Bravest Last Stand to the Death

[jackehammond]

Folks,

What do you consider one of the most bravest last stands, where the defenders fought to the death "willingly". I am not talking about where the defenders got caught in a situation where they knew if they surrendered they would die, so why not die fighting, but those that stayed and fought when they could left. One example is the Spartan 300. But they at is the Spartans had been brought up from birth to do and perform in battle as they did (eg the Japanese of WW2). There are others, where those not trained and indoctrinated in battle to the death that when it came did the unbelievable and fought to the death when they did not have to.

Anyone have any examples?

Finally, please read the guide lines of this thread. This forum already has a "Heroic defense by small units" thread. If there are any survivors please post your nomination to the link below.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1925&highlight=defense

Jack E. Hammond

.

[Lokos]

Studying WW2's Eastern Front, you will find dozens of examples - on both sides. But, since I am most familiar with the RKKA's conduct of the war, I will give you one from their side. The defense of the Brest fortress in 1941 officially lasted from 22 June until 30 June. However, pockets of resistance continued to fight the attacking Wehrmacht forces well into July - whilst hundreds of miles from the RKKA's front lines and possible resupply. Out of a garrison of between three and eight thousand troops, only some four hundred were eventually captured.

L.

[ggk]

Adnan led a 42-strong platoon from the Malay Regiment in the defense of Singapore against the Japanese invaders. The soldiers fought bravely at the Battle of Pasir Panjang, at Pasir Panjang Ridge in the Bukit Chandu (Opium Hill) area on February 12-14, 1942. Although heavily outnumbered, Adnan refused to surrender and urged his men to fight until the end. They held off the Japanese for two days amid heavy enemy shelling and shortages of food and ammunition. Adnan was shot but carried on fighting. After the battle was lost, the wounded Adnan was taken prisoner by Japanese soldiers, who tied him to a cherry tree and bayoneted him to death.

Lt Adnan, suffering from several bullet and shrapnel wounds and a broken arm, refused to leave his men and fought alongside them with pistol, sword and finally as ammunition ran out, his bare hands.

Australian troops fighting nearby looked on with horror at what happened next. “The Malays started to fight the Japanese on Reformatory Road,” said Lt. Penrod V. Dean of the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion. “They had dug slit trenches but they didn't have a lot of weapons. They started fighting the Japanese just with rifles virtually. And when the Japanese broke through them, the Malays took to them with bayonets, they put bayonets on the rifles and with a bayonet charge they drove the Japanese back across Reformatory Road. They were very brave people. They fought very hard, but for every Malay soldier there was about 10 or 12 Japanese soldiers. So it was inevitable what was going to happen.”



http://web.singnet.com.sg/~nainz/malayregiment.html


yep 40 odd men vs the entire japanese crack Chrysanthemum Division

C coy: anihilated
japanese: 300 dead and hundreds more injured (i need to check this number back first)

[Ravage]

Westerplatte


A completely surrounded Polish Military Transit Depot (WST) on Westerplatte, manned by 182 soldiers, held alone for a seven days in face of the overhelming Nazi forces attacking from land, sea and air. The defense of Westerplatte inspired Poland at the time of mostly relatively easy German advances elsewhere, and helped the garrison of Hel Peninsula to defend until early October 1939.

At the end of August 1939 the German pre-dreadnought battleship Schleswig-Holstein came to Danzig (Gdańsk) under the pretext of a "courtesy visit" and anchored in the channel near Westerplatte. On September 1, 1939, at 0445 local time, as Germany began its invasion of Poland, Schleswig-Holstein suddenly started to shell the Polish garrison with its 280 mm and 150 mm guns.

This sneak attack was followed by an attack by German naval infantry who were hoping for an easy victory, but soon after crossing the artillery fire-breached brick wall they were ambushed and repelled by the Polish small arms, mortar, and machine gun fire from a concealed and well-positioned firing points (crossfire tactics). Another two assaults that day were repelled as well, with the Germans suffering unexpected losses. The only Polish field gun was put out of the action after firing 28 shells at German positions across the channel (silencing several firing positions and hitting a command post). Defenders also counter-attacked and destroyed a German police guard post using hand grenades, but two Poles were mortally wounded in this action. On the first day, the Polish side lost one men killed and seven wounded (three of which died later, including two captured who died in a German hospital), while the German marines alone lost 17 men killed and 54 seriously wounded out of 225 men deployed (company commander too was mortally wounded); in all, 40-50 troops were killed according the German sources.[2] The German losses would be even greater if not the order by Sucharski for the very effective mortars to cease the rapid fire and conserve ammunition after just a few salvos (because of this order only 104 out of 860 grenades were fired when the mortars were destroyed the next day).

Over the coming days, the Germans bombarded the peninsula with naval and heavy field artillery, including 210 mm howitzers. A devastating dive-bombing raid by Ju 87 Stukas on September 2 (26.5 tons of bombs in two waves) destroyed the Polish mortars, directly hit one guardhouse with a 500 kg bomb (destroying it completely), killed at least eight soldiers, and shocked Major Sucharski, after which Captain Dąbrowski took over command of Westerplatte. After the Stuka raids, which covered the whole area in an enormous cloud of smoke, the Germans believed that no one could possibly have survived it; however, it later turned out the relatively few Polish soldiers were killed and the defence was not broken. Repeated day-time and night-time attacks by the German naval infantry, Danzig SS and police, and Wehrmacht (including an attempt of a cross-channel desant), were again repelled by the Poles with a considerable German losses, but nowhere close to the scale of the disaster suffered on September 1. A German armoured draisine was also hit and destroyed by a Polish AT gun.

In all, approximately 3,400 Germans (including support troops) were tied-up by being engaged in a week-long action against the 182-strong Polish garrison. On September 7, Major Sucharski reclaimed some of his mental stability and decided to quit what he decided was the hopeless fight. Even though many of his officers and soldiers were against the idea, he surrendered the Military Transit Depot on the same day. The Polish defence impressed the German commanders so much that the German commander, General Friedrich Eberhardt (later the military governor of Kiev during the Soviet-German War), allowed Sucharski to retain his ceremonial szabla (Polish sabre) in captivity.

Germans: 300 killed and 700 wounded

Poles: 15-20 killed and some 53 wounded

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/985/westerplattesucharskisaaj1.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Westerplatte

[matsalleh18]

Bukit Kepong
http://www.home.net.my/admin/image.php/148
Bukit Kepong Incident was an armed encounter which took place on February 23, 1950 between the police and the Malayan Communists in pre-independence Malaya. This conflict took place in an area surrounding the Bukit Kepong police station in Bukit Kepong. The wooden station was located on the river banks of the Muar River, about 59km from Muar town, Johor.

The incident started just before dawn with the Communists launching a guerilla assault on the police station. It ended in a bloody massacre with the aggressors killing almost all of the police officers stationed there. When they began the siege, the attackers strongly believed that they would be able to defeat the policemen and gained control of the police station within a short span of time. This is due to several factors in their favour: their arms and numerical superiority and the relative isolation of the station. The battle began at about 4:15 am.

According to eyewitness accounts, there were about 200 Communists attacking, led by Muhammad Indera, a Malay Communist. Despite the odds, the policemen led by Allahyarham Sgt. Jamil Mohd Shah, refused to surrender, although numerous calls by the communists for them to lay down arms were made. Several officers were killed as the shooting continued and two wives of the defending officers took up arms when they discovered that their husbands fell in battle. [1]

Desperate and alarmed at the defenders’ tenacity, the Communists captured one of the officers’ wives and threatened her at gunpoint to urge the policemen to surrender. The defenders replied that they would never surrender and continued fighting. Another wife of the officers and her daughter were also forced to do the same. Their refusal then resulted in their execution.

In the final hours of the fierce battle, the Communists set fire to the officers’ barracks and station. Two women and their children were burnt to death in the married quarters. At that point only 3 policemen plus a village guard were still alive. They rushed out from the burning station, unable to withstand the heat. They then assaulted the Communists position, killing at least 3 of them.

Only about five hours after the first shot was fired did the communists manage to break their defences and set the place ablaze. They then retreated into the jungle, leaving a trail of destruction and bloodshed.

