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

Weird History

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

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

Wars on Screen

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

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

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

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

WWII

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

I started making this list by accident, because i was testing out the Ranker interface and happened to choose "Military Conflicts" category randomly. I typed in "battle" to test the autosuggest box and was blown away by the fact that over 4K items came up (courtesy of our wonderful data partners at http://www.freebase.com). And being a bit of a WWII buff I soon found myself making a list, which tends to happen when I'm testing the site. I never really thought I'd be making military conflicts lists, but . . . it's easy to get sucked in. Anyhow, as far as battles go, these are the big ones - of the European Theater at least.I would be remiss if I didn't also mention that this is the perfect kind of list to click "change style" on - you get the bloggy version with bigger photos, and the statistical version, which is very relevant for something like military history.

Pivotal Battles of World War 2 (European Front)

Clark Benson

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

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

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

American Revolutionary War

A list of Revolutionary War naval battles. These are <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-naval-battles/robby-benton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous naval battles</a> of the Revolutionary War; some are the greatest naval battles in history to have been fought between the British, Americans, and French. 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. 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 the Revolutionary War

List of Revolutionary War Naval Battles

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 Troubles

Between the 1960s&nbsp;and 1990s, Northern Ireland was rocked by a period of sectarian strife known as &quot;the Troubles.&quot; What caused the Troubles in Northern Ireland? A turbulent brew of religious identity, national affiliation,&nbsp;and political ideology.

A complete timeline of&nbsp;Northern Ireland conflicts between the English and Irish people stretches back to the Middle Ages. English kings since the 12th century attempted to claim <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/horrible-things-in-ireland-history/philgibbons" target="_blank">Ireland</a>, but Henry VIII expanded these efforts by encouraging English settlers to colonize the Emerald Isle through plantations. England&#39;s new Protestant identity put these colonizers in conflict with the predominantly Catholic Irish. During the reign of James I in the 17th century, the plantation of Ulster became a prime destination for English and Scottish Protestants. Due to its colonial heritage, Ulster had a higher population of Protestants compared to the rest of the island, but&nbsp;Irish Protestants were considered elites aligned with British policy.

The country was partitioned in 1921 after Ireland gained its independence from Great Britain.&nbsp;The Republic of Ireland to the south became its own nation with a mainly Catholic population;&nbsp;Northern Ireland - what had been Ulster - and its majority Protestant population were then part of the United Kingdom.

This partition&nbsp;only heightened divisions in Northern Ireland. Catholics claimed the Protestant political establishment was denying them housing and employment rights, while Protestants feared Catholics were nationalists who supported unification with Ireland. The United Kingdom also cast a shadow over these debates - some continued to see the British as foreign oppressors in Northern Ireland, while others embraced a British identity.

By the late 1960s, these fierce tensions had turned Northern Ireland into a powder keg.&nbsp;Paramilitary groups like the nationalist Provisional Irish Republican Army and the pro-union&nbsp;Ulster Volunteer Force organized and defended their vision of a future for Northern Ireland through aggressive acts.

A Timeline Of The Feud Between Catholics And Protestants In Northern Ireland

A Timeline Of The Deadly Feud Between Catholics And Protestants In Northern Ireland

Setareh Janda

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

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 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

When it comes to talking about historical wars, more often than not, it seems like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-but-true-wwii-facts/jim-rowley">WWII dominates the conversation</a>. There is a lot of reasons why this makes sense. Not only did many of us grow up with veterans of that international conflict, but also its impacts on world politics are still <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-ww2-changed-the-world/kellen-perry">being felt today in obvious ways</a>. It's also made its way into every aspect of pop culture, with countless movies, television shows, and songs being written about WWII.&nbsp;Although it is an important piece of history to study and understand, there are numerous other wars that have shaped history throughout the years. We asked Weird History readers to tell us which wars more people should know about, and they did not let us down. Which of these wars do you also believe deserves more attention?&nbsp;Comments have been edited for length and clarity.

Weird History Readers Share Which Wars More People Should Know About

August Alva

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