History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach

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History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach

2015

"All battles are in some degree...disasters." These words by military historian John Keegan are true in that military conflicts inevitably involve death and destruction. Yet despite their tragic cost, many battles...

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Director
Gregory Aldrete
Supplier
The Great Courses

In This Series

Petersburg: Union Digs Its Own Grave—1864
Episode 1
Petersburg: Union Digs Its Own Grave—1864
Syracuse: Athens’s Second Front—413 B.C.
Episode 2
Syracuse: Athens’s Second Front—413 B.C.
Carrhae: The Parthian Shot—53 B.C.
Episode 3
Carrhae: The Parthian Shot—53 B.C.
Red Cliffs: Cao Cao’s Bad Day—208 A.D.
Episode 4
Red Cliffs: Cao Cao’s Bad Day—208 A.D.
Barbarian Gate: Adrianople—378, Pliska—811
Episode 5
Barbarian Gate: Adrianople—378, Pliska—811
Fourth Crusade: Byzantium Betrayed—1204
Episode 6
Fourth Crusade: Byzantium Betrayed—1204
Kalka River: Genghis Khan’s General—1223
Episode 7
Kalka River: Genghis Khan’s General—1223
Courtrai: Knights versus Shopkeepers—1302
Episode 8
Courtrai: Knights versus Shopkeepers—1302
Nagashino: Taking Swords to a Gunfight—1575
Episode 9
Nagashino: Taking Swords to a Gunfight—1575
Cartagena: High Walls, Short Ladders—1741
Episode 10
Cartagena: High Walls, Short Ladders—1741
Culloden: The Bonnie Prince Blunders—1746
Episode 11
Culloden: The Bonnie Prince Blunders—1746
Russia: Napoleon Retreats in the Snow—1812
Episode 12
Russia: Napoleon Retreats in the Snow—1812
Afghanistan: Khyber Pass Death Trap—1842
Episode 13
Afghanistan: Khyber Pass Death Trap—1842
Crimea: Charge of the Light Brigade—1854
Episode 14
Crimea: Charge of the Light Brigade—1854
Greasy Grass: Custer’s Last Stand—1876
Episode 15
Greasy Grass: Custer’s Last Stand—1876
Isandlwana: 25,000 Zulus Undetected—1879
Episode 16
Isandlwana: 25,000 Zulus Undetected—1879
Adwa: Italy’s Fiasco in Ethiopia—1896
Episode 17
Adwa: Italy’s Fiasco in Ethiopia—1896
Colenso: The Second Boer War—1899
Episode 18
Colenso: The Second Boer War—1899
Tannenberg: Ineptitude in the East—1914
Episode 19
Tannenberg: Ineptitude in the East—1914
Gallipoli: Churchill Dooms Allied Assault—1915
Episode 20
Gallipoli: Churchill Dooms Allied Assault—1915
World War II: Royal Navy Goes Down—1941–42
Episode 21
World War II: Royal Navy Goes Down—1941–42
Dieppe Raid: Catastrophe on the Beach—1942
Episode 22
Dieppe Raid: Catastrophe on the Beach—1942
Operation Market Garden: A Bridge Too Far—1944
Episode 23
Operation Market Garden: A Bridge Too Far—1944
The Great Blunders: Four Paths to Failure
Episode 24
The Great Blunders: Four Paths to Failure