Which military battle in history do you think was the most famous or had the greatest impact?

2014-02-27T11:39:23-05:00

Studying battles is a great way to learn strategy, tactics, leadership, and other important lessons. Many of the famous battles affected the outcome of history, such as the Battle of Hastings where William of Normandy conquered modern-day England in 1066 and setting the new path of the West.

Another in my opinion is Stalingrad. If Hitler would have won, it would have been more difficult to beat him since the Soviets would have not had captured hundreds of thousands of Germans and lost a key terrain.

Another for me is Gettysburg, because it was the turning point in my opinion of the civil war and D-Day. lastly, I see the Incheon Landing as a huge one since South Korea (and our samsung phones) is in existence today because of the surprise amphibious assault. What is yours?

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2014 12:15 PM

2014-02-27T12:15:27-05:00

I would argue your point about Gettysburg being the turning point in the war, the South was still very determined to win even after that, but what broke their will to fight was Sherman's March to the Sea and the resulting burning of Atlanta, GA. That was the entire reason Lincoln gave Sherman the go ahead to wage total war against the South, to show them that he was willing to do what it took to win the war and that was a level of war the South wasn't prepared fight on. That for me was the turning point in the Civil War.

Now for my opinion on the most famous/greatest impact. There are several battles that have had a profound impact on our world today, 489 BC the Battle of Thermopylae had a major impact keeping the Greeks around to influence so much art and culture as well as helping develop a type of republic that we now live in. The Battle of Chalons where the Romans defeated Attila the Hun, had they lost the Huns could have sacked Rome bringing the middle ages on much earlier. Waterloo in 1815, where Napoleon was finally defeated by a unified Europe, had Napoleon won who knows how long a French empire would have lasted.Yorktown 1781 where the Colonial Army with the assistance of France defeated the British enduring the United States independence and inspiring the French to revolt against their monarchy bringing about the Napoleonic era. All of these battles had a profound and significant impact on the way our world it today, it's hard to pick just one.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Feb 27 at 2014 12:20 PM

2014-02-27T12:20:54-05:00

D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, and the Attack on Pearl Harbour. With those being my choice, there are MANY others throughout history that have as much or more impact on their own merit!

Response by SSG Lucas Lisitza made Jun 30 at 2014 9:31 PM

2014-06-30T21:31:17-04:00

I will limit my response to American History since the list of world events are too plentiful to pull out a single battle.

The Battle of Valverde near Socorro, New Mexico during the American Civil War is not well known, but it marked a serious blow to the Confederacy's potential for winning the war. The battle was fought between Confederate volunteers (with professional officers) and a small number of Union regulars with New Mexico volunteers (led by the legendary western figure, Kit Carson).

If the Union had lost this battle then it is likely that the Confederacy would have won at Glorieta Pass (near Las Vegas, NM) and moved on to Colorado riding a wave of momentum. Colorado would have fallen, then Utah followed by the remainder of Arizona (Tucson and the southern portion of AZ had already been taken by the Confederacy). With the Southwest conquered, it would have been an easy march into California and the ports of the West. These ports would have allowed the Confederacy to circumvent the Union blockade in the East and provided international legitimacy to the Confederacy.

Fortunately, the Confederate leadership (General Sibley) was incompetent, the New Mexican terrain was too difficult, and Colorado volunteers destroyed any chance the Confederacy had in the Southwest at Glorieta Pass.

Many will disagree, but this is my evaluation.

Response by Sgt Andrew Pouliot made Aug 20 at 2014 10:20 PM

2014-08-20T22:20:47-04:00

I think the most important battle in modern times was the Battle of Britain. If you look at it, Hitler had occupied much of Continental Europe (the parts that weren't neutral anyway) by mid-1940 and Great Britain was the only Allied power in the fight after France collapsed.

Nazi Germany had it all going for them; they had the numbers. Their pilots had seen more combat than the Brits. Germany also had massive amounts of troops prepared to land in the UK.