14 policemen, 4 village guards, 3 auxiliary policemen, wife of Abu Bakar Daud (one of the surviving policemen) and three of their children were killed in the incident. The total number of deaths is 25. Those who survived the bloody encounter are 4 policemen and 9 family members including their wives and children.

you forget this GGK?haha


Bukit Kepong Incident
Part of the Malayan Emergency
Date February 23, 1950
Location Bukit Kepong, Muar
Result Communist victory, heroic failure for Malayan Police
Belligerents
Malayan Races Liberation Army or Malayan Communist Party Malayan Police
Commanders
Muhammad Madera
Lek Tuan Sgt Jamil Mohd Shah (Bukit Kepong police chief)
Penghulu Ali Mustapha (penghulu of the Bukit Kepong town)
Strength
200 25
Casualties and losses
about 40 dead 23 dead including non-combatants (Assistant Police (AP))

[bengalraider]

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8f/Saragarhi1.JPG/300px-Saragarhi1.JPG (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)
Burnt-out interior of Saragarhi as it looked on 14th September, 1897


The Battle of Saragarhi was fought during the (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Tirah Campaign (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirah_Campaign) on (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)12 September (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_12) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)1897 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1897) between twenty one (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Sikhs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh) of the 4th Battalion (then 36th Sikhs) of (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)the Sikh Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sikh_Regiment) of British (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)India (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India), defending an army post, and 10,000 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Afghan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashtun) and (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Orakzai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orakzai) tribesmen in a (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)last stand (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_stand). The battle occurred in the (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)North-West Frontier Province (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North-West_Frontier_Province), now a part of (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Pakistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan), which then formed part of (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)British India (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_India).
The contingent of the twenty-one Sikhs from the 36th Sikhs was led by (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Havildar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havildar) Ishar Singh. They all chose to fight to the death. Sikh military personnel and Sikh civilians commemorate the battle every year on (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)12 September (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_12), as Saragarhi Day. This battle has frequently been compared to the heroic stand of a small (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Greek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greeks) force against the mighty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Persian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian) Army of (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Xerxes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes) at (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Thermopylae (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae) in 480 B.C.



The battle
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/ff/Sikh_Soldier_in_Ceremonial_Turban%2C_Indian_Army.jpg/180px-Sikh_Soldier_in_Ceremonial_Turban%2C_Indian_Army.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sikh_Soldier_in_Ceremonial_Turban,_Indian_Army.jpg) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)[/URL]
Sikh soldier in ceremonial turban, Indian Army


Details of the Battle of Saraghari are considered fairly accurate, due to Gurmukh Singh signalling events to Fort Lockhart as they occurred. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sikh_Soldier_in_Ceremonial_Turban,_Indian_Army.jpg)[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saragarhi#cite_note-pall-4)

Around 9.00am, around 10,000 Afghans reach the signaling post at Saragarhi.
Sardar Gurmukh Singh signals to Col. Haughton, situated in Fort Lockhart, that they are under attack.
Colonel Haughton states he cannot send immediate help to Saragarhi.
The soldiers decide to fight to the last to prevent the enemy reaching the forts.
Bhagwan Singh becomes the first injured and Lal Singh was seriously wounded.
Soldiers Lal Singh and Jiwa Singh reportedly carry the dead body of Bhagwan Singh back to the inner layer of the post.
The enemy break a portion of the wall of the picket.
Colonel Haughton signals that he has estimated between 10,000 and 14,000 Pashtuns attacking Saraghari.
The leaders of the Afghan forces reportedly make promises to the soldiers to entice them to surrender.
Reportedly two determined attempts are made to rush the open gate, but are unsuccessful.
Later, Fort Lockhart is breached.
Thereafter, some of the fiercest hand-to-hand fighting occurs.
In an act of outstanding bravery, Ishar Singh orders his men to fall back into the inner layer, whilst he remains to fight. However, this is breached and all but one of the defending soldiers are killed, along with many of the Pashtuns.
Gurmukh Singh, who communicated the battle with Col. Haughton, was the last Sikh defender. He is stated to have killed 20 Afghans, the Pashtuns having to set fire to the post to kill him. As he was dying he was said to have yelled repeatedly the regimental battle-cry "Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal (He who cries God is Truth, is ever victorious).
Having destroyed Saragarhi, the Afghans turned their attention to Fort Gulistan, but they had been delayed too long, and reinforcements arrived there in the night of 13-14 September, before the fort could be conquered. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saragarhi#cite_note-londongaz-0) The Afghans later stated that they had lost about 180 killed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saragarhi#cite_note-ioss-5) and many more wounded (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saragarhi#cite_note-defending-3) during the engagement against the 21 Sikh soldiers, but some 600 bodies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saragarhi#cite_note-sharma-6) are said to have been seen around the ruined post when the relief party arrived. The total casualties in the entire campaign, including the Battle of Saragarhi, numbered at around 4,800.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)
[ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Saragarhi&action=edit&section=3)] Reception

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)
[ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Saragarhi&action=edit&section=4)] British parliament

When the gallantry of Saragarhi was recounted to the (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Parliament of the United Kingdom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom), the recitation drew a (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)standing ovation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_ovation) from the members. The saga of Saragarhi was also brought to the notice of (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)Queen Victoria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_of_the_United_Kingdom).
“"The British, as well as the Indians, are proud of the 36th Sikh Regiments. It is no exaggeration to record that the armies which possess the valiant Sikhs cannot face defeat in war" - Parliament of the United Kingdom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saragarhi#cite_note-pall-4)”“"You are never disappointed when you are with the Sikhs. Those 21 soldiers all fought to the death. That bravery should be within all of us. Those soldiers were lauded in Britain and their pride went throughout the Indian Army. Inside every Sikh should be this pride and courage. The important thing is that you must not get too big-headed it is important to be humble in victory and to pay respect to the other side." - Field Marshal William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Slim,_1st_Viscount_Slim)[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saragarhi#cite_note-7)”

[ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Saragarhi&action=edit&section=5)] Commemorative tablet

The tablet (pictured right), inscription reads;
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/32/Pd_image_of_Saragarhi_Tablet.jpg/200px-Pd_image_of_Saragarhi_Tablet.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pd_image_of_Saragarhi_Tablet.jpg) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG)[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saragarhi1.JPG"]
Tablet commemorating Saraghari, raised by the British Empire


“"The Government of India have caused this tablet to be erected to the memory of the twenty one non-commissioned officers and men of the 36 Sikh Regiment of the Bengal Infantry whose names are engraved below as a perpetual record of the heroism shown by these gallant soldiers who died at their posts in the defence of the fort of Saragarhi, on the 12 September 1897, fighting against overwhelming numbers, thus proving their loyalty and devotion to their sovereign, the Queen Empress of India, and gloriously maintaining the reputation of the Sikhs for unflinching courage on the field of battle."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pd_image_of_Saragarhi_Tablet.jpg)


TRULY THE FINEST HOUR OF THE SIKH REGIMENT:cantbeli:

[bengalraider]

The 'C' Coy of the battalion, led by Major Shaitan Singh, held this crucial position at Rezang La (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rezang_La), at a height of 5000 metres. The company area was defended by three platoon positions and the surrounding terrain isolated it from the rest of the battalion. The expected Chinese attack on Rezang La (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rezang_La) came on November 18th in the morning. It was the end of a very cold winter night, with light snow falling. The icy winds howling through Rezang La (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rezang_La) were biting and benumbing. More than the thin air and cold, the location of Rezang La (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rezang_La) had a more serious drawback. It was crested to Indian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India) artillery because of an intervening feature, which meant that they had to make without the protective comfort of the big guns. In the dim light of the morning, the Chinese were seen advancing through nullahs to attack No.7 and No.8 platoon positions.
The Indian Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Army) troops fell on their prepared positions to face the Chinese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Army) offensive. At 0500 hours when the visibility improved, both platoons opened up on the advancing Chinese with rifles, light machine guns, grenades and mortars. Indian artillery could, however, not be used. The nullahs were littered with dead bodies. The survivors took position behind boulders and the dead bodies. The Chinese, though they failed the first frontal attack, were not discouraged. They subjected the Indian positions to intense artillery and mortar fire at about 0540 hours. Soon about 350 Chinese troops commenced advance through the nullahs. This time, No.9 Platoon, which held fire till the enemy was within 90 metres opened up with all weapons in their possession. Within minutes, the nullahs were again full of dead bodies, mainly of the Chinese.
Unsuccessful in frontal attack, the enemy, approximately 400 strong, then attacked from the rear of the company position. They simultaneously opened intense medium machine gun fire on No.8 Platoon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platoon). This attack was contained at the barbed wire fencing of the post. The Chinese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Army) then resorted to heavy artillery and mortar shelling. An assault group of 120 Chinese also charged No.7 Platoon position from the rear. However, Indian Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Army) 3-inch mortar killed many of them. When 20 survivors charged the post, about a dozen Kumaonis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumaon) rushed out of their trenches to engage them in a hand-to-hand combat. Meanwhile, the Chinese brought up fresh reinforcements. The encirclement of No.7 Platoon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platoon) was now complete. The platoon, however, fought valiantly till there was no survivor. No.8 Platoon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platoon) also fought bravely to the last round.
Major Shaitan Singh, the Company Commander, displayed exemplary leadership and courage in the battle of Rezang La (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rezang_La). By all accounts, he led his troops most admirably. Unmindful of his personal safety he moved from one platoon post to another and encouraged his men to fight. While moving among the posts he was seriously wounded, by a sniping Chinese MMG. But he continued to fight along with his men. While he was being evacuated by two of his comrades, the Chinese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_military) brought heavy machine gun fire on them. Major Shaitan Singh sensed danger to their lives and ordered them to leave him. They placed him behind a boulder on the slopes of a hill, where he breathed his last.
The Chinese announced a unilateral ceasefire on November 21st (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_21st) 1962 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962).
In this action, 109 Kumaonis out of a total of 123 were killed. Of the 14 survivors, 9 were severely injured. The Chinese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_military) suffered many more in killed. Estimates are around 800 Chinese casualties. After the war was over, the body of Major (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major) Shaitan Singh Bhati was found at the same place, dead from the bullet wound and the freezing cold. It was flown to Jodhpur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodhpur) and cremated with full military honours. Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was awarded Param Vir Chakra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Param_Vir_Chakra), the highest wartime gallantry medal, posthumously, for his leadership and devotion to duty.

