, etc., at that time.

The Poles were absolute beasts on horseback. Obviously the Winged Hussars, but later on the Uhlan Lancers.

One of my favorite Sabres in my collection is a Polish Uhlan Officer from the 1870's when they were part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. These were their backups when distance got too close to use the lance.

 

[Beechwood]

My grandfather was on board the Gambier Bay, a part of the Taffy 3 task force that fought in the battle of Layte Gulf. The Gambier Bay was sunk by the Japanese in the battle and grandad spent 3 days in the ocean before being rescued by a PT boat.

 

[flashNsmash]

My grandfather was on board the Gambier Bay, a part of the Taffy 3 task force that fought in the battle of Layte Gulf. The Gambier Bay was sunk by the Japanese in the battle and grandad spent 3 days in the ocean before being rescued by a PT boat.

only US carrier ever sunk by enemy gunfire

 

[Anewt]

One of my Personal favourites was the " Battle of Beersheba "

Shortly afterwards, the Australian Mounted Division's 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments (4th Light Horse Brigade) conducted a mounted infantry charge with bayonets in their hands, their only weapon for mounted attack, as their rifles were slung across their backs. Part of the two regiments dismounted to attack entrenchments on Tel es Saba defending Beersheba while the remainder of the light horsemen continued their charge into the town, capturing the place and part of the garrison as it was withdrawing.


Calvary charge into a town? In ww1 by mounted infantry. I'll pass thanks.. crazy buggers.



One of the better old school movies. Calvary charge was well done imo. The noise would be incredible. Anyone who's been to Horse races can appreciate how loud 12 horses are... hundreds would be intimidating as fuck imo

 

[avenue94]

Yup. The Poles used cavalry valiantly against the Nazis, but to no avail. Heck, much of the German army still used horses for transportation of guns, supplies, etc., at that time.

This is actually a funny example of what you mentioned in the first part of your post. Polish calvary primarily fought dismounted, and the few charges they did were largely successful. The myth that they charged panzers came about after tanks showed up the day after the charge and then Germans took photos of the tanks next to bodies from the day before. Then Germany ran with that propaganda.