Britain was entirely on the defensive. They were outnumbered 10 to 1, but they had radar, which was relatively new. Radar enabled the Royal Air Force to vector fighter planes to locations ahead of a large group of enemy planes before they even arrived. Though they were outnumbered, these RAF pilots would pick off bombers and fighters, taking them by surprise and shooting many of them down before they could even reach England. While much of London was levelled to the ground, the damage was largely restricted to that area because Nazi planes couldn't breach British defenses deeper into England. With the help of American volunteers and joint units made up of Poles, French, Dutch, South African, Canadian, Australian and even New Zealanders, the numbers of pilots in the RAF increased. Had the RAF lost the war, British skies would have been open and the Germans would have been able to launch Operation Sea Lion, their offensive into the UK. Hitler decided to only send in the Luftwaffe first to soften up the RAF, which was a big mistake.

I have met numerous guys from the UK and they have all said that being a pilot in the RAF is a pretty prestigious thing. The struggle that RAF pilots faced during the summer of 1940 was great. They were facing a numerically superior force. With some radar and being in the right place at the right time, they turned the tables and made it impossible for Germany to ever have a hold over them again.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 20 at 2014 10:33 PM

2014-08-20T22:33:43-04:00

The Battle of Mogadishu - largest firefight since Vietnam and painfully taught us, once again, that despite possessing technological superiority, we can never underestimate the resolve of a rag-tag, drug induced, seemingly disorganized mob defending its home turf.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 12:47 PM

2014-11-24T12:47:21-05:00

The Battle of Salamis was fought between an Alliance of Greek city-states and the Persian Empire in 480 BC, in the straits between the mainland and Salamis, an island near Athens.

No doubt most have seen the movie 300 if they've had no other exposure to these events; to block the Persian advance in their bid to conquer Greece , a small force of Greeks blocked the pass of Thermopylae, while an Athenian-dominated Allied navy engaged the Persian fleet in the nearby straits of Artemisium. In the resulting Battle of Thermopylae, the rearguard of the Greek force was annihilated, whilst in the Battle of Artemisium the Greeks had heavy losses and retreated after the loss at Thermopylae. This allowed the Persians to conquer Boeotia and Attica. The allied Greeks prepared to defend the Isthmus of Corinth while the fleet was withdrawn to nearby Salamis Island.

Although heavily outnumbered, the Greek Allies were persuaded by the Athenian general Themistocles to bring the Persian fleet to battle again, in the hope that a victory would prevent naval operations against the Peloponessus. The Persian king Xerxes was also anxious for a decisive battle. As a result of subterfuge on the part of Themistocles, mirroring the betrayal by Ephialtes at Thermopylae, he sent an informer, a slave named Sicinnus, to Xerxes to make the Persian king believe that the Greeks had in fact not been able to agree on a location for battle, and would be stealthily retreating during the night, the Persian navy sailed into the Straits of Salamis and tried to block both entrances. In the cramped conditions of the Straits the great Persian numbers were an active hindrance, as ships struggled to maneuver and became disorganized. Seizing the opportunity, the Greek fleet formed in line and scored a decisive victory.

Xerxes then retreated to Asia with much of his army, leaving Mardonius to complete the conquest of Greece which he failed to do. Afterwards the Persians made no more attempts to conquer the Greek mainland.

A Persian victory would have hamstrung the development of Ancient Greece, and by extension western civilization, Salamis is thus the most significant battle in human history.

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Jan 30 at 2015 2:52 PM

2015-01-30T14:52:35-05:00

I love history, especially history of conquest. To choose just one is impossible for me but I would have to say when the mighty Prussian Army was punished and beaten down in one single day by Napoleons Army, and yes I purposely state his Army as many of his men fought for him, not necessarily for France.
This changed the face of war and the face of Europe forever and I am actually partial to Prussia, having lived in the Prussian Headquarters "Berlin" for 15 years, I know the history well and know the Prussian Queens, Dukes and Duchess (there are so many it is incredible) I learned so much about Prussia (Preussen) that I fell in love with the history, the country of Germany and Europe in General.
I now live mostly in Budapest, the old Austro-Hungarian Empire territory, AND the Roman Empires farthest North Military instillation back in AD 106 time period, Caesar lived here for some time. The ruins are speckled throughout the city and along the Danube river, it is an incredible blessing to walk or drive through the city every day.
If you have never been, take a look at the skyline! (Sorry for highjacking the post!) CLICK ON THE PHOTO for the full panorama!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2015 5:05 PM

2015-01-30T17:05:23-05:00

While not technically battle, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki clearly ended WWII and shaped the final half of the 20th Century.

