r/MilitaryHistory • u/BeondTheGrave • Feb 22 '22
A Word on Ukraine
I just wanted to post this to get out ahead of any potentially rule breaking posts. I have started to see new bits of combat footage coming out of Eastern Ukraine, judging from the news probably more will be coming in the next few days. This is not a news subreddit, it is not a place to coordinate information or chart the progress of the war, this is not a combat footage subreddit, or a general interest military subreddit. Those subreddits exist, if that kind of content interests you feel free to seek it out. This is subreddit focuses on history. As such all posts, pictures, videos, discussions, or other content regarding the current conflict in Ukraine are banned. This is not a change of any subreddit rules, but rather a reminder of them. Weve had the same rule for Afghanistan and for other recent conflicts, and the same rule will be applied here. I also reserve the right to moderate any comment on any post which I feel also violates this rule. Be warned, repeat offenders may face bans. The only exception to this rule are posts which focus on the history of Russian-Ukrainian wars. Weve had posts like that in the last few days, posts which are historical in nature will naturally be okay. Ultimately its up to me to decide where the line is. Hopefully this clarifies the situation for everyone properly.
And if you live in Ukraine, best wishes. Good luck and god speed. If you don't live in the Ukraine, leave an offering to Ares, Mars, Tyr, King David, Georgie Patton, or your preferred god of war tonight for them.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/german_big_guy • 15h ago
Markings on a MG42 which was retrofitted into a MG3. During the 1950s and 1960s many WW2 era MG42 were converted to fire 7,62 mm NATO ammunition and had a lowered cyclic rate in comparison to the WW2 era MG. The MG3 continues its service in the german armed forces to this day.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/Nnenasheff • 6h ago
Can anyone help me identify my Great Grandfather?
My family and I are going to France and we are pretty sure my great grandfather served at Vimy ridge. I'm trying to find more information but don't really know where or how to look for information. We know he was part of the 255 battalion, and after googling it, I learned it was absorbed into the 12th reserve army. I also know he was a corporal.
Can anyone tell me what the flags above the double chevron mean? I don't know if they are significant.
Does anyone know what databases I can search where his battalion served?
r/MilitaryHistory • u/SulamirgTheGrim • 9h ago
Anyone able to recognize what ribbons/citations he has or familiar with any of the unit patches?
r/MilitaryHistory • u/History-Guy222222 • 18h ago
Israeli reconnaissance forces from the "Shaked" unit in Sinai during the Six-Day War. Also known as the 1967 Arab–Israeli War, Third Arab–Israeli War, or June War it was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab states (primarily Egypt, Syria, & Jordan) from 5 to 10 June 1967.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/ArcamoIdiomas • 8h ago
Each country vs the world in different times
I just wonder how each country current military level would do trying to conquer the world in certain time of history, for example we know mexico could defeat any country in bronce age, but maybe will struggle against year 1900 world powers
r/MilitaryHistory • u/irishkateart • 1d ago
The Battle of the Black Sea in Mogadishu, Somalia in October 1993 had a Task Force made up of elite Army Rangers, Delta Operators, CSAR teams, Black Hawks, Little Birds. Delta Operator, Howe was a favorite of mine and He lived up to every special ops stereotype and saved many lives. A must read.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/YoYoB0B • 23h ago
A Japanese-American soldier of 522nd Field Artillery, US 442nd Regimental Combat Team with a soldier of the Italian 11th Pack Mule Company, Castellina Sector, 12 July 1944.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/LoneWolfInCyberia • 1d ago
The 6 Day War begins in 1967, as Israel Air Force under Maj Gen Mordechai Hod launches a series of strikes on ground aircraft in Egypt, Jordan and Syria. 450 aircraft were destroyed as were Egyptian airfields, giving Israel a definite advantage.
