Lists about times real people around the world and throughout history who have suited up, taken up arms, and fought to the end in the name of whomever's side they were on.

Military Engagements

Military

The scrapheap of history is piled high with risks that didn't pan out. As one WWII general wryly observed, the first rule of war is that you don't march on Moscow. History has turned on those <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/mistakes-that-changed-history/troybrownfield">ill-considered decisions</a>, but every so often, risky moves actually work out.&nbsp;Many of the most accomplished military commanders in history achieved some of their finest victories on the back of great risks. From Alexander the Great's devil-may-care approach to battle to Ulysses S. Grant's uncomplicated personal art of war, this collection looks at those risky military moves that fortunately paid off.

11 Risky Military Moves That Actually Paid Off

General

M. Muir

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes a simple number can be just as revealing. Military history is, after all, so often a story told in numbers. However, they aren't just the number of soldiers lost in a battle. Knowing how much a cannonball actually weighed can give a good idea of what a colossal pain moving it around would be - and of course how much worse it would be to get hit by a nearly 400-pound boulder. You're probably not going to walk that one off.&nbsp;From how much money female munitions factory workers earned to how shockingly brief the shortest war ever was, this collection takes a look at some of those revealing numbers to offer a new perspective on historical combat across the ages.&nbsp;

Startling Combat Numbers From History That Blew Our Minds

Having the latest and greatest weapons is usually a pretty big advantage in combat, but it’s not the only factor in determining the victor. Sometimes the stronger side makes <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/costly-mistakes/michael-muir?ref=profile_own">an unforced error</a> that throws away victory; sometimes <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/deception-in/michael-muir?ref=profile_own">deception</a> evens the odds. Even vastly superior technology is not immune from disaster. Although colonial powers often came up against tribes centuries behind them in military tech, they could still be beaten.&nbsp;From the ruse that crushed an American patrol in Wyoming to the terrible time the British had in South Africa, this collection looks at those instances when clever tactics won out against advanced technology. &nbsp;

The Cleverest Military Tactics That Went Up Against Better Technology - And Won

History

Often when we think of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/clever-military-moves/gordon-cameron">smart military tactics</a>, we think of things like clever feints, unexpected flanking maneuvers, exploiting sudden weaknesses in the enemy's line, and so on. Such moves can indeed <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/important-final-battles/hugh-landman">turn the tide of battle</a>, but the scope of military operations can be so much wider.&nbsp;All's fair in love and war, as they say, and sometimes the most effective tactics are ones that come completely out of left field. On the other hand, sometimes such tricks end up being largely ineffective - but still lots of fun to read about after the fact.Courtesy of the folks at Reddit, here are some military tricks that, successful or not, definitely had the stamp of originality about them.

People Share The Most Clever And Unusual Military Tricks From History

Gordon Cameron

Lists about armed forces and military tactics around the world.

Military Men

One of the key points&nbsp;of Sun Tzu&#39;s timeless classic&nbsp;<a href="https://suntzusaid.com/book/1/18/" target="_blank">The Art of War</a>&nbsp;is that &quot;all warfare is based on deception.&quot; The annals of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/important-final-battles/hugh-landman" target="_blank">military history</a> are full of audacious bluffs, lies, and misinformation designed to get an edge on the enemy.

From the fake letters that saved the Continental Army from certain doom to the cadaver that tricked the Axis powers, this collection features some of history&#39;s most cunning ruses in combat.&nbsp;

13 Of The Sneakiest Ploys Ever Pulled In Combat

The Vietnam War - known in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America - lasted from November 1, 1955, until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.

The War in Vietnam

Looking closer at some of the best, most realistic, most brutal depictions of war in the history of entertainment.

Wars on Screen

Looking closer at films, TV shows, docs, and miniseries that explore, recreate, and occasionally flub up real historical events.

Watching History

Vietnam War

Vietnam War movies can almost be counted as a genre on their own--there are so many of them. This Vietnam War movies list can be organized by cast, year, director, or more. It contains the best Vietnam War movies that were ever made, including popular, famous classics like Full Metal Jacket. The best Vietnam movies place the war in correct&nbsp;context and capture the ethos of the environment at the time. Many of the titles on this list are from the point of view of Americans, but international and independent films are included as well.

