Afghanistan (1979)

For centuries, various outside forces – from the Indian Mughals, to the British Empire, to Islamic fundamentalists – have attempted to exert control over the Afghan people. As a result, Afghans have developed a strong resilience and are skilled in guerrilla warfare. It is always a safe assumption that any invaders will face fierce resistance from the locals, who are adept at using effective weaponry supplied by their enemies.

In 1979, the Soviets ignored over 1200 years of history and sent a large number of troops to support the unpopular communist government in Kabul. This decision led to a decade-long conflict marked by heavy casualties. Soviet helicopters, known as "The Crocodile," would hunt down Afghan fighters in the valleys, only to be targeted by Stinger surface-to-air missiles supplied by the CIA. This effectively neutralized Soviet air superiority, with 333 helicopters shot down during the war.

Despite witnessing the United States' struggles in Vietnam, the Soviets believed they were immune to similar challenges in Afghanistan. However, they were proven wrong as they suffered significant losses in both men and equipment, with no tangible gains. The aftermath left Afghanistan devastated and vulnerable, paving the way for the rise of the Taliban.

Russia (1812)

The only reason I can understand for this foolish mistake made by a military genius is pure boredom. Up until now, Napoleon has only experienced victory after victory in his military career. He has conquered almost all of Europe, except for those who refused to ally with him. Suddenly, he finds himself with the largest army ever assembled in Europe at that time, but with nothing to do. So, Napoleon turns his attention to the west, towards Russia. We all know how it ended, but you have to believe that someone in that massive army knew it was a terrible idea. Nevertheless, nobody spoke up and the rest is history. Napoleon marches into Russia with three-quarters of a million soldiers, but barely engages in any battles. The Russians retreat into the vastness of their country, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The result? Napoleon reaches Moscow only to find it in ruins. Disheartened by not being able to maneuver his toy soldiers on his grand map, he turns his army around and begins the journey back home. However, that's when the real trouble begins. The Russian forces constantly harass them with small, mobile units. They suffer from constant hunger as their supply lines are severed in multiple places. And worst of all, winter arrives and the soldiers start freezing to death in large numbers. Three-quarters of a million soldiers entered, but less than one in three would make it out alive.

Invade Gallipoli

By the beginning of 1915, the Great War had reached a stalemate. Trenches stretched across Belgium to Italy, and neither side was making any progress. The war had turned into a series of futile attacks across no man's land, resulting in increasing casualties. The initial belief that the war would be over by Christmas seemed far-fetched, especially as Russia was struggling on the Eastern Front and the German navy had disrupted supply lines. In this dire situation, Winston Churchill, the Lord of the Admiralty, came up with a plan. He proposed opening a third front in the western Mediterranean by attacking the Ottoman Empire-held Dardanelles. This would provide a warm water resupply depot for Russia and potentially turn the tide against the trench network. The plan seemed promising on paper.

The Gallipoli Campaign took place from April 25, 1915, to January 9, 1916, on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. The goal was a joint amphibious attack by British Empire and French forces to capture Istanbul, the Ottoman capital. However, the attempt was a complete failure, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. The operation was poorly executed from the start. The Turks were alerted to the invasion plans and reinforced the peninsula with heavy artillery and troops. The invasion quickly stalled on the beachhead due to the Turkish occupation of high ground positions.

To summarize, the majority of the allied forces, mainly Australians and New Zealanders, found themselves trapped on the beaches for months. Despite numerous attempts, they were unable to make any significant progress inland. Promised naval artillery support was cut short due to the presence of German U-boats, which sank two battleships. The entire campaign was a disaster. The conditions were unbearable, with extreme heat, poor sanitation, and an abundance of flies making eating difficult. Corpses left in the open decomposed and emitted a foul odor. The Allied bases were poorly situated, causing supply and shelter issues. Dysentery spread through the trenches, and the arrival of autumn and winter brought gales, flooding, and frostbite.

In the end, Churchill was removed from his position, and several generals faced the end of their careers. However, the most significant loss was the tens of thousands of lives lost on both sides with no tangible gain. To this day, Gallipoli is remembered as ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand, honoring the brave ANZACs who sacrificed their lives due to a misguided decision.

Soviet Union (1941)

Replace "Napoleon" with "Hitler", "Russia" with "Soviet Union", and "Le Grand Armee" with "Wermacht" and you get the idea of the story. Operation Barbarossa was undoubtedly the worst example of someone failing to learn from history and being doomed to repeat it. Adolf Hitler showed that it's not just teenagers who think, "It can't happen to me."

Alamo

The Alamo is often mentioned in military lists, with some noting that it appears frequently. It is indeed a remarkable story, with one of the most remarkable aspects being its unnecessary nature. The Alamo was simply a small adobe walled mission in the middle of a prairie. Santa Anna, also known as the Napoleon of the West, felt the need to teach a lesson to the small garrison in the fort with his large army.

One can't help but wonder if a clever Sergeant in the Mexican force ever thought to himself, "Why don't we just go around? We can even attack them as we pass by, but let's focus on reaching the rebel capital and ending the rebellion." However, due to Santa Anna's pride, the Mexican army wasted days attacking the insignificant outpost. This delay allowed the Texas government to organize, civilians to flee, and the Texan army to strengthen their position.

The outcome was the Battle of San Jacinto, where Santa Anna was caught off guard and the Republic of Texas was established. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of unnecessary pride and the importance of strategic thinking in military operations.