An armed conflict between state actors, typically for the furtherence of a political or economic aim.
10
votes
0answers
120 views
Why was Queretaro chosen as a fail-safe capital of Mexico?
According to this article on a person's experience in the country of Mexico, Querétaro was used as a temporary capital city of the Mexican Republic three times. What I am having trouble finding out ...
8
votes
2answers
188 views
What was the first recorded use of Aerial Weapons in warfare?
Fighter planes were popularised by their extensive use in WWI. What Aerial weapons were used before that period (if any)? What is earliest recorded use of Aerial Attacking and what was the technology ...
5
votes
1answer
69 views
Has a country gone to war to seek payment of a debt since 1900?
Has a country gone to war to seek payment of a debt since 1900? Expansionist policies don't count although use of debt as a justification would be interesting.
8
votes
3answers
136 views
Why did France put so many resources into fighting Algeria in comparison to its other former colonial holdings?
Why did France put so many resources into fighting Algeria in comparison to its other former colonial holdings? Was there anything unique about the French-Algerian relationship. On Wikipedia it says ...
9
votes
1answer
5k views
When did the American War of 1812 actually end?
My daughter was recently studying this in high school, and somehow I had always assumed that it had only lasted a year. Apparently it ran on for at least a couple of years, but her textbook only ...
2
votes
1answer
73 views
Is the Sri Lankan Civil War really over?
I was wondering whether the Sri Lankan Civil War, which officially ended, would technically considered to be still ongoing, since there are still clashes going on to this day. Would this classify as a ...
1
vote
2answers
74 views
What process have countries followed when creating constitutions?
Countries that have been led by an individual (through a declaration, revolution, war, ...) have constitutions heavily influenced by that leader, for better or worse.
History has shown that simply ...
2
votes
1answer
121 views
Has the US Congress's power to declare war been rendered superfluous by recent conflicts?
After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the Congress of the United States formally declared war on Japan. After Germany declared war on the United States, the Congress then formally declared war on ...
2
votes
0answers
45 views
Where can I find information about prior Israel/Gaza conflicts? [closed]
The recent fighting between Israel and Gaza has me wondering about prior conflicts that came before this one. Is there a bipartisan source detailing prior significant conflicts between the two ...
7
votes
2answers
165 views
Supplies for army of Napoleon
How was such a great army, like the army of Napoleon on its way to Moscow, supplied with food and other needed things? Were they transporting it from France or maybe stealing from territory on their ...
7
votes
1answer
168 views
Was the UN critically involved in defusing the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Is there any evidence to show that the Cuban Missile Crisis was scaled back because of the actions of UN personnel acting in their UN role?
The topic came up recently about precedent for UN having ...
2
votes
2answers
197 views
Throughout history, how many wars have there been between Russia and Japan?
Do both countries have a particluar hot spot that existed in the past, and if so, does it still exist now? Have their wars historically been bloody or transient, and are they now considered "friends"?
...
8
votes
1answer
126 views
Gengkhis Khan armor secret
Gengkhis Khan the king of the Mongolian Empire used a specific kind of cloth material for his military fatigues. This cloth material worked as an armor and was an advantage for his soldiers to win ...
2
votes
0answers
114 views
Since the 20th century, how many diplomats from all countries have been killed during peace time?
Given the recent death of Ambassador Stevens I was curious how many diplomats have been killed when their country was not involved in a major war, a la, WW1, WW2, the Korean War, and Vietnam? I know ...
6
votes
2answers
162 views
What laws of war existed before the modern international treaties and conventions?
Were there laws governing the rules of conducting war before modern (20th century) international treaties and conventions such as the Geneva conventions? For example, were there rules regarding the ...
7
votes
2answers
178 views
Army formation: veterans at the first line
I am trying to understand the early roman legion deployment. I can see some advantages to putting the inexperienced warriors at the first line and the veterans at the last.
But have there been ...
6
votes
1answer
209 views
Why did Operation Market Garden go ahead when the allies knew German armor was in the area?
Montgomery's ill-fated operation to capture the Rhine crossing at Arnhem was ingenious but fatally flawed. Evidence suggests that the Allies knew there were German armoured units in the town a few ...
12
votes
3answers
259 views
What was the last battle fought mainly by sail-powered ships?
When and where has the last battle between sail-powered ships been fought? If possible, please include the countries involved as well as the armament and types of ships.
8
votes
3answers
403 views
When was the earliest recorded battle with the usage of gunpowder as an offensive weapon?
When was the earliest recorded battle (on script) with the usage of gunpowder (in any form) as an offensive weapon?
3
votes
1answer
200 views
Was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan one of the major reasons that led to the fall of Soviet Union?
Was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan one of the major reasons that led to the fall of Soviet Union?
That is what the world history teacher told me.
Please show your sources.
8
votes
1answer
178 views
What weapons were manufactured in India by the British forces which were used during world wars?
Recently I came across references to a weapon called the Bangalore Torpedo, which was used in the world wars. These weapons were made in India by the British Indian Army.
I also happened to see ...
1
vote
0answers
62 views
Looking for information on the “2nd Battalion Stojan Vujnović 'The Serb'” [closed]
Does anyone have information on this battalion? I have been hunting for information about them during the Croatian Civil War of 1991.
8
votes
1answer
338 views
In WW2, which midget submarine program was the most successful?
In WW2, which midget submarine program was the most successful? I know at least Great Britain and Japan had midget submarines and used them during the course of the conflict. Which WW2 combatant had ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
How did the US/South Vietnam lose the Vietnam war?
