Biggest Military Screwups In History 

A whole part of our Vietnam video didn’t end up getting animated until just now, so we posted the extended cut to Patreon. If you want to watch it while supporting our channel, you can check it out here: www.patreon.com/join/simplehistory

Those courageous fisherman that defended Spain from the British army. 😂

Cries in Australian over the emus

I think its crazy that so many militaries screw up by accident.

Better overestimate than underestimate

Since you mentioned mistakes or accidents, here is the one that occurred in Yugoslavia.On April 1st one German reconnaissance plane such as ME 110 C was doing a regular reconnaissance flight. During that day there was a foggy weather, and the plane landed on one of the Yugoslav airfields. Since Yugoslav air force had ME -108's, ME-109 E's and Dornier Do-17 bombers they landed there. And when the German crew come out from the ME - 110 E, they were captured by the Yugoslav army, and the markings were repainted to be a Yugoslav ME-110. Then like I mentioned, on April 6th 1941, Germany invaded Yugoslavia, by bombing Belgrade. During that day, the Belgrade was bombed in 3 ways. The first way was in 6 AM, when most of the citizens were sleeping, the second one was at 10 AM, and the third way was in the evening. But the intensity of bombing the Belgrade when the Yugoslav flak and air force somehow managed to repel the attackers. Also when the ME - 110 was captured and repainted to have Yugoslav markings, what happened was that couple of days after WWII has begun in Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav flak also by accident shot down the mentioned ME - 110 E fighter. After the attack on Belgrade on April 6th 1941, Yugoslav air force decided, to bomb German troops stationed in Austria and Hungary. They were the first who bombed Vienna, and Graz (believe it or not). And it was effective attack, since, there were some delays in German advancing's towards the Balkan peninsula. The Yugoslav air force had white cross with red, and blue insignia. And believe it or not, when the Yugoslav Dornier Do-17 had these markings of mentioned white cross, even some German soldiers and officers though that it was one of their planes, when these planes were flying. And when there was inevitable the capitulation of Yugoslav army, and also air force, Yugoslav crew destroyed some of the airplanes, so they could not fall in the enemy hands. After that, some of the pilots fled to serve in Allied, and Soviet air force, while some had to stay and to join the Yugoslav resistance, and also to fly on Spitfire MK V, and MK IX, since these Spitfires were delivered by British, and by Soviet Union, they received Yak 3 planes. And like you have mentioned that the bridges were destroyed, even these Yugoslav Do-17's bombed some of the German troops, but when bombs fell, they didn't hit bridge. And when Axis forces occupied Yugoslavia, in some parts of Balkan peninsula that was held by German army, Germany decided to build bridges. But at the end of the war they had to blow up the bridges. They even blow up one in Novi Sad at 1944, when the Germans were retreating from the advancing Soviet, and also Yugoslav partisans. Nowadays, there are the pillars of that same bridge on river Danube, between Petrovaradin fortress, and Novi Sad. Also there was something as a maybe as a screw up or deception, or miscalculation (I'm leaving you to think what it was). What happened was that there was a battle on river Neretva. And this battle was considered as the Battle for the wounded, since there were a lot of wounded Yugoslav partisans. This battle occurred between February and March 1943. And what happened is that the commander of Yugoslav partisans (and after the WWII the Yugoslav president), he ordered to be blown up one bridge on river Neretva. In this confusion, Germans believed that Josip Broz Tito will come back to some previous positions so they can capture Yugoslav partisans, and Tito. But instead of that, Josip Broz Tito gave on order to build a pontoon bridge, which they did. And that's how were the German troops were deceived, believing that Tito will come back. And on pontoon bridge, the wounded's were evacuated. After WWII, believe it or not, on same year, and almost at similar time in different locations in Yugoslavia, during the late 60's there were two movie crews doing a filming of movies. One was US crew working on movie Kelly's Heroes, and the other movie was Yugoslav movie crew working on movie The Battle on Neretva. When you showed these Sherman tanks on <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2532">42:12</a> , I remembered the scene from movie Kelly's Heroes when Sherman tanks are coming out from the tunnel, and they are attacking German troops. Since I mentioned movie Kelly's Heroes, believe or not the whole movie was filmed in Yugoslavia. Also the mentioned tank scene, when tanks are coming out of tunnels was filmed on mountain Fruška Gora, which is near city Novi Sad (today's Serbia). Also the same Sherman tank that was used by Donald Sutherland in the mentioned movie is in city Novi Sad in the Museum of Vojvodina. These were some historical things, dear friends. Počivaj u miru Donalde Saterlende, legendo. Rest in peace Donald Sutherland, legend.

"Those who fail to learn from history are bound to repeat it"-Wiston Churchill

.... battleship LST? Aren't those landing boats? Also missiles from E-boats? You mean torpedoes?

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="291">4:51</a> a bit like the parachutes the US use now <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="529">8:49</a> lord Raglan lends his name to the Raglan sleeve, as it was invented by his tailor because lord Raglan had only one working arm to make it easier for him to dress and undress due to him only having one arm, some totally useless information there for you

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="817">13:37</a> The image of the Vetterli 1870 rifle is fantastic. In fact the soldiers arrived from Italy trained with the Carcano 91 but in the colonies they were rearmed with the Vetterli...

Underestimating your enemy is a rookie mistake. Yet it’s happened repeatedly for thousands of years

Hey simple history, if you want a video idea can you maybe to a video on Lieutenant General Higuchi Kiichirō He was an ww2 Japanese general and saved the lives of 20,000 Jewish people.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="367">6:07</a> 😂 Gibraltar looks like a bullpup rifle!!