While many factors could be mentioned in Israel's victory during the 6 Day war, the major one would be the air force and the tactics used during the War. Among the combine Arab armies, only Egypt had a strong air force, with both MiG-21's and Tu-16 Badger Medium Bombers that were capable of inflicting heavy damage on the civilian centers. Recognizing this fact, Israel made a suprise pre-emptive attack on the Egyptian aircraft as part of Operation Focus on June 5, 1967. Egypt had an excellent array of aircraft, yet it's air defense infrastructure was primitive, they did not even have proper air shelters to protect their aircraft. Add to it, Egypt was fighting it's own rebel forces, and that meant it had to shut down their air defense system. Israel took advantage to bomb the Egyptian aircraft on the ground, and also used special tarmac shedding penetration bombs, that effectively damaged the runways, and prevente the flights from taking off. 338 Egyptian aircraft were destroyed, around a 100 pilots killed, it effectively meant Egypt's Air force crashed even before it could take off. With the strongest air force in the Arab coalition put of order, it meant that Israel had complete superiority over the skies.
The Egyptians did far better on the ground, though, giving a tough resistance to Israeli forces, inflicting heavy casualties. However the fact that Israel had a ready made air force to back up meant, that it could call on them whenever the going got tough. For eg at Sheikh Zuweid, which witnessed some of the toughest resistance from the Egyptian forces on ground, Israel had to call on it's air force to break it.
Another important factor was the Battle of Abu-Ageila, where the Israelis were commanded by Ariel Sharon, who would later go on to become it's Prime Minister. Located in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, Abu-Ageila, was considered strategically important. Israelis had a significant advantage in armor, with around 150 modern tanks,AMX-13's, Centurions, Super Shermans, while the Egyptian Army was saddled with tanks of WWII vintage. Israel also had the better intelligence, and also engineers who could help in clearing their way through the minefields. Though Israel scored a decisive victory over Egypt at Abu-Ageila, the Egyptian units were still intact and could have prevented them from reaching Suez. However the then Egyptian Minister of Defense, Field Marshal Abdel Hakim Amer, panicked after the fall of Abu-Ageila and ordered all units in the Sinai to retreat within single day. This set off a panic retreat of sorts, with the Egyptian units leaving behind heavy equipment, which led to Israel to capture large swathes of territory as well as equipment.
Egypt was also hampered by a lack of military preparedness, individualistic leadership, promotions that were based not on merit, but on loyalty and kinship, no proper feedback and of course Israel's overwhelming superiority in weaponry and a far more professional army.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/NorthCoastToast • 1d ago
Seven months after the attack on Pearl Harbor and a month after the loss of the USS Lexington in the Coral Sea, June 4 sees the start of the Battle of Midway, a crucial early naval victory for the US that deeply impacts the Pacific War.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/Minute_Study_5178 • 1d ago
Discussion How the Russians almost fought on the British Side during the American Revolution.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/LoneWolfInCyberia • 1d ago
The Arab revolt against the Ottoman rule begins in 1916. While the Arabs managed to secure a military victory, they failed to achieve one of the aims of a single nation covering all Arab lands. Clan rivalries and colonial designs ensured it did not happen.
According to the McMahon-Hussein correspondence, the British agreed to support the Arab revolt, but they had their own designs. Basically the British and French went back on the original deal, and divided the region as per the Sykes-Picot agreement.
The Sykes-Picot agreement basically basically divided the former Ottoman controlled territories of Arab peninsula into British and French zones, with backing from Russia and Italy. Britian got Palestine, Jordan, Southern Iraq, parts of Southern Turkey. While the French got control of Syria, Lebanon, northern Iraq, and the Southeastern part of Turkey. Add to it the 1917 Balfour declaration promising a separate Jewish homeland, which basically threw the enire Middle East into a volatile conflict.
Also Hussein bin Ali, the Sheriff of Mecca was a loyal Ottoman official for a long time, and he began the Arab revolt only after a fallout with his masters. He also urged devout Arabs to rise against the decadent Ottoman government. The main factor was that most ordinary Arabs, did not take part in the revolt, that was limited to a few tribal clans. The fact is most of the Arabs were more loyal to their clan, tribes than a nation. They supported the Ottoman sultan who claimed to be the Caliph.
