Biggest Blunder in Military History? What is it?!?

Answer 1

1.Hitler started too late in the year (1941), by the time they reached Moscow, the coldest winter in years hit and the Werhmact was totally unprepared.

2. Guderian's Panzers were diverted south at the gates to Moscow in 1941. Moscow was there for the taking.

3. Again in 1942, the Germans made the fatal mistake of splitting Army Group South in two culminating in the debacle at Stalingrad and the failure to reach to Caucasus oil fields.

4. The Soviets were into a mindset of ordering important and troop saving withdrawals. At Stalingrad the Germans lost 25% of their entire operational strength in the Eastern Front, a heavy blow by all accounts but NOT decisive. It would however be the main factor for Germany's not being able to complete the conquest of Russia.

5. The Germans blew another chance during their offensive in the summer of 1943. Against Guderian's opinion that the production of Tiger and Panther tanks should be up to operational standards, Hitler launched the ill fated offensive at Kursk. The results being the destruction of the panzer armies. The fact that the German still had the capability to launch an offensive of this magnitude in 1943 proves that Stalingrad was not a decisive turning point in the war. From then on, it was just a delaying tactical war against the Red Army.

6. On the western front, two mistakes come to mind: stopping his tanks and allowing the BEF to escape to Britain via Dunkirk, and switching from the bombing of airfields and radar stations to London and other cities....the RAF was nearly brought to its knees before that 'miracle.'

7. Hitler made the mistake of diverting resources to multiple designs, rather than picking the best and staying with it... example is the multiple tank designs.

8. The Russians were resilient, as one German officer stated, "attacking Russia was like an elephant stamping out ants, you killed thousands, maybe millions, but in the end their number told and you were eaten to the bone." Attacking Russia and creating a two-front war was a total blunder.

9. Bobby Lee's blunder across an open field against entrenched infantry and massed artillery meant the South lost the strategic initiative in the Civil war.

10. Union General Pope's blunder for ordering the attack against entrenched rebs posted on high ground meant the death of many yankees at Fredrickburg.

11. Yamamoto's sneak attack at Pearl meant the blunder caused the 'sleeping giant to awake.'

12. Harold's right part of the line chased a retreating Norman line, only to be undone by the deed, as William the Conqueror took advantage of the blunder.

Answer 2

There is so much to chose from

Roman use of hired troops instead of citizens

Spartans not securing their flanks

Spain and Portugal throwing away a huge naval advantage

Almost anything the French ever did

Anyone that went into Russia without an invitation. Including the US's abortive attempt to help the whites

Underestimating the US has so far proved to be a huge mistake.

Everyone that did not take the high ground and was buried in the valley

Everyone that thought that there was a replacement for a group of young people with individual weapons to win a war. That one has been repeated ever 20 years as long as history has been written.

Answer 3

Well, I cant say what the biggest blunder is, but Napolean and Hitler attacking russia is probably up there. But at least they had a chance of winning, but they lost because of winter. I would argue that going to war against a Idea or a tacic is much worse, like communism and terrorism. We fought in Vietnam for 10 years on this made-up Domino theory that ended up not being true!! And yes, the terrorists attacked us, but Iraq didn't!!But we gotta go free the Iraqi people?!! Were not the police of the world folks. So, in conclusion, I say the biggest blunder, was the korean war, vietnam war and Iraq war. It is not our business to intefer wth foreign conflicts and civil wars. We cannot afford it and the lost of lives is unacceptable.
P.S. Vote for Ron Paul, if he gets elected, you can be assured there will no major blunders under his administration. Search for Ron Paul on Youtube and Google to find out more.

Who the beep gave me a thumbs down?

Answer 4

once you talk of the 'Creeping' artillery hearth on the Somme it became into no longer perfected as of yet, in some places there became into none and a few troops have been even informed to stroll to the German Trenches. it incredibly is a lesson discovered from the Somme. the better command became into getting comments of fulfillment on specifically area of the front so 'over the precise' adult males went. there became into additionally a political factor. The French became into bleeding to death on the conflict of Verdun. The French became into desperate and mandatory Haige to attack. some felt the recent military became into no longer waiting yet yet while Verdun fell then it incredibly is a gamble that France could fall so all militia and civilian leaders believed. IF the British stopped their assaults too quickly then the German could have(purely hypothesis) strengthened the Verdun conflict. 1916 became into purely an insignificant 3 hundred and sixty 5 days for slaughter and the bleeding went on

Answer 5

The Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Publius Quinctilius Varus marched 3 legions into Teutoburg Forest to engage the Germanic tribes on ground which favoured the Germanic fighters and minimised the effectiveness of the Legions' fighting ability.

Answer 6

Too big a question. You mean "in all time"?

Confining it to the 20th century

1. All of World War I

2. Hitler's invasion of Russia

3. Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor

4. America's intervention in Vietnam

Answer 7

Not listening to the intelligence reports that indicated an attack was coming on Pearl Harbor. US military capability was almost completely knocked out in the Pacific from just one attack. Only a little luck kept that from happening and the Japanese were almost able to take the strategic reserves they needed before we got back into the war in that theater.

Wow, I didn't realize there were so many anti-Pearl Harbor advocates here. It really wasn't a big blunder to let the USAs entire Pacific power be devastated by one small attack in the middle of a world war? Can someone explain?

Answer 8

Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. They intended to prevent the U.S. from entering the war with a preemptive strike to decimate the U.S. forces, but didn't count on the American rage after the attack. They thought Americans would be "demoralized" by the surprise attack, but the opposite occurred. Within 6 months, the U.S. forces started pushing the Japanese forces back.

Answer 9

In my opinion, It would be Germany trying to pick up a fight against The United States, Great Britain and Russia. You never pick a fight with those 3. You make them fight eachother and then you move in. It's called divide and conquer.

Answer 10

"This is How I Rock" -- It was Burnside's march. He insisted on crossing a small bridge, got his forces all jumbled up trying to cross it, they were slaughtered. Funny thing is the stream was so small, he could have walked a mile down or upstream and hopped across, but he insisted on taking that bridge....

I think Hitler's attempt to go after Russia was the worst, especially in light of the fact that Napoleon attempted it before him. He got beat the same way, and he was forced to fight on two fronts.