What are the best Vietnam War films? This list of of Vietnam war movies is thorough and ready for your votes. The beauty of this list is that you can vote for all your favorites not just one. You can click on any of the Vietnam movie names for more details and change the dropdown info to display the release date, directors, and stars. So, what are the best movies about the Vietnam&nbsp;war? Help decide by voting up the best Vietname war movies and vote down any that you think other fans should skip.

Rescue Dawn

The Best Vietnam War Movies

Film

The Best Vietnam War Movies, Ranked By Film Fans

Ranker Film

Lists about the federal armed forces of the U.S. - its branches, history, practices, active members, and veterans.

The United States Armed Forces

Names

Military operation code names can be tricky to pull off. You want to have a name that conveys power and majesty, striking fear into the hearts of your enemies, but you don't want something that lets your enemy know what you're actually doing - such as the planned German invasion of England (its name, Sealion, let the British know exactly what it was). You also don't want something inappropriately glib, either because it's not macho enough (the US invasion of Grenada was briefly named &quot;Blue Spoon&quot;) or sends the wrong message, such as the unfortunately named Korean War-era plan &quot;Operation Killer.&quot;The <a target="_blank" href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1995/sieminsk.htm">naming of military operations</a> is thought to have begun with the German Empire in the final two years of World War I. Before then, operations were usually named after either their commanding officer or the general area they were taking place in (i.e., Somme Offensive, Neville Offensive, etc.) But German generals added code names to increase operational secrecy and give them a shorthand for referring to individual parts of the hugely complex battles on the Western Front.In the decades that followed, operation names went from random designations to carefully chosen code names that would boost morale and offer clever description. American officers in Vietnam and beyond were faced with naming dozens of operations, everything from large scale troop deployments to clearing out small sections of cities. Here are the most awesomely American names for military operations from World War II through Iraq. Bask in their American kick ass majesty and upvote those that are screaming &quot;U S A! U S A!&quot; the loudest.

Operation Eagle Claw

The Most Awesomely American Names for Military Operations

The 20 Coolest Military Operation Names in History

Mike Rothschild

Politics

Numerous battles that took place during the Middle Ages are well known. The Battle of Hastings in 1066, for example, has been studied from nearly every angle. In addition to looking at the details of the conflict itself, historians and the general public continue to assess its influence on culture and politics alike.

Many people have the same type of interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-mistakes-errors-and-inaccuracies-in-braveheart/machk" target="_blank">battles fought</a>&nbsp;during the Scottish Wars of Independence, those that took place during the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/agincourt-facts/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">Hundred Years&#39; War</a>, and all kinds of crusading efforts throughout the medieval period. Alongside the best-known battles&nbsp;are numerous&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/important-historical-battles-we-never-heard-of/jim-rowley" target="_blank">little-known skirmishes and conflicts</a>. No less full of carnage and heroism, these fights and their overall impact on life and death during the Middle Ages have been overlooked.&nbsp;

We gathered some of the most significant battles from the Middle Ages that few people know much about. Take a look and vote up the frays&nbsp;that definitely deserve more attention.&nbsp;

11 Medieval Battles Most People Have Never Heard Of

Event

Melissa Sartore

Lists about that most horrifying and destructive human invention in which there are literally no rules.

The Art of War

The most significant major battles in American history, ranked by everyone. Anyone can vote on this list, making these rankings a good way to determine how important these battles were to the development of the United States. Therefore, your votes should be based on how crucial you feel these battles were, not whether you are a fan of the outcome or how much you agree with the reasons for fighting.

The course of US history was significantly altered by each of these famous battles in American history. There may be <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-and-obscure-united-states-wars/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">obscure wars in US History</a>, but these famous American battles helped the US become the country it is today, for better or worse. There&#39;s no denying that, whether or not you agree with the politics of war, these important battles were fought during some of the most important wars in history and left their mark on many countries, not just the United States. Many even rank among the most important historical events in US history, or even world history.