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shaitan_Singh&action=edit&section=3)] Citation

The citation for the Param Vir Chakra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Param_Vir_Chakra) awarded to him reads:
MAJOR SHAITAN SINGH13 KUMAON (IC 7990)Major Shaitan Singh was commanding a company of an infantry battalion deployed at Rezang La in the Chushul sector at a height of about 17,000 feet. The locality was isolated from the main defended sector and consisted of five platoon-defended position. On 18 November 1962, the Chinese forces subjected the company position to heavy artillery, mortar and small arms fire and attacked it in overwhelming strength in several successive waves. Against heavy odds, our troops beat back successive waves of enemy attack. During the action, Major Shaitan singh dominated the scene of operations and moved at great personal risk from one platoon post to another sustaining the morale of his hard-pressed platoon posts. While doing so he was seriously wounded but continued to encourage and lead his men, who, following his brave example fought gallantly and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. For every man lost to us, the enemy lost four or five. When major Shaitan Singh fell disabled by wounds in his arms and abdomen, his men tried to evacuate him but they came under heavy machine-gun fire. Major Shaitan Singh then ordered his men to leave him to his fate in order to save their lives.
Major Shaitan Singh’s supreme courage, leadership and exemplary devotion to duty inspired his company to fight almost to the last man. In the Indo-China war of 1962, the Ahirs (almost all of them hailing from the Ahirwal region of Southern Haryana) of 13 Kumaon Regiment set an unparallel example in the military history of India by defending their motherland at Rezang La in Ladakh district of Jammu & Kashmir.
The battle of Rezang La, a ridge overlooking the strategic Chushul plains in Ladakh, is one of the most glorious chapters in the history of the Indian army and has been compared by some military historians with the famed battle of Thermopylae. In the unequal war of 1962 against the Chinese where the Indian army rarely stood to fight, the Ahir Charlie Company from 13 Kumaon, led by Major Shaitan Singh, decided that until they were alive the Chinese weren’t going to have a look-in on Chushul, at 17,000 ft. Of the 120 defenders, only three survived, seriously wounded. The rest, including Major Shaitan Singh (who was awarded Param Vir Chakra), were discovered after the winter, frozen, mostly holding their weapons but with no ammunition. This was a genuine ‘last man-last round’ defense and many times more Chinese were killed, the evidence again being frozen bodies on the slopes. Of the 120 soldiers, 114 were Haryanavi Ahirs.
This battle inspired MS Sathyu’s (1964) gut-wrenching classic movie, 'Haqeeqat', starring Dharmendra and Balraj Sahni. On this horrific battle, Major-General Ian Cardozo, in his book ‘Param Vir, Our Heroes In Battle’ writes, “When Rezang La was later revisited dead jawans were found in the trenches still holding on to their weapons... every single man of this company was found dead in his trench with several bullet or splinter wounds. The 2-inch mortar man died with a bomb still in his hand. The medical orderly had a syringe and bandage in his hands when the Chinese bullet hit him... Of the thousand mortar bombs with the defenders all but seven had been fired and the rest were ready to be fired when the (mortar) section was overrun.”
The heroes who were awarded the Vir Chakra in 1962 defending Rezang La were Naik Hukum Chand (posthumous), Naik Gulab Singh Yadav, Lance-Naik Ram Singh (posthumous), Sub. Ram Kumar and Sub. Ram Chander. All hailed from the Rewari district of Haryana, where a Rezang La memorial has been placed in their memory in Gudiani village.


one of the many last stands of the indian army

[Billy No Mates]

The destroyer HMS Glowworm vs the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper during the Norwegian campaign,despite being hopelessly out classed the captain rammed the cruiser earning the captain a VC (intrestingly recomended by the German captain via the Red Cross) .

[LongShot]

Battle of Wake Island (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wake_Island)

[Ordie]

French Foreign Legion-Camerone, Mexico

[marlowe]

Battle of Wizna (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wizna)

[James]

I think the passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001 were very brave.

"Are you guys ready? Ok. Let's roll."

[FreshMag]

Remember the Alamo

[LineDoggie]

GANDAMAK- January 1842


18,000 Afghani's vs 65 British Soldiers of the 44th Regiment

3 British Soldiers survived

[LazerLordz]

http://web.singnet.com.sg/~nainz/malayregiment.html


yep 40 odd men vs the entire japanese crack Chrysanthemum Division

C coy: anihilated
japanese: 300 dead and hundreds more injured (i need to check this number back first)

D Company killed approximately 200 more IJA troops before they went under as well, if I recall..

Brave soldiers of the Royal Malay Regiment, RIP chaps.

[IronFinn]

I think the passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001 were very brave.

"Are you guys ready? Ok. Let's roll."

Indeed, saw that docu-movie and was cheering for the passengers when they made their charge. Touching moment.

[jackehammond]

Folks,

My nomination is defense of St Elmo in Malta during the Ottoman Turkish siege in the 16th century.

Jack E. Hammond

.

[Marmot1]

Battle of Kluszyn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kluszyn

Brave Russian Army stand to death against Polish invaders. ;-)

[Oneto15]

LT Col Wilfrith Elstob. VC. DSO. MC.
16th Bn The Manchester Regiment.

http://www.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2005/34/9467778_110758180492.jpg

St Quentin, France, 21 March 1918

"The Manchester Regiment will defend Manchester Hill to the last."

"Here we fight, and here we die."

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9467778

[Erik Sleivöks]

French Foreign Legion-Camerone, Mexico

Exactly !!!

30th of April 1963.

[gaijinsamurai]

1963?
Are you sure about the year?

[LongShot]

One im surprised has not been mentioned;

SFC Randy Shughart and MSG Gary Gordon's defense of Super 64 on October 3rd, 1993, battle of Mogadishu. RIP

[Erik Sleivöks]

1963?
Are you sure about the year?

ouppsss... 1863 :) so sorry

[BearInBunnySuit]

I agree with the folks that mentioned United 93 and Alamo.
I also want to mention the Glouscestersire Regiment during the Korean War. Very brave men, imo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Imjin_River


The Glouscestersire Regiment were assigned to guard one of the crossings across the Imjin River. When the Chinese first attacked, they were held up by only a couple hundred men at the crossing, now called "Gloster Crossing". But the Chinese kept attacking, and the men at Gloster Crossing ran out of ammunition. They had no choice; reduced to only one officer and less than sixty men, and relying entirely on supporting artillery, they had to fall back and rejoin the rest of the batallion on Gloster Hill.
The Glosters were fighting off the Chinese, but things were getting precarious. The Glosters were almost surrounded. Acting in desperation, Brodey sent a column of tanks up the only road to Gloster Hill, determining to blast his way throuth to the Glosters. But then disaster struck when the lead tank was hit. The tank was blown sideways, blocking the route; all hope of getting through to the Glosters vanished. Brodey's tanks left the Glosters to their fate.
During the course of the battle, (and true to their actions at Battle of Alexandria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Alexandria) in 1801 for which the regiment has the distinction of wearing badges (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_badge) both at the front and at the back of their head-dress), the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloucestershire_Regiment) (the Glorious Glosters), and their mortar battery — numbering at most 750 men in total — fought on when surrounded on Gloster Hill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_Hill) by at least 4 Chinese divisions of 10,000 men.
Finally towards the end of the struggle, some of the Glosters prepared for the fight of their lives. Those Glosters who could planned to try to make a break for it. Those who could not run would spend the last of their ammunition providing cover fire. The Glosters set out.
The Gloucestershire Regiment had started the Battle of the Imjin with between 700-750 men. At the end of the battle, only 63 Glosters had made it back to the Allied lines. The rest were either killed or captured.

[Hypno85]

All of the British 1st Airborne Division

Lt. Colonel John Dutton Frosts force at the bridge continued to hold out and established communication via the public telephone system with 1st Division at around noon, to learn that the division had no hope of relieving them and that XXX Corps was stopped to the south in front of Nijmegen bridge. By the afternoon the British positions around the north end of Arnhem bridge had weakened considerably. Casualties, mostly wounded, were high from constant shelling. An acute lack of ammunition, especially anti-tank munitions, enabled enemy armour to demolish British positions from point-blank range. Food, water, and medical supplies were scarce, and so many buildings were on fire and in such serious danger of collapse that a two-hour truce was arranged to evacuate the wounded (including Lieutenant-Colonel Frost) into German care and captivity. Frederick Gough took over as commander when Frost left.