South Vietnam was helped by US. Even when the US was gone, they had a 1 million army.
So why did they lose?
Even without US support, South Vietnam had about the same manpower, higher technology, and ...
7
votes
2answers
186 views
Why did Robert E. Lee stop offensive maneuvers?
According to the Wikipedia article on the Battle of Gettysburg, after that battle Robert E. Lee stopped making offensive maneuvers and rather started reacting to Union offensives. Is this 100% true, ...
8
votes
1answer
215 views
Captured nobles in medieval times, were they always ransomed?
Was watching the directors cut of Kingdom of Heaven, and one of the scenes had an actor playing what seemed to be a nobelman stating that he is according the privilege of ransom. While I remember that ...
5
votes
2answers
206 views
If the Iraq War was because of their oil, has the US achieved their war aims
Let's assume:
The United States of America started the 2003 Iraq war to obtain Iraqi oil.
The Iraq war was very costly for the Americans, and a long and unfinished war has always made the ...
3
votes
4answers
187 views
In current times is it impossible to win a war if the people of invaded country are determined not to lose?
When the United States lost the Vietnam war, the Vietnamese showed another face of war:
With a big difference of power, the weaker country can win.
This is happening again in Afghanistan and in ...
6
votes
2answers
171 views
What wars were started when an indebted country refused to pay?
For example, France invaded Mexico (both times) when Mexico stopped some of their payments. What are some other examples?
14
votes
6answers
295 views
Japan is known for being isolationist, so what cultivated its history of interventionism in the 20th century?
For much of its history, Japan was a very isolationistic country, and in fact, even in modern Japan, there is still a strong isolationist attitude among the Japanese people in some ways.
During the ...
4
votes
3answers
268 views
Was Russo-Polish of 1919-1920 a war of independence?
What evidence is there to call the 1919-1920 conflict between Poland and the Soviet Union a "war of independence"? As for a definition of independence, I would say it is a full political, legal, and ...
11
votes
2answers
317 views
Switzerland's political isolation after World War II
Does anyone know what were the reasons of Switzerland's political isolation on the international scene after World War II and how did it manage to break out of isolation?
16
votes
2answers
205 views
Private firms (aka mercenaries) as a police force
Since the police invited security firms to bid for roles in the UK, I was wondering if there are historical events where mercenaries were used to police a city (or town or local) and what the effects ...
7
votes
1answer
123 views
Life expectancy of monarchs and its relation to stability/peace
Has there been any studies on the average life expectancy of a monarch during different time periods? If there had been, can this be used as an indicator of relative peacefulness during the time?
...
-5
votes
1answer
48 views
About competition an Capitalism [closed]
Well is it true that our civilization and technologies increased up more on capitalist models and competition models?
But is also true that the World Wars were the more standout situations of ...
3
votes
1answer
58 views
Master title for fencing
When and where did the practice of calling either a fencing teacher or a great swordsman "master" originates from? I am interested mainly in European primary sources, the older the better.
7
votes
4answers
258 views
Did the USA win the counter insurgency war in the Vietnam war?
What happened in the aftermath of the Tet offensive to the Viet Cong? Was it actually broken or did it just incorporate into the North Viet Nam army?
Edit: I am fully aware that the USA lost the ...
4
votes
1answer
375 views
Sources for letters written during the Boer Wars
For a project at my school i need to make a 'letter home' of a canadian soldier that participated in the second boer war. I need to draw from primary sources and im not having luck finding any. so ...
17
votes
1answer
187 views
Which war games did Napoleon practice with his generals?
I have read that Napoleon actively used to play strategy games with his generals in order to understand how they act in a range of situations. The generals also learned the same thing about each ...
2
votes
2answers
243 views
Best books on the politics behind WWII [closed]
What are the best books on the politics leading up to and during World War 2?
Thanks
Edit: Just wanted to add that I just realized that reading biographies of the people involved with the politics ...
4
votes
1answer
96 views
How much armor did elephant units wear?
I often hear stories about enemies defeating elephant riders by axing the legs of the elephants.
Does this mean that the commander of the elephant army did not put enough armor on the elephants' ...
0
votes
0answers
177 views
Was Charles I a good king? [closed]
I want to know if Charles I was a good king, ideally with all the view points. Thanks, in advance.
9
votes
4answers
154 views
How many recorded incidents are there of attacks on Australian soil?
There are two that I am aware of:
Japanese midget submarines entering Sydney Harbour
The bombing of Darwin 1942 and 1943
I am not looking for Naval battles but actual attacks on Australian soil.
15
votes
1answer
276 views
When and where did just war theory originate?
I was reading an entry from Victor Reppert's blog (Reppert being a noted apologist), where he mentioned that just war theory, specifically prohibitions on what you could do during a war and ...
16
votes
1answer
516 views
When and why did war chariots stopped being used?
Many cultures (Egypt, Celts, etc...) had war chariots either as mobile platforms or as troop transport. What other advance in warfare made them obsolete?
6
votes
2answers
322 views
When was the last cavalry charge?
When was the last instance of a unit of cavalry charging? I know that the Polish forces had units of cavalry during World War II and those were used against Nazi units but was there any later than ...
-3
votes
3answers
180 views
Why did so many rulers want to aquire more land? [closed]
It seems that until around the 20th century, a relatively large portion of rulers saw it as their goal to acquire more land. What was the main rationale behind this?