The British Empire getting destroyed in the Pacific in 1941 and the Japanese taking their nurses as the spoils of victory will never be lived down.

Biggest 1 was france surrendering in 6 weeks and being occupied 😂😂😂😂

Excellent work

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1735">28:55</a>: "There's no way he can beat off 80,000 men." *(Hysterical laughter)* "Grow up! You know what I mean!"

Forgot Soviet-Afghan War

Your long comment option is not working. Solve the issues about that

Yet again simple history cooks us a beautiful vid

I think this is my favorite channel rn!! 😎

I’d never heard about china trying to come in and 3rd party Vietnam like that. And still get starched 🤣

My request is Alexander the Great and his Macedonian Army (those who have entered the Persian Empire) vs Hannibal Barca and his Carthaginian Army and the mercenaries in a pitched battle in an open flat battlefield.

I wouldn't say that the Invasion of Crete was a screwup, at all. The result of the battle was that the germans captured the island, with less casualties than the defenders. It was so, that the allies actually copied the paratrooper concept.

Karansebes... _Benny Hill theme playing_

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="465">7:45</a> I think you meant to say “The British Ministry of Defence” not the “military of defence” 😅

The kopis that the army is holding on at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1696">28:16</a> is held in reverse. The sharp part of the blade is now facing them. It's in the small details ;)

We need more weird history vids

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1420">23:40</a> how did you get up the tree so quick?

It's like it shouldn't be that much of an embarrassment to lose to Vietnam, they're just invincible. Don't annoy Hanoi

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="731">12:11</a> always the leftwing f'ing up😂

How about Operation Tootsie Roll?!? My grandfather was involved in it and I can't find any information on how the miscommunication happened...

Fun fact: the first ever military was an army of 2 against 1. The 2 cavemen wanted the 1 caveman's bigger cave. And then like Most militaries before 20th century, the 2 man army turned on itself and 1 ruled them all. He became the first King ever.

Polish American volunteers in France, The Blue Army. Please

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="496">8:16</a>, uhhh why is Cyprus on Crimea?

Wasn't Lime Bay where Steven Spielberg shot "Saving Private Ryan?"

Hitler & Napoleon has entered the chat

Beside the fact that imperialism by itself is a mistake, the Italian mistake was trying to invade a country without knowing why it was uncolonized.

Don't forget many super powers tries to take over Vietnam. The Mongols tries to take over it failed than the Japanese, French, American and Chinese.

Pride goes before a fall

I’d love it if you could cover some Cuban history it’s rich in historical events, some major ones are that we have ties to Africa because of the TCST (a third of Cuban pop was African att) that was directly caused by American investors paying the Spanish and co opting with the US gov to send Africans to Cuba to farm sugar for American citizens, this cultural connection and FC’s belief in an equal people later led us to go fight the apartheid and back the MPLA or Angolan freedom fighters (the people mason was fighting in Bo2’s first mission) against American apartheid support

U.S.S. Liberty, as a USN regular armed forces member start there.

I didn’t see the Afghanistan withdrawal on here. Really should add it.

Wei isn't a clan, it's a foundation

Am I the only one who noticed how many April 26th,27th, 28th were in this video??

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1281">21:21</a> giggity

whos here under? an hour?

Fubar

Why blurred?

Weird they don’t talk about operation Cottage

Awesome 😎

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="213">3:33</a> That is the North West not the North East <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="498">8:18</a> Why is Cyprus in Crimea?

Yuan Shao was a failure in the 3 kingdoms

Can you please do the tv hijackings in 1987 November 22 1987 max headroom incident

since when did history only composed of war and fights

More advertising please... i almost could watch the video

The Hill speaks Amharic, lol.

me when the war....laugh now

Hms ocean is retired now.

Very good job dudes and well done!! Congratulations 991.71% yo throughout the 4th sizzling patriotic week of said joyous June y'all. Biggest 1 was France surrendering in 6 weeks and being occupied. 😂😂😂😂

Is RU-vid seriously censoring animated history lessons??

This is Russia right now in Ukraine

Viva la Napolean

?

Of course they won they had the high ground it's the most powerful military move of all time😂

do escuadron 201animation

I gotta say. The extra "talking to us" during the intro of the smaller amies beating larger armies (and after it took apparently) is something I could do without. Seems like some filler vamping type stuff. Really don't like it.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1422">23:42</a> who won? Usually in war no one wins, especially the little people, only the rich and powerful elite class win.

🫢

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1422">23:42</a> Indians assemble here.

Vietnam was great funniest war's 😅 omg it's shouldn't be funny but omg it's all so funny fisherman too haha....

1 day ago 😅

FIRST

The battle of Crete was like German D Day.

The Spanish civilians "held off" the British at the beach. That sounds like a stretch. 😂. Like saying you lost a fight to a toddler because you let them have cookie at 10 o'clock at night after they spilled candy all over the kitchen

Attacking Russia

Russia is definitely on this list

7th

I love how they lost against a Muslim nation due to drunken shenanigans

I love operation tiger

Vietnam fighting China? Go Vietnam 🇻🇳

Third

Quite early

fifth

🇹🇴😅🏁🏁

Damn I'm early

Why wasn't the integration of women included?

First 50 GANG claim your spot

im a simple man if i dont hear your voice i dont watch haha, other guy tries but he's nothing like the OG

I’d never heard about china trying to come in and 3rd party Vietnam like that. And still get starched 🤣