The Germans overcame remaining pockets of resistance throughout the day, gaining control of the northern bridge approaches and permitting reinforcements to cross the span and reinforce units further south near Nijmegen. The remaining British troops continued to fight on fiercely, some with just fighting knives, but by early Thursday morning almost all had been taken prisoner. The last radio message broadcast from the bridge - "Out of ammo, God save the King" - was heard only by German radio intercept operators.

While it was estimated that the entire 1st Airborne Division, 10,000 strong, would only need to hold the Arnhem bridge for two days, in fact just 740 had held it for twice as long against far heavier opposition than anticipated. While 81 British soldiers died defending Arnhem bridge, German losses cannot be stated with any accuracy, though they were certainly extremely heavy; 11 units known to have participated in the fighting reported 50% casualties after the battle. In memory of the fighting there, the bridge has been renamed the "John Frost Bridge".

[Ichabod]

After many days of exhausting and bloody struggle, the defenders retreated into the Old City; with the majority of the defenders already dead, this was their last stand. The Turks tried to lure Zrinski into submission, offering him rule over all of Croatia (of course, under their sovereignity) but to no avail, Zrinski saying "...nobody will point his finger on my children in contempt.





Let us go out from this burning place into the open and stand up to our enemies. Who dies - he will be with God. Who dies not - his name will be honoured. I will go first, and what I do, you do. And God is my witness - I will never leave you, my brothers and knights!

Battle of Siget
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Szigetv%C3%A1r

[jasonblaster]

Operation Redwing, Afghanistan, 4 US Navy SEALs vs. Undetermined number of Taliban, estimated around 200. 1 Survivor.

[BearInBunnySuit]

Operation Redwing, Afghanistan, 4 US Navy SEALs vs. Undetermined number of Taliban, estimated around 200. 1 Survivor.

Yeah, that one too. I just finished reading "Lone Survivor" and if the guy wasn't so sincere in his narrative, I would have thot he was exaggerating some of it.

[rwak9]

What about Masada?

[AROUETLJ]

Benevento, 1266. Manfred and his followers' last stand.

[Eoin666]

Battle of Mirbat

After the success of Operation Jaguar, the Adoo leaders decided that they would have to make a decisive strike against the Sultans forces to regain the upper hand. It was deiced that the Adoo would attack the small coastal town of Mirbat and kill all the families of firqat they could find. At dawn on 19th July 1972, a large rebel force of some 250 Adoo rebels attacked the nine-man garrison at the Port of Mirbat in the Dhofar province of southern Oman.

At around 05.00 hours the picket at the top of Jebel Ali, a small hill some 1,000 metres to the north of Mirbat and halfway towards the Jebel Massive, was being manned by a section of Dhofar Gendarmerie (DG). Jebel Ali provided a co-ordinating feature that protected the town and surrounding coastal area. The Adoos attacked the post, killing the DG. The exchange of fire was heard in the BATT House in Dhofar and the commander, Captain Mike Kealy, and his men observed the fire coming from Jebel Ali and the waves of men advancing towards Wali's Fort.

Captain Kealy ordered the 81mm mortar to open fire in support of Jebel Ali while the rest of the SAS took up their positions behind the sand-bagged emplacements and awaited targets. As a safeguard, the signaller was ordered to establish communications with SAS Headquarters at Um al Quarif. The SAS Fijian soldier Sgt. Talaiasi Labalaba left the house and ran the 500 metres to the gun pit by Wali Fort where he manned an old World War II 25-pounder artillery piece. Labalaba was a well known figure in the SAS. He had fought in Borneo and Aden were he had led a undercover anti-terrorist plain cloths team.

At 05.30 there was enough light for Kealy to make out the silhouette of the gun position and fort. Suddenly, a vast amount of small arms fire started pouring into the town and through the mist figures could be seen approaching the perimeter wire from the direction of Jebel Ali. The Adoos were attacking in waves. Both SAS machine gun bunkers opened fire and the 81mm added its punch. In number ten gun-pit by the Fort, the 25-pounder sent shell after shell into the enemy and the battle flowed back and forth, until a message came through from Labalaba that he had been hit on the chin while operating the artillery piece. Kealy suspected he was badly injured and sent his countryman, Takavesi to his aid. The machine guns provided supporting fire from the roof of the BATT House as they watched Takavesi run the gauntlet of tracer bullets and exploding shells, diving headlong into the gun-pit. He found Labalaba firing the big gun alone. He gave no indication that he was injured but indicated the need for help. Takavesi ran to the Fort's door and called for help. He was heard by an Omani gunner (Walid Khamis) and Takavesi grabbed him and both men raced back to the pit. As Takavesi cleared the sandbags the Omani gunner fell forward as a bullet hit him in the stomach. Still wave after wave of rebels charged the fort. Abruptly several rockets slammed into the fort and from the roof of the BATT House, the perimeter wire was seen to have been breached while the main breakthrough seemed to be in front of the fort. The Adoos were advancing on the fort and gun-pit in large numbers. The gun was now levelled at the wire firing point blank at the charging Adoos. Takavesi was hit but continued to fire, Labalaba made a quick grab for a small 60mm mortar but was hit by a bullet in the neck and fell dead.

With communication to the gun-pit lost, Captain Kealy and an SAS medic, Trooper Tobin, moved to give assistance after Kealy had contacted Um al Quarif informing them that air cover was desperately needed and requested a chopper to evacuate Labalaba. Additionally, if the firefight continued at its present rate, further ammunition would be required.

Fortunately most of those mustered to form a relief force were from the newly arrived G Squadron who were already dressed and equipped for the firing range. It took about five minutes for 22 of them, under the command of Captain Alastair Morrison, to gather an impressive array of weapons. G squadron moved so quick in fact, that two of the new members of the squadron still thought they were on their way to the rangers until the bullets started flying.

Back in Mirbat Captain Kealy and Trooper Tobin worked their way to the gun-pit. As they approached the fighting increased and both ran for cover. Tobin dived into the gun-pit and Kealy into the sandbagged ammunition bay. Inside the pit, Labalaba lay face down and very still, while Takavesi sat propped against the sandbags, SLR still in hand. Tobin quickly set up a drop on the seriously wounded Omani gunner. Takavesi was severely hit in the back, but continued to fight covering the left side of the fort. The firefight was reaching its height and the Adoos made a real effort to overrun the gun. As Kealy concentrated amid the mayhem, he saw an Adoo close by the fort wall. Several grenades were thrown and bounced by the lip of the gun-pit before exploding. An Adoo appeared at the side of the gun-pit but Kealy cut him down.

In the pit, Tobin reached over the inert body of Labalaba and realised there was little he could do. As he made to move away, a bullet hit him in the face and he fell by the side of the Fijian mortally wounded. The gun-pit seemed done for when the Omani Air Force arrived, firing cannon in passes and driving the Adoos into a large wadi outside the perimeter wall, before finally dropping a 500lb bomb where the Adoos had taken refuge.

The G Squadron relief force touched down south of Mirbat in three helicopters and instantly made contact with an Adoo patrol that was covering the rear. The Adoos, consisting of one older soldier and three youths were cornered in a cave and refused to surrender. Several 66mm LAW rockets slammed into the entrance, followed by fire form several GPMGs and the picket was quickly eliminated.

With the jets keeping the Adoos at bay, Kealy had time to crawl forward and examine the gun-pit. He could see that the Omani gunner was still alive and so was Tobin, although his wound looked horrendous. Takavesi was listless against the sandbags, his whole body covered with blood, but he smiled. Then the SAS relief force arrived. Although several of the choppers had been hit, they continued to ferry in more reinforcements and extracted the wounded in return. Trooper Tobin and the Omani gunner were casevaced on the first available flight. Takavesi walked calmly to the chopper without assistance, although a normal man would probably have died from the wounds. Three Adoo prisoners, who had been captured and held in the BATT House, were also sent back for interrogation.

Alastair Morrison, commanding the relief force, reorganized Mirbat's defenses and with the aid of two Land Rovers started to collect the dead and wounded Adoos. The Adoos had lost 38 dead and they would never recover from the defeat. The defenders of Mirbat should have been highly decorated for their actions on that day, but because the British Government did not want to expose their involvement in Dhofar, the awards were not announced until 3 years after the battle. Kealy was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and two of this men a Military cross apiece. Trooper Tobin was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Conduct medal and Sgt. Labalaba was also posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches. Sadly Major Mike Kealy died of exposure during an SAS exercise on the Brecon Beacons in February 1979. By a cruel twist of fate, it was Johnny Watts his old Dhofar commander who found his body. We have to ask our self's why should such a brave man like Labalaba not be awarded the highest award the British Government can give ?

