An armed conflict between state actors, typically for the furtherence of a political or economic aim.
6
votes
1answer
207 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
122 views
How was Hitler able to rearm?
It seems that Germany must've been under incredible scrutiny especially by the British.
How was Hitler able to rearm?
Please provide specifics on personnel and weapons classes.
6
votes
2answers
94 views
When did the practice of formal declaration of war start?
Up to world war 2, formal declarations of war was a standard way to start a war, at least between major powers.
When did this practice start and why? Since when did it become a norm?
6
votes
2answers
117 views
Who kept noble prisoners captured in battle?
During the Hundred Years War era, noblemen captured in a battle were normally held for ransom. In such a case, who got to keep the prisoner, provide him lodgings, and receive the ransom? Was it the ...
6
votes
2answers
173 views
Instances of the UN defusing serious crises
One of the reasons why the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis did not escalate into a war was due to the diplomacy of Adlai Stevenson in the UN. Are there other instances where the defusing of a serious crisis ...
6
votes
1answer
193 views
Did Erwin König Exist?
Erwin König Was a sniper supposedly killed by Vasily Zaytsev in the Battle of Stalingrad. The diary of Vasily Zaytsev mentions killing Erwin Konig, and there is a sniper scope in Russia, but there is ...
5
votes
2answers
225 views
Why was Switzerland not attacked during the two World Wars?
Why in WW1 or WW2 or ever nobody invaded Switzerland? All other countries was in some wars. How Switzerland do it and should we learn from them?
I hear that many people with power have money in swiss ...
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
109 views
What was the reason for the Ottoman invasion of Otranto?
In 1480, the Ottomans invaded Otranto and briefly occupied it. However, it didn't seem that the city was strategically important or held particular value to the Ottomans, nor did they seem to follow ...
5
votes
2answers
166 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?
5
votes
1answer
103 views
Comparison of naval fleet strengths during the Napoleonic wars
Do we have knowledge on the number of vessels in the armadas of the various belligerents of the Napoleonic wars? Information on the types of boats, captured vessels, and sunk vessels will also be ...
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.
5
votes
2answers
74 views
Where can I find financial data for the first world war? [closed]
I want to analyse the first world war on the financial aspect. Here are some of my questions.
Which countries borrowed money to win the war?
Where were weapons manufactured?
Where can I get ...
5
votes
2answers
306 views
Why did the USA take no action to help Pakistan during their 1971 war against India?
In 1971, USA and Pakistan were known to be strong allies or were they?
Why did the USA just pretend to help Pakistan and actually do nothing in the Indo-Pak war of 1971? Why did the 7th fleet not ...
4
votes
5answers
367 views
Which arm was the shield held in?
I'm asking a question elsewhere and I'm sure I've heard some historical text to back this up as well as sound reasoning: you want your strongest arm to stop yourself from getting killed by using a ...
4
votes
3answers
251 views
What started the Korean war?
Is it true that the catalyst was a conflict about a tree right on the border? I heard it from a teacher at a US university as he was teaching a course about nation-states in and out of war.
4
votes
3answers
266 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
201 views
Did either of the World Wars involve South or Central America?
Were any South or Central American nations besides Brazil involved (not necessarily officially) in either of the World Wars? If any were, I'd appreciate information on their degree of involvement.
4
votes
2answers
104 views
Organized and intentional suicide attacks during military conflicts
First of all I want to make it clear that we're not speaking about terrorist attacks here. This question is strictly dedicated to war operations, in a dictionary meaning.
Also this question is about ...
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' ...
4
votes
1answer
372 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
154 views
How significant was the US military role during the NATO campaign in Libya?
The NATO campaign in Libya was started by the UK and France, and the US was later also involved. How significant and vital was the US assistance in this campaign?
Edit: I am primarily interested in ...
3
votes
4answers
298 views
Were there reasons for Japan to go to war with US aside from US owning Philippines?
Right after the Spanish-American War in 1898, the US acquired the Philippines from Spain. At that time, local leaders desired Philippines independence. The Philippines-American War was fought around ...
3
votes
3answers
200 views
Why Americans like to enroll in military services despite huge risks involved?
Working in US military is one of the riskiest jobs in America because of the regular engagement in battles compared to other military in the world.
I live in a third-world country. Even in my ...
3
votes
3answers
411 views
In Battle of Zama, how did Hannibal's use of war elephants lead to a Roman Victory?
Why did Hannibal attack with elephants from the front? Why not from side?
Also why did the elephants just keep walking through the small gap? Why not wreak havoc in the middle of Roman troops? (like ...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
198 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.
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.
3
votes
1answer
176 views
How do war elephants fight?
Do they just run breaking phalanx? Do they pull their front food and then crush enemies below?
What do elephants do?
Or are the fighters on top of it just shoot arrows?
2
votes
2answers
193 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"?
...
2
votes
2answers
241 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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
120 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
78 views
Percentage breakdown of wars' casus belli [closed]
Is there a percentage breakdown of wars' casus belli? A probability distribution would be preferable.
The optimal answer would be by statement by the warring body (Roman Senatus funding laws, Roman ...
2
votes
0answers
87 views
Ted Nugent and draft dodging
I've asked whether this is in scope: Are draft-dodgers in scope?. I'm not sure,but I'll crack on anyway.
Too what extent did Ted Nugent dodge the draft for Vietnam. He certainly did receive ...
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 ...
2
votes
0answers
113 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
What civilisation used wolf pelts for their archers armour?
Looking for more information on the negatives and positives of wolf pelt armor and many other general aspects. Thank you :)
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 ...
1
vote
0answers
73 views
What was the death toll of non-Americans in the Vietnam War?
How many Vietnamese and Cambodians were killed in the Vietnam war? How many civilians, and how many soldiers? What are the best sources on this question?
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.
0
votes
2answers
20 views
What other pairs of wars have had a ~25 year interval?
The I and II world wars are 25 years apart, which is within the length of one generation. This is interesting, because it creates a premise for an entire part of a generation to be both without ...
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.
-1
votes
0answers
12 views
Were any American attacks able to annihilate any European settlements?
Were all attacks upon European settlers as unsuccessful as the initial attack upon Jamestown?
Was the 400 Paspahegh attack that was easily repelled by half strength, Malaria infected English settlers ...
-3
votes
3answers
179 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?
-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 ...