A little known WWII battle, the Battle for Castle Itter, was a interesting one to say the least. This battle is the only known battle where American troops and German Army troops fought as allies. While I am sure there are other instances, however this one is documented in The Last Battle, by Stephen Harding.

Response by SPC Christopher Perrien made Oct 15 at 2015 3:38 PM

2015-10-15T15:38:24-04:00

Strangely , the Germans took Stalingrad and then were surrounded..The Germans not taking Moscow in 1941 is what cost them the war.

Gettysburg could have changed the world and the country. But the loss there was caused by Stonewall being killed at Fredericksburg. If the CSA had won at Gettysburg they could/would have taken DC and forced terms.

The Battle of Poitiers/Tours, stopped the Moorish invasion of Europe , until now :(. There were many battles fought to stop the Moslems/Huns/Mongols from destroying Europe. And surely the battles of the Greeks, stopped the Persians.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 3:59 PM

2015-10-15T15:59:57-04:00

World War II for sure. Civil War honorable mention!

Response by PFC Bill Benavidez made Dec 31 at 2017 9:59 PM

2017-12-31T21:59:49-05:00

Battle of the bulge

Response by PFC Bill Benavidez made Dec 31 at 2017 10:00 PM

2017-12-31T22:00:49-05:00

Pork chop hill

Response by SN James MacKay made Jan 2 at 2018 10:00 PM

2018-01-02T22:00:21-05:00

This question will surely bring forth lots of great answers. There have been decisive battles ever since wars have been fought, of course, but mine is the Battle of Leyte Gulf. There, the US Navy dealt the fatal blow the the Japanese fleet, and effectively ended the naval war in the Pacific. With no ready access to oil, the surviving Imperial Fleet spent the rest of the war, out of commission.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jan 2 at 2018 10:22 PM

2018-01-02T22:22:17-05:00

Lexington and Concord, without them the world would have been a different place.

Response by SSG Max Goodman made Jan 3 at 2018 8:37 AM

2018-01-03T08:37:44-05:00

Battle of the Buldge

Response by Capt Joe Somerville made Jan 10 at 2018 2:49 AM

2018-01-10T02:49:04-05:00

Gaugamela. Alexander completes conquest of the Persian Empire. We are still living with the fallout.

Response by CPT Charley Watkins made Jan 10 at 2018 10:24 PM

2018-01-10T22:24:24-05:00

The battle of zm

Response by SSG Thomas Barry made Jan 12 at 2018 10:55 PM

2018-01-12T22:55:52-05:00

Letye gulf

Response by PO1 Barbara Matthews made Jan 12 at 2018 11:37 PM

2018-01-12T23:37:07-05:00

The battles of Lexington and Concord. It is important to United States history and certainly famous. It is studied by middle school children in history classes. It is studied in more detail in colleges and universities. Both historians and military scholars study it. Heck questions about it even appear on Jeopardy from time to time.

It is important part of how we as a country learned how to fight and eventually defeat the British for our freedom.

Response by PFC Eric Stosius made Jan 26 at 2018 11:13 PM

2018-01-26T23:13:22-05:00

Washington into Trenton on Christmas eve

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jan 26 at 2018 11:26 PM

2018-01-26T23:26:38-05:00

Hanover Pa. American Cavalry engaged Rebel Cavalry and wouldn't let go. This left Lee at Gettysburg with no scouts. He poked blindly at the American defenses until his force was spent. Again and again they walked into kill zones set up by American Artillery

Response by Sgt John Koliha made Mar 19 at 2018 10:31 PM

2018-03-19T22:31:15-04:00

The most significant?

The first one.

Response by SGT Wayne Coddington made Apr 7 at 2018 7:08 PM

2018-04-07T19:08:56-04:00

Battle of the bulge