[Ravage]

German Paratroopers at Monte Cassino.

[jackehammond]

One im surprised has not been mentioned;

SFC Randy Shughart and MSG Gary Gordon's defense of Super 64 on October 3rd, 1993, battle of Mogadishu. RIP

Dear Member,

I totally forgot that one. You are 100% right. Some are put into a situation they don't want and they are brave. And others have the moral support of orders and a bunch of their buddies fighting to die with them. Shughart and Gordon knew it was hopeless but requested permission and slid down those ropes from the helicopter to Durant (?) anyway. Why only they will ever know. They knew they would die alone with no fellow mates with them. A test of true unselfish bravery.

Everyone knows the name of a country music star or a celebratey like was in the McCain Obama ad. But how many Americans if you asked on the street (say a 1000 any place in America) would know the name Shughart and Gordon.

The US government had the opportunity to immortalize these two heroic men with the new carriers. Instead they name one after the president father to pander for more funds for the USN.

Again, thanks for nominating those two US Army soldiers. I should have remembered at the start. What they did was even more braver than the defenders of Fort St Elmo on Malta. And that is saying a LOT!

Jack E. Hammond

.

[jackehammond]

Yeah, that one too. I just finished reading "Lone Survivor" and if the guy wasn't so sincere in his narrative, I would have thot he was exaggerating some of it.

Dear Member,

You are the first person who has publicly stated what many in the US military are thinking. It does not add up. Especially the part about the Afghan extending them hospitality due a fugitive on the run. That part of the Pashtun code extends only to fellow Moslems. No unbelievers. Also the part about the 3 goat herders. They could have held them till the helicopter came and extracted them or tied them up. And last, the vote. I may be wrong, but the US military is not a democracy. Especially among the elite of professionals.

I have no doubt there was bravery from the various persons in that book. But the books facts are not adding up. From the first page I wondered. My thinking is that the facts had to be drastically changed to cover up an embarrassment (one Vietnam US Navy pilot wants to know why help was not their within minutes -- not hours) and some Afghans who for a huge bounty betrayed the Taliban in their area and might even had fired on the Taliban chasing that last survivor.

Jack E. Hammond

.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

39th Inf Battalion (Militia) at the Battle of Isurava

[Kilgor]

A nice article in todays Australian with this man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Sheean

Was badly wounded during a Japanese Air attack on the HMAS Armidale.

Refusing to abandon ship, he lashed himself to the a AA gun and continued to fire, and went down with the sinking ship.

http://www.navy.gov.au/spc/maritimepapers/piama17/images/image043.jpg

[James]

Dear Member,

I totally forgot that one. You are 100% right. Some are put into a situation they don't want and they are brave. And others have the moral support of orders and a bunch of their buddies fighting to die with them. Shughart and Gordon knew it was hopeless but requested permission and slid down those ropes from the helicopter to Durant (?) anyway. Why only they will ever know. They knew they would die alone with no fellow mates with them. A test of true unselfish bravery.

I think they knew it was very risky, but not hopeless. I suspect it was more like "Ok dude, this is going to be hairy as sh*t, but we HAVE to do something. You with me? Cool, let's go."

[jackehammond]

I think they knew it was very risky, but not hopeless. I suspect it was more like "Ok dude, this is going to be hairy as sh*t, but we HAVE to do something. You with me? Cool, let's go."

Dear James,

The commander on the scene believed it was hopeless, but the two talked him into letting them try. They were just not going to let Durant die without trying.

Things like this is what really tries the souls of commanders. During the British Afghan Wars after a British or Sikh or Gurkha soldier was wounded they would leave him out in the open as bait -- ie the tethered goat. In the end after the men of his unit had lost men trying to get to that wounded guy, the commander would order them to stop. That commander knew he would be hated by that unit the rest of his life. But he was an officer and got the privilege and the pay and there was times you had to stand up to the plate.

During the Vietnam War there were pilots whose aircraft were damaged and they knew they were going down where the NVA would use them as bait to draw in the Sandys and they did not eject. One of the fast FACs observed an F-105 get hit over the south portion of NV and not eject and even waving at the F-100 FAC pilots (ie the used the two seater version for that role). I asked some pilots I know and they stated they knew it happened (like the Sandys over Laos ordered strikes on themselves) but don't talk about it.

Finally, after the Vietnam War the whole issue of combat air rescue was re-evaluated. The decision was made there was going to be no more massive force rescues (ie kicking the door in with a full air SWAT team) and opted for picking the lock on rescues. They had just lost to many man in rescues. One USAF pilot was rescued at the cost of 15 men. It is a hard decisions, but the rescue choppers they have show they have made the change.

Jack E. Hammond

.

[jackehammond]

A nice article in todays Australian with this man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Sheean

Was badly wounded during a Japanese Air attack on the HMAS Armidale.

Refusing to abandon ship, he lashed himself to the a AA gun and continued to fire, and went down with the sinking ship.



Dear Member,

Is their a famous story about a small gunboat/corvette that on the evacuation of Singapore took on larger Japanese warships?

Jack E. Hammond

.

[Johnny_H02]

Battles

Paardeberg

18-27 February 1900

http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/boer/images/Paardeberg-NAC_C6094.jpg
Field Hospital, Paardeberg, 19 February 1900, the second day of the battle. Most of the soldiers are British Gordon Highlanders, but some are from 2 RCRI.

On 18 February 1900, British forces began to besiege a Boer army commanded by General Piet Cronje at Paardeberg Drift on the banks of the Modder River (See map showing the position of the XIX Brigade on 18 February 1900 (http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/boer/boerwarmaps_e.html#paardeberg1)). Among the attacking force were 31 officers and 866 other ranks of the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry (http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/boer/infantryregiment_e.html). This was the first major Canadian action of the South African War. The first day's assault was extremely bloody, with the Canadians suffering 18 dead and 60 wounded, their worst losses in a single day during the war. The British high command decided to wait out the surrounded Boers. (See map showing the position of the XIX Brigade on 20 February 1900 (http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/boer/boerwarmaps_e.html#paardeberg2))
Day by day, the British tightened their cordon around the Boer position until conditions seemed right to force a Boer surrender. On the night of 26-27 February, the Canadians were in the lead of a British attempt to seize a section of the Boer trenches by a surprise attack. At 2:00 a.m. on 27 February, the Canadians cautiously advanced in two ranks towards the Boer lines less than half a kilometre away. They had nearly reached the enemy trenches when they ran into a trip-wire and came under heavy rifle fire. The front rank returned the Boer fire while their comrades began to hack trenches out of the hard-baked earth. Suddenly, someone called out "Retire". Men began to drop back, confusion set in, and most of the battalion returned to the start line. Only "G" and "H" Companies from the Maritimes held firm and poured fire into the Boer positions. It was not much, but it was enough to convince Cronje that his position was untenable. He surrendered later that morning. (See map showing the Area of General Pieter Arnoldus Cronje's Laager and the position of the XIX Brigade on 27 February 1900 when General Cronje's forces surrendered (http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/boer/boerwarmaps_e.html#paardeberg3))
Over four thousand men, or nearly ten percent of the Boer army, surrendered. It was the first significant British victory of the war. The Royal Canadians received much of the credit. The victory provided a boost to the morale and confidence of the troops and to Canadian nationalism.

** It wasn't a defend or die situation for G and H companies of the RCR's, but it was sheer determination to not retire or retreat none the less.

Another example would be the last salvo from one of the turrets manned by Royal Marines on the H.M.S. Hood, her bow was pointing at the sky when she fired one last defiant salvo before disappearing under the icy sea.

[DE_Six]

What, not a single good word for Gerard Butler and his 299 oiled-up extras at the Battle of the Bluescreen, also known as the Hot Studio gates?

p-)

[that_one_guy]

The Lost Battalion of World War 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Battalion_%28World_War_I%29

[jackehammond]

Folks,

I am surprised none of our Russian members have posted about the Battle or Hill 776?

Jack E. Hammond

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hill_776


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC3rorOWuDg


.

[mcsuperfly]

The Battle of Iwo Jima. Out of 21,000 defenders only 216 lived to be captured during the battle. They caused the Marines about 27,000 casualties (mostly WIA, 6000 KIA) with the very last of the defenders officially surrendering in 1949.

[Dark Avenger]

Our history has many such examples, but I'll just post two:
The epic defense of the Metaxas fortress line against the Germans in 1941. The forts did not surrender until after the armistice. One fortification in particular, a humble pillbox, caused such casualties to the attackers before running out of ammunition, that the German commander congratulated the Sergeant in charge for his devotion to duty and then had him executed on the spot.
Also worth mentioning is the brave and successfull defense of the Makrygiannis Gendarmerie barracks in Athens against communist insurgents in December 1944. Many other such stands were made during the so-called 1946-1949 "civil war" (I prefer the term "communist insurgency").

