Military Conflicts

Few cinematic experiences are as exhilarating, or as terrifying, as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/intense-final-fights-in-movies/jacob-shelton">the battle</a>. These moments, when two forces square off against one another, are frequently excuses for film studios and directors to show off just what movies can do, and there is often nothing quite like the adrenaline rush one gets while sitting in a movie theater as such moments unfold across the big screen.Battles are particularly important for both historical dramas and for science fiction and fantasy. In many cases, even <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/final-fights-in-movies-with-emotional-stakes/tyler-mitchell">battles</a> that are fictional draw on established facts, which helps to ground them in the plausible world of reality rather than simply in the fantastic.

Fictional Movie And TV Battles That Were Inspired By Real History

Film

Fictional Movie Battles That Were Inspired By Real History

Thomas West

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

Whoa Facts

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 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sieges-defenders/michael-muir">historical combat</a> across the ages.&nbsp;

Startling Combat Numbers From History That Blew Our Minds

General

M. Muir

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

Politics

Primary sources throughout the centuries describe some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-accounts-from-history_s-biggest-events/melissa-sartore?page=2" target="_blank">most significant</a>, largest battles in history. Finding accounts of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/important-historical-battles-we-never-heard-of/jim-rowley" target="_blank">ancient and medieval skirmishes</a> from the individuals who fought in them is challenging, with much of the information transmitted through later accounts.

From major entanglements fought during the Persian and Peloponnesian&nbsp;Wars of the fifth century BCE, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/life-fighting-in-the-roman-front-lines/ryan-sargent" target="_blank">through major Roman conflicts</a> like the one at Cannae (216 BCE), and on to&nbsp;history-altering face-offs like the&nbsp;<a href="https://historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/listing/battlefields/hastings/#:~:text=Although%20there%20is%20no%20eyewitness,by%20Baudri%2C%20Abbot%20of%20Bourgueil" target="_blank">Battle of Hastings</a>&nbsp;(1066), there&#39;s some murkiness in the versions that exist. There are also plenty of frays that lack clear documentation and, as a result, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/important-historical-battles-we-never-heard-of/jim-rowley" target="_blank">remain relatively unknown</a>.

Then there are the battles that stand out - the ones you know the names of, you&#39;ve heard stories about, and have perhaps seen pictures from. These are some of history&#39;s deadliest conflicts, which hold a unique significance among the others. Technology, social and political circumstances, and numerous other factors distinguish some of history&#39;s biggest confrontations, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-stalingrad-facts/quinn-armstrong" target="_blank">making firsthand accounts</a> of the events even more insightful and poignant.

It&#39;s possible to find a different perspective or rare bit of information in the words of individuals who lived through a battle, which makes what seems like a very old conflict very, very new. Vote up the firsthand accounts from these historical incidents that offer a glimpse into combat like you&#39;ve never seen before.&nbsp;

Firsthand Accounts From 10 Of History's Biggest Battles

Melissa Sartore

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

A list of naval battles of World War 2.  These are famous WW2 naval battles; some are the greatest naval battles in history.  Pictures included where possible.  World War II was the real dawn of aircraft carriers.  Naval battles date back all the way to at least 1260 BC.  Originally fought primarily with sailing ships, today's navy battles include battleships, submarines, and aircraft carriers.   That said, the tactics and decisive nature sea battles often have on warfare has gone unchanged for millennia.  Beyond the oceans, maritime forces have also fought conflicts in lakes, rivers, and even on boats within a flooded Roman Colosseum.  From the largest naval battle to the smallest, this list contains plenty of them.

Naval Battles of World War II

Military Conflict

List of Naval Battles of World War 2

Robby Benton

A global conflict that roared across continents, World War II was the defining event of a generation. It consumed the lives of at least 60 million people, soldiers and civilians alike, including six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. It was the dawn of the atomic age, the impetus for the Cold War, and revealed the staggering cost of modern warfare.

The battles of World War II were not stationary affairs. Like the storming of the beaches at Normandy, they spread over vast swaths of land and included air, sea, and ground assaults. Satellite <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/google-satellite-images-of-famous-places/eric-vega?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">images of famous</a> WW2 battlefields can offer a new perspective on these conflicts, not only anchoring them in place but also revealing the march of time. The following images are pinpointed to the central coordinates for WWII battles, some of which have been marked with a red circle. These points can be considered the epicenter of such famous engagements as the Battle of Stalingrad or Operation Dragoon.

