Does military history provide practical lessons in war?

Question

Which wars are the ones that are studied the most and which ones are best for seeing millitary tactics which have and havent worked.?

Answer 1

Military history offers many practical lessons for the conduct of war, the issue is whether or not one is open to learn the lessons available. Sun Tz wrote the Art of War some 5,000 years ago and a great many of the principles of warfare not only apply to warfare but can be applied to business.

Napoleon Bonaparte changed the nature of warfare in the late 18th and early 19th century which had a profound effect on how the American Civil War was initially fought. Many of the Generals fighting for the North and South followed the tactics of Napoleon so closely that they often spoke French to express their desired goals to their subordinate leaders.

Later Union General such as U.S. Grant, William T. Sherman and Phillip Sheridan needed to re-educate their own forces and those of their Southern enemies that nature of warfare was evolving and they had entered into the modern era of Total War. Much like George Smith Patton over 70 years later needed to re-educate a modern mechanized Army that swift violent action excuted now was far better than a well planned movement made too late to be of any good.

Answer 2

On a tactical viewpoint, yes. In World War II, the German blitzkrieg changed all the standard philosophy and strategy of warfare against those that were widely believed at the time. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor showed the effectiveness of aircraft carriers in long distance naval warfare for the first time. The German U-Boats showed the effectiveness of submarine warfare against surface targets. In the Vietnam War, the tactics were changed yet again to effectively fight a new kind of warfare, the guerilla war and insurgency war (where material superiority and technological advantages in the battlefield become less relevant).

However, modern wars are not purely military adventures. They also include political, economic, racial, and religious viewpoints. Winning the hearts and minds of people is also a very important factor in conducting a successful war.

Answer 3

Y E S, Military History also provides maps and drawings of military campaigns and also Order of Battle. Military History is very interesting. Watch the Military Channel on Cable TV.

Answer 4

Yes. Cadets and midshipment at the military academies study past battles and strategies as a learning process. Officers at the War College and Naval College study past battles to see mistakes that were made and learn from them.

Answer 5

That was a good answer about War college and Navel Battles. If your shot that history provides you with the knowledge of the pain and the knowledge you don't want it to happen again.

Answer 6

Yes, and because of it, the Company grade (LTs and CPTs) are going to be one of the greatest generations of Generals/Admirals, because of the amount of combat they've been in.

Answer 7

It sure does, even the ancient age wars teach us much about it today.