[Trenchcoat]

Folks,

I am surprised none of our Russian members have posted about the Battle or Hill 776?

Jack E. Hammond

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hill_776[/URL]
.
Also Hill 3234 during the soviet afghan-war.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_for_Hill_3234 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC3rorOWuDg)

[Mousepad]

Folks,

I am surprised none of our Russian members have posted about the Battle or Hill 776?

Jack E. Hammond

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hill_776


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC3rorOWuDg


.

Actually a saw on this board a tread, or it was in "Russian photos" about both of those "776" and "3234"

About "Last stands" i dunno, it was quite awesome stand, but anyway - (Дом Павлова, Dom Pavlova, Pavlov house) jumps to my mind. For Russia it's like Alamo for US

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlov_House - thery short article btw. I saw huge articles and lately, thery good documentary on this, but sadly only in Russian. Many soldiers from that episode actually survived The War, so there was lots of info, so Propaganda, rightfully IMO, made it a role model of heroism. I'm not strong at googlin, but methinks there is a lot of info on this in English, coz Wiki in this case quite brief.

Best regards.

[Erik Sleivöks]

The French Army Besieged Puebla.
The Legion had the role of ensuring, on a hundred and twenty kilometers, the circulation and the safety of the convoys. Colonel JEANNINGROS, commanding officer, learns, April 29, 1863, that a large convoy carrying three million in cash, and material for siege, as well as ammunition was on the way to Puebla.
Captain DANJOU, his executive officer, decided to send in front of the convoy a company. The 3rd company of the foreign Regiment was designated but it did not have officers available. Capatain Danjou takes himself the command and the second lieutenants MAUDET, flag carrier, and VILAIN, payer, voluntarily joins themselves with him.
April 30, at 1 o'clock in the morning, the 3rd company, strong of three officers and sixty two men, gets under way.
It had traveled approximately 20 kilometers, when, at 7 o'clock in the morning, it stops in Palo-Verde to make the coffee.
At this time, the enemy reveals himself and the combat engages at once.
Captain DANJOU orders to form the square and, while beating a retreat, victoriously pushes back several charges of cavalry by inflicting to the enemy severe losses.
Arrived at height of the “hacienda” of Camerone, a vast masonry comprising a court surrounded by a three height meters wall, he decides to hold there in order to fix the enemy and to delay the moment as much as possible when this one will be able to attack the convoy

While the men organize with haste the defense of this “hacienda”, a Mexican officer, putting forward the large superiority of the number, summons Captain DANJOU to surrender. This one answer: "We have ammunition and we do not surrender". Then, he raised his hand, and made the oath to defend themselves until death and made the men to do the same oath.

During 10 hours. Up to 6 o’clock in the evening, these sixty men, who had not eaten nor not drunk since the day before, in spite of extreme heat, the hunger, thirst, resist to two thousand Mexicans: eight hundred cavalrymen, thousand two hundred infantrymen

At midday, the Captain DANJOU is killed by a bullet in his chest. At 2 hours, second lieutenant VILAIN falls, struck by a bullet in the head. At this time, the Mexican colonel succeeds in putting the “hacienda” on fire.
In spite of the heat and the smoke which come to increase their sufferings, the legionaries hold well, but a number of them are wounded.
At 5 o’clock, remains around the second lieutenant MAUDET, only twelve legionnaires able to fight.
At this time, the Mexican colonel gathers his men and says to them from which shame they will be covered if they do not manage to cut down this little group of brave men (a legionnaire which understands Spanish progressively translated his words).
The Mexicans will give the general attack by breaches which they have succeeded in opening, but before, colonel MILAN still addresses a summation to the second lieutenant MAUDET; who refuses it with contempt.

The final attack is given. Soon, it remains around MAUDET only five men: the corporal MAINE, legionnaires CATTEAU, WENSEL, CONSTANTIN, LEONARD. Each one keeps a cartridge: they have the bayonet on the gun and have taken refuge in a corner of the court, the back against the wall, they face the enemy: at a signal, they discharge their rifles and charge the enemy with the bayonets. Second lieutenant MAUDET and two legionaries falls dead

MAINE and its two comrades will be massacred when a Mexican officer precipitates on them and saves them; he shouts to them: "Surrender"!!! "We will surrender if you promise to us to care for and to look after our casualties and if you leave us our weapons". Their bayonets remain menacing…

"One does not refuse anything to men like you!” the officer answers.


The sixty men of Captain DANJOU held until the end their oath; during eleven hours, they resisted to two thousand enemies, killed around three hundred and wounded as many.

They have, by their sacrifice, saved the convoy, and thus fulfilled the mission which had been entrusted to them.

http://www.livres-legion-etrangere.com/french-foreign-legion/camerone.htm (http://www.livres-legion-etrangere.com/french-foreign-legion/camerone.htm)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Camar%C3%B3n (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Camar%C3%B3n)

[matsalleh18]

my fav australian last stand is the battle of long tan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Long_Tan

[James]

Most of what's been posted either wasn't quite a last stand or there were survivors. We've already got a "Heroic defense by small units" thread.

[matsalleh18]

9 Rota movie of Hill 3234 during the soviet afghan-war.the rest of the link are on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15IrsERboHs

[jackehammond]

Actually a saw on this board a tread, or it was in "Russian photos" about both of those "776" and "3234"

About "Last stands" i dunno, it was quite awesome stand, but anyway - (Дом Павлова, Dom Pavlova, Pavlov house) jumps to my mind. For Russia it's like Alamo for US

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlov_House - thery short article btw. I saw huge articles and lately, thery good documentary on this, but sadly only in Russian. Many soldiers from that episode actually survived The War, so there was lots of info, so Propaganda, rightfully IMO, made it a role model of heroism. I'm not strong at googlin, but methinks there is a lot of info on this in English, coz Wiki in this case quite brief.

Best regards.

Dear Member,

Below is a link the English translation of that webpage.

Jack E. Hammond


http://tinyurl.com/5chzzg

.

[jackehammond]

Folks,

The moderator is right. This thread is drifting over to brave defenses where they were survivors and most were just obey orders (admittedly very bravely). Below is the original message requesting postings along with the guidelines. Before posting read it please so we don't get dinged by the powers that be. Thank you.

Jack E. Hammond




Folks,

What do you consider one of the most bravest last stands, where the defenders fought to the death "willingly". I am not talking about where the defenders got caught in a situation where they knew if they surrendered they would die, so why not die fighting, but those that stayed and fought when they could left. One example is the Spartan 300. But even they had been brought up from birth to do (eg the Japanese of WW2). There are others, where those not trained and indoctrinated did the unbelievable and fought to the death when they did not have to.

Anyone have any examples?

Jack E. Hammond

[jackehammond]

Folks,

One that is and quite isn't is the one US admiral who was on a WW2 pacific submarine war patrol as an observer when the submarine was spotted by a Japanese destroyer and forced to the surface where the crew abandon ship. The admiral had knowledge of the up coming invasion of one of the Japanese held island chains and refused to leave the submarine and went down with it. He was one of the few people awarded the US Medal of Honor without firing a shot (ie the other one was a Jehovah Witness US Army medic during the battle of Okinawa, but he survived).

Jack E. Hammond

.

[James]

Folks,

The moderator is right. This thread is drifting over to brave defenses where they were survivors and most were just obey orders (admittedly very bravely). Below is the original message requesting postings along with the guidelines. Before posting read it please so we don't get dinged by the powers that be. Thank you.

Jack E. Hammond

Oh, no one will get dinged or anything (I'm not that wrapped up in my mod powers, hehe), I'm just trying to help us stay focused on the topic.

Have a good one.

[berberman]

Alcántara Cavalry Regiment´s charges in the Annual (North Africa) Spanish Army disaster : (spanish, sorry)

http://www.ejercito.mde.es/organizacion/rcac10/archivos/annual2.htm

JR

[zad]

Alcántara Cavalry Regiment´s charges in the Annual (North Africa) Spanish Army disaster : (spanish, sorry)

http://www.ejercito.mde.es/organizacion/rcac10/archivos/annual2.htm

JR

During the panic of the disaster of Annual while most of the officers acted as cowards neglecting the troops under their commands there were moving cases of heroism. General Felipe Navarro, the second in command at Melilla, left the city, rounded up all the stray troops he could find at Dar Drius, and herded them back toward Melilla, stopping finally at Monte Arruit with thirteen hundred men on July 29. His retreat was courageously covered by the Cavalry regiment of Alcántara, led by Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Primo de Rivera (a cousin of the general), who died of a gangrenous wound several days later.
The Cavalry regiment of Alcantara lost the 90% of their men in one day while covering the withdraw, charging time after time against the enemy. Even the veterinary surgeons and the cadets of the music band took part in the last charges. There were 700 hundred men in the regiment in the morning of the 23 of july. At the end of the day they were just a few officers and 70 troopers. The regiment ceased of exist as unit.

[berberman]

The regiment ceased of exist as unit.

