History stands witness to some amazing discoveries, wars, and even attacks! While the explorations and excavations leave us in awe, wars and attacks are something people look down upon. However, there is an exception for those with a larger purpose in mind).
However, the results of most attacks included casualties, which was anything but pleasant. For instance, Pearl Harbour retains the position of being one of the most famous and surprise attacks to date. But there are more. And here’s a list of such military attacks that will stay etched in the minds of most readers.
The Finest Hour Of Washington
America’s bid for independence was extinguished by December 1776. Following the historic defeat in August in Brooklyn Heights, George Washington, and the Continental Army had kept up with this. But almost everyone depended heavily on the American commander, hoping that circumstances would change. So the Continents set out on a journey via the ferry to sail across the Titusville, New Jersey-based Delaware River.
To save the rebellion, Washington put up a brave act. During the daybreak, almost half a dozen rebels formed a battle line around the edges. Even the army that had a tough night after the revelry stumbled a lot to put up the battle. Close to 22 Hessians and three people were wounded. On the other hand, America notified that five casualties have occurred, but they captured a relatively large group of enemy prisoners (about 1000)- so it was a win.
Union Army Faced Immense Opposition
The Union troops were relaxing by the cooking fires in May 1863, when a handful of them reached for the muskets. After 25000 confederate soldiers came out of the woods after the Union troops also said they were relaxing. Apart from the handful, a vast majority’s blue coats lay scattered.
But the fear factor would have always caused sufficient issues for the whole of the Federal line. Around 5:30 pm., Jackson’s men had put up a brave fight. The sooner the night approached, the Rebels understood that the advances wouldn’t yield results. One of the troop members shot Jackson accidentally. Sadly, he died within seven days.
Rome’s Dark Day
In the Teutoburg Forrest in North-western Germany, three legions belonged to Emperor Augustus. A massive barbarian army came and attacked all 3, which was rather surprising. If records are to go by, these legions came into existence almost 2000 years before Pearl Harbour.
Arminius had led a deadly trap wherein the Roman General Publius Quinctilous Varus had to speed up the legions. Later, he took his own life after realizing how he fell prey to the treachery and trap of Arminius. When he learned about the crisis, 70-year old Augustus Caesar kept crying, asking for his legions. With all this, Rome was in a completely devastated state.
Hitler Gave Back
Nazi Germany would again revive – the chances of which seemed slim by 1944 end. On Saturday, December 16, hopes for finding some peace extinguished. Along the 80 mile front in Ardennes, the rough and rugged mountains, to be precise, about a quarter of SS troops and almost a million Wehrmacht alongside 800 armored vehicles and 2000 guns moved along the American lines. Strangely, the offensive was held responsible for taking the Allied high command out of nowhere.
While it might sound a little peculiar, intelligence reports had warned that Germans were getting ready for a strike via Belgium. But till that time, it was almost unthinkable for US generals. Later on, the press regarding ‘Battle of the Bulge’ had said about two goals- first, to take away the Antwerp port and second, causing a huge rift between the British and American armies and destroying their sense of calm. Hitler had gambled that dealing with the Western allies might result in London and Washington coming down to the peace table.
In this way, the Third Reich would be able to look towards the eastern front, which was almost on the verge of collapsing. Going by reports, Hitler’s last Blitzkrieg finished off 20000 US troops, and 50000 suffered injuries. No wonder this became the ‘some bloodiest American battle’ during the Second World War.
History is full of heroic war stories and gripping accounts of how humans improvised wartime tactics to gain an advantage over their opponents. Some of the greatest wartime tacticians and admirals knew how to catch their opponents by surprise.