Bear in mind, these results are not limited to battles fought within the territory of the United States. Feel free to include any other battles that you think directly impacted the future course of events in the United States.

Battle of Okinawa

The Most Important Battles in US History

Military Conflict

The Most Important American Battles in US History

Ranker Community

For as long as human civilization has existed, so has war. Often a deciding factor in the history of centuries to come, decisive battles are among the most crucial chapters of the human story. The most important of those chapters are the biggest losses. The worst defeats in&nbsp;history shattered nations and broke empires. They signaled the end of eras and the rise of new ways of thinking. In essence, they completely reset the drawing board for humanity. 

These defeats have much to teach us. Studying how a battle is lost is often more useful than analyzing how it was won. It shows how history went wrong, and how to avoid such a fate in the future.

The Worst Defeats in Military History

Aaron Edwards

A siege&nbsp;was a&nbsp;harsh experience for both sides of a conflict, but especially for the defenders. Trapped inside their fortifications, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/siege-arms/richard-rowe" target="_blank">pounded by artillery</a>, and watching supplies dwindle, they required great courage and determination to keep the attacking side at bay for sustained periods of time. Sometimes&nbsp;the defenders faced an opposing force many times larger, yet still refused to give in.&nbsp;

From the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-but-true-sparta-facts/emily-mast" target="_blank">women of Sparta</a> to the dogged determination of the citizens of Leningrad, this collection of historic battles features the defensive sides of sieges that&nbsp;faced absurd odds but still managed to prevail.&nbsp;

12 Siege Defenders Who Beat The Odds

Graveyard Shift

The Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany was inarguably one of the worst events of the 20th century. Six million Jews and millions of others (gay people, those with disabilities, Roma,&nbsp;and more) were massacred, while many others became refugees or went into <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/people-who-hid-from-the-nazis/aaron-edwards" target="_blank">hiding</a>.

Unfortunately, these kinds of historical tragedies aren&#39;t limited to just Nazi Germany. We&#39;ve seen this kind of genocide before, but&nbsp;humans have an alarming propensity to gloss over the dark parts of our history. Some genocides were even&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/genocide-holidays/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">turned into holidays</a>&nbsp;that celebrate the perpetrators&#39; success. We don&#39;t often hear much about these <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/armenian-genocide-pictures/keshvaralikhani" target="_blank">obscure historical pogroms</a>, because&nbsp;as they say, history is written by the victors.

Maybe it&rsquo;s important, then, to discuss even those genocides throughout history that aren&rsquo;t as well-known. By keeping these victims alive in our minds and hearts, we may be able to prevent similar catastrophes in the future. That&#39;s the whole point of being human, right? Over time, we get better. It does, however, behoove us to remember the times when we were at our worst.&nbsp;

14 Tragic Lesser-Known Genocides That Deserve To Be Remembered

14 Lesser Known Genocides You Might Not Know About

Katherine Ripley

Wars are won mostly for mundane reasons like logistics and economics. But <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/lesser-known-civil-wars/jeff-schmerker" target="_blank">battles can be decided</a>&nbsp;by individual&nbsp;heroics or tactical brilliance. This is why the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-important-battles-in-us-history?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most important battles</a> aren&#39;t always the most famous: the story of a failing supply chain just isn&#39;t as compelling as the story of a triumph against the odds.&nbsp;

Many of the most famous battles didn&#39;t decide their wars.&nbsp;The Battle of Thermopylae is&nbsp;one of the all-time classic underdog stories, but it didn&#39;t determine the outcome of the Persian War. Hannibal&#39;s feats at Cannae are legendary, but so were Scipio Africanus&#39;s at Zama, the battle that won the&nbsp;Second Punic War <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/life-fighting-in-the-roman-front-lines/ryan-sargent" target="_blank">for the Romans</a>.&nbsp;The Battle of Stalingrad is remembered as the turning point of the Eastern Front of WWII, as well as one of the most brutal and extreme experiences human beings have ever gone through. But it wouldn&#39;t have happened without the Battle of Moscow one year earlier.&nbsp;

Here are 12 battles that might not be well known to the general public, but definitely should be.