Never in our hearts!


JR

[Airgun_Hunter]

My humble contribution to this thread.

Los Niños heroes @ the battle of Chapultepec.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chapultepec


Los Niños Héroes

During the battle, six Mexican military cadets refused to fall back when General Bravo finally ordered retreat and fought to the death against superior U.S. forces. Their names were: teniente(lieutenant) Juan de la Barrera, and cadets Agustin Melgar, Juan Escutia, Vicente Suarez, Francisco Marquez and Fernando Montes de Oca. One by one they fell; when one was left (Juan Escutia), and the U.S. forces were about to kill him, he grabbed the Mexican flag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_flag), wrapped it around himself and jumped off the castle point. It is said that the American commander saluted the cadaver of Escutia wrapped in the Mexican flag.

[[WDW]Megaraptor]

A few that come to mind:

Badaber Uprising, Soviet War in Afghanistan (April 1985) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badaber_Uprising)

Russian and Afghan allied POWs stage a revolt in a prison in Pakistan. They hold off a force of several hundred Mujahidin, Pakistani Army and American, Chinese and Egyptian military instructors. In the end, all of them were killed after killing close to 200 enemy. Reports differ as to whether the prison's armory was blown up after being hit by an artillery shell, others say the defenders deliberately blew themselves up.

Battle of Xuan Loc, Vietnam War, April 1975 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Xuan_Loc)

The ARVN 18th Division was generally rated as one of the worst in ARVN. But as South Vietnam was being overrun in April 1975, the 18th Division was blocking the PAVN forces at Xuan Loc. In the resulting battle, the ARVN men destroyed three PAVN divisions before being overrun and wiped out.

Battle of Qala-I-Jangi Prison, Afghanistan, November 2001 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Qala-i-Jangi)

Another prison revolt. Al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners fought almost to the last man against a far superior force.

[Eoin666]

Battle of Shiroyama
Following defeat at the Siege of Kumamoto castle and in other battles in central Kyūshū, the surviving remnants of the samurai forces loyal to Saigō Takamori fled back to Satsuma, seizing the hill of Shiroyama overlooking Kagoshima on 1877-09-01.

Imperial army troops under the command of General Yamagata Aritomo and marines under the command of Admiral Kawamura Sumiyoshi began arriving soon after, and the rebels were surrounded. After combat losses and defections, Saigō had only 300-400 samurai remaining of a force of over 20,000 which had besieged the government garrison in the city of Kumamoto only six weeks earlier.

With 300,000 troops, Yamagata outnumbered Saigō 750-to-1, at least. Having been outfought and outmaneuvered so often in the past, however, Yamagata was determined to leave nothing to chance. The imperial troops spent several days constructing an elaborate system of ditches, walls and obstacles to prevent another breakout. The five government warships in Kagoshima harbor added their firepower to Yamagata's artillery, and began to systematically reduce the rebel positions, firing more than 7,000 shells.

Saigō defended his position with limited musket support, and no cannon. Saigō's force was reduced to melting down Buddhist statues pilfered from temples and casting the metal into bullets. Yamagata sent a letter to Saigō, which entreated him to surrender, but bushido honor would not let Saigō surrender.



Imperial Japanese Army fortifications encircling Shiroyama. 1877 photograph.

Yamagata's battle plan was to assault Saigo's position from all sides at once. Units were forbidden to assist one another without express permission. If a unit retreated with enemy troops in pursuit, the neighboring units were to fire into the area indiscriminately, killing their own men if necessary to prevent Saigō from escaping.

Following an intensive artillery bombardment the night of September 24, imperial forces stormed the mountain in the early morning hours. The samurai, under heavy fire, charged the lines of the imperial army, which had not been trained for close-quarter swordfighting. In just a few minutes the once organized line turned into discord. Highly skilled samurai swordsmanship prevailed against an army with very little traditional training. For a short time Saigō's lines held, but was forced back due to weight of numbers. By 6 a.m., only 40 rebels were still alive. Saigō was wounded in the femoral artery and stomach. Losing blood rapidly, he asked to find a suitable spot to die. One of his most loyal followers, Beppu Shinsuke, carried him farther down the hill on his shoulders. Legend says that Beppu acted as kaishakunin and aided Saigō in committing seppuku before he could be captured. However, other evidence contradicts this, stating that Saigō in fact died of the bullet wound and then had his head removed by Beppu in order to preserve his dignity. After Saigo's death, Beppu and the last of the samurai drew their swords and plunged downhill toward the Imperial positions until the last were mowed down by Gatling guns.

With these deaths, the Satsuma rebellion came to an end.

In 1889-02-22, Emperor Meiji pardoned Saigō posthumously. A statue in Kagoshima's Central Park stands in his memory.

This battle inspired the final scenes of the movie, The Last Samurai.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_stand

[Tareece]

Folks,

My nomination is defense of St Elmo in Malta during the Ottoman Turkish siege in the 16th century.

Jack E. Hammond

.


I'm sure thats good...Mine is Valley Forge in the dead of winter, people with no shoes, improper clothing and low morale.....Enter the Father of our Nation

[zad]

Los ultimos de Filipinas "The last ones of the Phillipines":
July 1 1898- June 9 1899 an isolated force of 50 spanish soldiers resisted a siege of 337 days surrounded by over 800 phillipines troops and artillery after the end of the war.


http://www.spanamwar.com/Baler.html

[jupiter]

Exactly !!!

30th of April 1963.

1863 perhaps?p-)

[jackehammond]

I'm sure thats good...Mine is Valley Forge in the dead of winter, people with no shoes, improper clothing and low morale.....Enter the Father of our Nation

Dear Member,

What they did took a lot of fortitude, but it may not be heroic (ie a firing squad has a motivation effect and General Washington proved he was willing to use firing squads -- ie Lincoln my have been merciful but G. Washington was not!). Also, Morristown the next year was actually considered worst (that was when Washington added a twist to firing squads by having the person executed by the men of his own immediate unit). And there were survivors of both those horrible winters.

Finally, with the siege of St Elmo, the defenders that rowed across to the fort during the battle for that fort to replace the wounded and the bodies of those killed that were rowed back KNEW they were not going to leave that fort alive at that stage of the battle for it. The Turks made it clear they were going to kill every defender for holding out and the Turks were working fast to set up trenches for artillery to block any escape. And there was not a culture of no surrender and death (actually the reverse with either ransom or slavery if they surrendered) in the European military culture.

Jack E. Hammond

.

[jackehammond]

Alcántara Cavalry Regiment´s charges in the Annual (North Africa) Spanish Army disaster : (spanish, sorry)

http://www.ejercito.mde.es/organizacion/rcac10/archivos/annual2.htm

JR

Dear Member,

Below is an English translation of that webpage.

http://tinyurl.com/5w2s3g

And while not exactly a "Bravest Last Stand to the Death" it is close. It was the only shining moment in one of the most disgraceful episodes in Spanish military history. At least General Silvestre did the honorable thing in the end -- ie he committed suicide for the deaths of an estimated 20,000 Spanish soldiers and civilians.

But having said all the above. On this thread the Spanish Army's "Bridegrooms of Death" don't count. Any military organization which motto is "Long Live Death" and is actually looking for battle to die in just can't count in this thread. They were more fanatical than the Japanese! And today are upset because the Spanish government won't send them to fight in Hemend (?) province in Afghanistan to fight with the British, Canadians, Dutch and Danes against the Taliban.

Jack E. Hammond

.

[jackehammond]

Los ultimos de Filipinas "The last ones of the Phillipines":
July 1 1898- June 9 1899 an isolated force of 50 spanish soldiers resisted a siege of 337 days surrounded by over 800 phillipines troops and artillery after the end of the war.


http://www.spanamwar.com/Baler.html

Dear Member,

Actually most survived. It was the shining moment also for the Spanish people of the Spanish-American War (although almost to a man the Spaniards and Cubans in the Spanish Army in Cuba fought with extreme bravery). When they returned to Spain they were given a cheering ovation as they marched through Madrid which would have made you think that Spain had won that war, instead of loosing almost the last of her great empire!

But I sure wish that officer in charge of that small city had not been such a smart a**. He really irked the Tagalogese with his replies when they asked him to surrender. As far as the Tagaloese were concerned he could have just said "No." and been polite about the whole thing.

Jack E. Hammond

.

[Gerle]

1863 perhaps?p-)
Check out this post: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3470614&postcount=23

Great idea for a thread btw, Jack!

[Salonen]

RC 4, French Indochina, October 1950. Moroccan Goums, 8 Tabor. Could have surrendred to the Viets, but with their French officers charged the Viets chanting the Chehada, prayer of death for Muslims. What a way to go!