What Famous WWII Battlefields Actually Look Like

Alby Thompson

World War I

A list of WW1 naval battles. These are famous World War I naval battles; the era of dreadnoughts. Some are the greatest naval battles in history. Pictures included where possible. Naval battles date back all the way to at least 1260 BC. Originally fought primarily with sailing ships, today's navy battles include battleships, submarines, and aircraft carriers. That said, the tactics and decisive nature sea battles often have on warfare has gone unchanged for millennia. The naval battles of WW1 were especially hard-fought, ranking among the most brutal battles of WW1.Beyond the oceans, maritime forces have also fought conflicts in lakes, rivers, and even on boats within a flooded Roman Colosseum. From the largest naval battle to the smallest, this list contains plenty of them.What are the naval battles of World War I? This list will answer that question.&nbsp;

Naval Battles of World War I

WW1 Naval Battles | List of World War I Sea Battles

Lists about the bizarre, fascinating, and mysterious Democratic People's Republic of Korea and its Dear totalitarian dictator Leaders who will disappear your friends and family to remind you of their love.

Meanwhile, in North Korea...

South Korea

<a href="http://www.localhistories.org/korea.html">Korea wasn't always divided into North and South</a> like it is now. While today the differences between the two seem as distinct as night and day,&nbsp;just 75 years ago they were essentially the same nation. Why then, is Korea divided into two countries?The history of North and South Korea is complicated. The country was split in two after WWII, but the story really goes back to a time long before that. The history of the Korean Peninsula is a tale of a small kingdom being pushed around by much larger powers again and again. The split between the North and the&nbsp;South is just the latest manifestation of that phenomenon.

Here's Why Korea Became Two Different Countries

How (And Why) Korea Became Two Different Countries

Christopher Myers

John F. Kennedy

Did you know that - along with being president of the United States - <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/non-political-facts-about-john-f-kennedy/stephanroget" target="_blank">John F. Kennedy</a> was a war hero? That&#39;s right, Lt. John Fitzgerald Kennedy served in the Navy during WWII, and he earned a Purple Heart for his feats in the Solomon Islands in August 1943.&nbsp;

One moonless night in the Pacific Ocean in 1943, things took a dire turn for Lt. Kennedy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28644830" target="_blank">When a Japanese destroyer unexpectedly&nbsp;struck JFK&#39;s boat, PT-109</a>, it set off a week of Kennedy and his men struggling to survive in enemy territory and find help when it felt like there was none around. In order to reach Allied forces, Kennedy was eventually forced to carve a message into a coconut, which told of his location and situation. Eventually rescued, and nationally applauded, Kennedy would turn that coconut into one of the paperweights that sat on his desk in the Oval Office.

The Time A Coconut Literally Saved John F. Kennedy's Life

The Time A Carved Coconut Saved Lieutenant John F. Kennedy's Life

Ryleigh Nucilli

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

The Best Vietnam War Movies, Ranked By Film Fans

Ranker Film

As long as men have been writing history, women have been clearing their own paths.

Herstory: Women of the Past

In the densely woven tapestry of military history, there has been little thread dedicated&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/american-female-war-heroes/davidseidman">female heroes</a>, as&nbsp;women have been, for the most part,&nbsp;officially barred from service.&nbsp;However, women &mdash;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/powerful-photos-of-women/amber-hubert">doing what they usually do when systematically excluded from some aspect of public life</a>&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;served heroically, emerging&nbsp;after the fact as brave soldiers in disguise or as&nbsp;skilled&nbsp;commanders who gallantly led entire armies to victory.

Cultural changes and shifting&nbsp;attitudes have helped women increasingly&nbsp;gain an equal footing in the hallowed halls of military heroes. This list gazes backward in time, shining a well-earned light on some of the bravest, most hardcore women to infiltrate the military and emerge from the bloody battlefield victorious.

Brave Women Who Disguised Themselves as Men to Fight in War

Person

13 Hardcore Women Who Disguised Themselves as Men to Fight in War

Dave Smith

Lists about armed forces and military tactics around the world.

Military Men

Weird History

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

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

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

The Most Important American Battles in US History

Ranker Community

Whether you want to walk the route of <a href="/list/photos-from-civil-war-battles/aaron-edwards" target="_blank">Pickett&#39;s Charge at Gettysburg</a> or visit the spot where Leonidas and his Spartans made their last stand against the Persians, these legendary battlefields are still there to be visited. And some are not much changed from when their names passed into history - whether because of active preservation efforts, or because nobody had much reason to build anything there.

If you don&#39;t feel like hoofing it to Greece or Pennsylvania or Tunisia or Japan, you&#39;re just a few clicks away from satellite images of these timeless fields. Join us for a survey of 30 of history&#39;s most famous battlefields, in a bird&#39;s-eye view of how they look today.

Modern Photos Of The Deadliest Battles In History

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