Compared to Ottomanism, Arab nationalism rarely failed to evolve, as they essentially were loyal to their own tribe or clan. The reason why the concept of a nation state never took root among the Arabs, and resulted in the British-French drawing artifical boundaries.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/jamaldinglebutt28 • 1d ago
Question regarding this photo
What unit is this? All I know is that it is a unit of the Egyptian Army deployed to Somalia for UNOSOM II in 1993.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/RynocerosX • 1d ago
A Video Explaining Domestically Designed Romanian Aircraft of WWII
r/MilitaryHistory • u/Germilhistory • 1d ago
1859 photographic portrait of Napoleonic Wars veteran Cpt. Benjamin Olivier (1785- 1863) [1116x1858]
r/MilitaryHistory • u/Justahuman35 • 2d ago
It was during this ceremony an assassination attempt was underway. On March 21st, 1943, Hitler visited the Zeughaus Berlin, the old armory on Unter den Linden, to inspect captured Soviet weapons. More to this story in the comment section. English subtitles included.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/IAmBoring_AMA • 1d ago
Found photos, need help identifying time and place
Found a trunk in my barn with many years of undated photos; these two are clearly military but I need help identifying what branch, time period, etc. Can anyone help?
r/MilitaryHistory • u/PassengerMindless729 • 1d ago
Discussion Macrinus, the First Equestrian Emperor of Rome
Macrinus, the First Equestrian Emperor of Rome
Read about Macrinus, the Praetorian Prefect who ascended to the top of the Roman world
r/MilitaryHistory • u/ZydecoOccultist • 23h ago
How Do Soldiers Protect Themselves From Ambushes From Enemies Armed With Guns Hiding Behind Opened Doors Or Hanging Atop the Ceilings And Other Unusual Places During Clearing Tactics Of Buildings and Urban Centers That Are Not Common Sniper Hiding Destinations?
Can't tell you how many times in Call of Duty and other First Person Shooters I died while running clearing rooms because the enemy positioned themselves in a location that would be blocked by a door when you open it or even intentionally left wooden fences and so on opened so that they have a safe hiding spot and they'd shoot you as you run past them.
IN addition so many stealth games like Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid give you the gadgets to help hide on the ceiling or your character is even fit enough to jump and hold themselves near the ceiling at the corners of a room because they are just that fit enough. So basically wait for the whole enemy squad to come in and gunned them down as you are out of their field of view and the rooms are often dim.
What inspired this question? I was playing Deus Ex and I was exploring a bedroom when suddenly I got electrocuted to death by robots hiding under a bed. IN another mission when I was exploring an apartment I didn't notice an enemy was also hiding under a table and got crippled in the legs.
So It makes me wonder how real militaries would handle ambushes from this bizarre locations not usually emphasized in squad tactics like say spies skimping their way behind bookshelves and crouching or a criminal hiding in a closet behind clothes with his uzi ready to shoot?
r/MilitaryHistory • u/errl_stevens • 1d ago
Vietnam SOF
Anyone know the name of the organization this logo represents?? I’ve heard it’s tied to the son tay raid and sog
r/MilitaryHistory • u/Germilhistory • 1d ago
THE MYTH OF A 'JEWISH' SHOOTING STAR: FIGHTER ACE EDMUND NATHANAEL
The actual story - free read on: https://irontime.substack.com/p/the-myth-of-a-jewish-shooting-star
r/MilitaryHistory • u/LoneWolfInCyberia • 1d ago
Russia begins it's Brusilov Offensive during WWI in 1916, named after their general Alexei Brusilov. The offensive against Austria-Hungary, Germany and Ottomans was one of the most lethal ones ever, with 40 infantry divisions, 15 cavalry divisions.
The Austrian-Hungary army was totally routed, while Germany had to transfer it's forces to the Eastern Front. However the Russians too had heavy casualties. Over 764,000 were dead on both sides in one of the bloodiest battles of WWI.
However the Imperial Russian Army could not really build on the success of the Brusilov Offensive. Their tactics were later adopted by Germany during the 1918 Spring Offensive and later the Blitzkrieg during WWII.
r/MilitaryHistory • u/historicalmethodman • 1d ago
[OC] The ANC's Anti-Apartheid Struggle in South Africa [20 mins]
r/MilitaryHistory • u/Books_Of_Jeremiah • 1d ago