Important Battles From History That Nobody Talks About

12 Neglected Battles From History

Jim Rowley

WWII

The Russian city of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) was besieged by German and Finnish forces during <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-stalingrad-facts/quinn-armstrong" target="_blank">World War II</a> for almost 900 days from 1941 to 1944. The city was caught unprepared, and millions were exposed to extreme food shortages. With the city surrounded, the Axis forces elected to starve out the city rather than take it by force. The winter of 1941-42 was especially harsh and the people resorted to desperate measures to survive.

Many citizens trapped within the city wrote about their experiences, from the feeling of impending doom at the approach of the Wehrmacht (Nazi Germany&#39;s unified armed forces) to the daily grind of getting through each day. Multiple collections of survivors&#39; diaries&nbsp;have been published, but there are still many more accounts yet to be processed and translated from the Russian archives.&nbsp;

This collection features their <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ww2-european-theater-stories/philgibbons" target="_blank">WWII stories</a> in their own words. They weren&#39;t soldiers, but their courage, compassion, and sheer determination to survive wouldn&#39;t have been out of place on the battlefield.&nbsp;

Haunting Firsthand Accounts Of The Siege Of Leningrad

A list of wars or military conflicts involving the United States, beginning with the American Revolution of 1774. Significant wars are included on the list, along with the major campaigns conducted within those wars. Individual military actions conducted outside of a war are also featured. Skirmishes and military actions related to the Cold War or the conflicts between Native Americans and the United States military, for example, are included on this list of American wars. When possible, the combatants engaging the United States are also listed, though this becomes more challenging when dealing with the &quot;War on Terror&quot;-related conflicts of the early 21st Century and its collection of insurgents and enemy combatants. Want to know how many wars have been fought on American soil? This list gives you conflicts involving the US include wars on US soil and extended overseas engagements against an entrenched enemy as well as more modern &quot;quick&quot; intercessions into global affairs. The old concept of the US &quot;declaring war&quot; on another nation and conducting an extended campaign has grown a bit outdated over time, with presidents conducting foreign policy and consulting the legislative branch only when conflicts escalated. This American wars list is your resource for US military history.

List of American Wars

List of American Wars: List of Military Conflicts Involving the US

Michael Gibson

The <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/sri-lankan-civil-war-battles-involving-the-liberation-tigers-of-tamil-eelam/reference" target="_blank">Tamil Tigers</a>,&nbsp;formally&nbsp;the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam&nbsp;(LTTE), arose&nbsp;in the 1970s&nbsp;as a separatist movement intent on&nbsp;splitting from the Sri Lankan government to create a Tamil state. They became regarded as a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/historical-artifacts-destroyed-by-terrorists/jim-jacobi" target="_blank">terrorist organization</a> as time went on, eventually&nbsp;targeting Sri Lankan civilians, though you might also see them as one of the many freedom fighting forces around the world that resorted to extreme measures when faced with an insurmountable enemy capable of manipulating public discourse.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Though the Tamil Tigers&nbsp;are cited by the likes of the FBI as one of the most violent terrorist organizations in the world, and most Tamil Tigers stories are about violence and terrorism, the history behind the Sri Lankan Civil War is more complicated than can be explained in a simple&nbsp;good-versus-evil narrative. While the Tamil Tigers have written their names in suicide vest history, they were not simply attacking civilians for no reason.&nbsp;

Without a doubt, the LTTE&nbsp;has committed horrific acts of violence. However, one of the most important&nbsp;Tamil Tigers facts, and one that often gets lost in the narrative of power, is&nbsp;that the Sri Lankan government also committed atrocities, and has a history of persecuting&nbsp;the Tamil population on the island. As a result, members of the ethnic group formed one of the most well known&nbsp;paramilitary organizations in the world.

Facts About The Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Eelam And The Sri Lankan Civil War

Facts About The Tamil Tigers, A Freedom Fighting Force Widely Considered One Of The Most Brutal Terrorist Organizations In The World

Hugh Landman

Military Conflict lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of military conflict lists and rankings.

Military Conflict lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for top 10, top 100, best of, funny, factual lists of any kind