[Othree52]

M. Luttrell's SEAL team 10 in my opinion at the top of my head. His Fuc*in' story made numb....

[the_hog]

Wilsons last stand.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shangani_Patrol

[RSone]

Major W.P.(Willem Pieter) Landzaat, during the Battle for the Grebbeberg(Grebbe mountain/hill) The Stopline, pretty much the final defensive position of Dutch Forces during the battle was penetrated. Many of the Dutch command posts were located behind the stopline and came under direct attack, many were routed.
Not the command post of I-8 RI batallion, under the command of Major Landzaat. He and his men valliantly defended the command post against the SS troops.

Landzaat gave his men the order to "stand firm behind the rubble" and to "resist until the last bullet". Once the group had run out of ammunition, Landzaat thanked and dismissed his men and continued to defend the command post against the SS on his own with the only remaining machinegun and any ammo he could find,allowing his Batallion,or what remained of it, to retreat and regroup behind the Waterline. His body was found after the battle by his wife. After the war Landzaat would be posthumously awarded the Order of William (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_William), the highest Dutch military honour.

[zad]

Dear Member,

Below is an English translation of that webpage.

http://tinyurl.com/5w2s3g

But having said all the above. On this thread the Spanish Army's "Bridegrooms of Death" don't count. Any military organization which motto is "Long Live Death" and is actually looking for battle to die in just can't count in this thread. They were more fanatical than the Japanese! And today are upset because the Spanish government won't send them to fight in Hemend (?) province in Afghanistan to fight with the British, Canadians, Dutch and Danes against the Taliban.

Jack E. Hammond

.
"HOEC NUBILA TOLLUNT OBSTANTIA SICUT SOL"

Friend, the regiment of cavalry Alcantara Nº14 was not part of the Legion, it was created in 1656.
brief history of the regiment: http://tinyurl.com/6s7d3t

I am afraid you have a few missconceptions about spanish armed forces, specifically about the spanish legion and their spirit, spanish legion is not a suicide unit seeking to an opportunity to die in action. As many shook units try to build a spirit of bravado and disdain to the fear of death in combat, and of course their goal is not to die in combat, that state of mind is not part of spanish way of thinking, bravery? yes. Nearly suicidal bravery to fullfill a mission? maybe. Suicidal tendences? not in our army thanks God.

Casualties of the regiment in the eight charges of the 23 July of 1921:
Reported to duty the morning of July 23: 691 riders.
Reported to duty the night of July 23: 67 riders.
KIAs: 541 riders.
WIAs: 5 riders
POWs: 78 riders.
The 13 cadets of the music band were all among the KIAs.
Lt Colonel Primo de Rivera died a few days later of injuries sustained in other combat.

http://tinyurl.com/5kn74r

[a_very_ex_STAB]

GANDAMAK- January 1842


18,000 Afghani's vs 65 British Soldiers of the 44th Regiment

3 British Soldiers survived

Yes I was going to mention Gandamack as well.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fb/Last-stand.jpg

The Last Stand of the 44th. Note the Union Jack wrapped around Capt Souter.

[a_very_ex_STAB]

Or from the Korean War

The Fight for Gloster Hill

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/korea/gloster.html

[Pandemonium]

It wasn't mentioned yet, and maybe it isn't quiet conventional, but a good exemple was the last stand of the the SS ( most of them not even germans but large numbers of the Charle Magne division) in the Reichstag, they had no other choise than to fight untill the bitter end, they resisted and stopped attack after attack, and even continued to fight in the darkness of the basement.
Many of you will not see this as a heroic fact, because of the many crimes they comitted.
But to me it still gives evidence of great bravery.

Also during the battle of the Somme, the heroic defense of Fort Vaux should be mensioned,

[T-Rex]

Battle of the Little Bighorn

http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk178/topgun_024/th_custard1.jpg

Colonel Custard's last stand at the battle of the Little Bighorn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Little_Bighorn

[berberman]

Dear Member,

Below is an English translation of that webpage.

http://tinyurl.com/5w2s3g

And while not exactly a "Bravest Last Stand to the Death" it is close. It was the only shining moment in one of the most disgraceful episodes in Spanish military history. At least General Silvestre did the honorable thing in the end -- ie he committed suicide for the deaths of an estimated 20,000 Spanish soldiers and civilians.

But having said all the above. On this thread the Spanish Army's "Bridegrooms of Death" don't count. Any military organization which motto is "Long Live Death" and is actually looking for battle to die in just can't count in this thread. They were more fanatical than the Japanese! And today are upset because the Spanish government won't send them to fight in Hemend (?) province in Afghanistan to fight with the British, Canadians, Dutch and Danes against the Taliban.

Jack E. Hammond

.
Thank you for the translation.
And you´re true about Silvestre.

But you are mistaking about The Spanish Legion.

First, the Alcántara Calvary Regiment was not a part of the Spanish Legion. Was a part of the Spanish Army.
Second, the motto. It was created in the early 20th century. And is the motto for a elite unit. It´s history. Our history. And, please, be careful with it.

Then you say "...more fanatical than the Japanese..." :roll:
I´ve been to Japan recently and I´ve seen the most well educated and ready to help people in the world. If some american people decide to die for the glory of their president, they´re heroes, but if they´re japanese, os spanish, or... they´re fanaticals...:roll:

Finally you´re talking about the willing of the Legion units "...today are upset because the Spanish government won't send them to fight in Hemend (?) province in Afghanistan to fight with the British, Canadians, Dutch and Danes against the Taliban." You don´t really know what you´re talking about. The Legion it´s not upset. The Legion works wherever is sent. Today is a group of first line units ready to work for the willing of the Spanish people. And that´s all. No blind fanaticals around. Take it easy man.

JR

[[WDW]Megaraptor]

What about the fall of Acre in 1291?

[kawaiku]

The British contingent and their native allies in the battle of Isandlwana in the Zulu War.

The French at Dien Bien Phu...

The German 6th Army at the Battle of Stalingrad.

And there is another action, I don't remember it's name but it was the time of British Imperialism. I think this was in Sudan or Egypt when a British fort was taken after a furious battle and the forts commander made a last stand.

[the_hog]

Was that general Gordon?

[jackehammond]

Thank you for the translation.
And you´re true about Silvestre.

But you are mistaking about The Spanish Legion.

First, the Alcántara Calvary Regiment was not a part of the Spanish Legion. Was a part of the Spanish Army.
Second, the motto. It was created in the early 20th century. And is the motto for a elite unit. It´s history. Our history. And, please, be careful with it.

Then you say "...more fanatical than the Japanese..." :roll:
I´ve been to Japan recently and I´ve seen the most well educated and ready to help people in the world. If some american people decide to die for the glory of their president, they´re heroes, but if they´re japanese, os spanish, or... they´re fanaticals...:roll:

Finally you´re talking about the willing of the Legion units "...today are upset because the Spanish government won't send them to fight in Hemend (?) province in Afghanistan to fight with the British, Canadians, Dutch and Danes against the Taliban." You don´t really know what you´re talking about. The Legion it´s not upset. The Legion works wherever is sent. Today is a group of first line units ready to work for the willing of the Spanish people. And that´s all. No blind fanaticals around. Take it easy man.

JR

Dear JR,

Sorry, about the misinterpretation. I know the Spanish cavalry unit mentioned was not part of La Legion. I was thinking everyone would assume that in my statement. I was making that statement, because I knew that incidents of La Legion would be next mentioned.

And it was a famous Spanish poet when the first months of the Spanish Civil War who in an incredible act of courage -- speaking up in the presence of the father of La Legion -- stated the contradiction about the motto "Long Live Death!" No just Jack E. Hammond.

As to the Japanese vs the American code on death in battle. The Japanese immune a code of death even when the death accomplished nothing. That code (along with La Legion during the Spanish Civil War) caused a culture of death which resulted in brutalities beyond would be the norm. Yes, American's in combat could be fanatical. The best example would be Torpedo Squadron 8 at Midway. They sacrificed their lives in the hope of being able to score just one torpedo hit against the Japanese carriers. With the Japanese in WW2 sometimes it was death for the sake of death. But it was a for a reason. Not just to die. During the Japanese attempt to take Korea (as a gate way to China) in the 16th century, Christian Japanese warriors in forts would have a contest against Buddhist to see who could hold out the longest, even though militarily it would serve no purpose where a retreat to fight another day would. And remember. When the Japanese were at last ordered to surrender many committed suicide because of that culture. Even though they were in Japan and would not become POWs. Also, if you have read about the Siege of Malta (which the Spanish viceroy was involved in planning for and helped raise the siege) he gave three points of advice to the Grand Master. One of them was to control the Spanish nobles of his orders desire to seek open combat and death instead of fighting what they saw as the "cowards" way from behind the walls. That was the same problem that some Japanese commanders had with their officers who were indoctrinated with the cult of death in battle -- ie their desire to mount Banzi attacks which while horrific to those who suffered the war, actually shorten the time and blood spent by US force to obtain those the defeat and possession of those islands.

As to your final statements. I have my sources and knowledge. And we will have to agree to disagree. But for one last statement. One Spanish citizen I know, stated he knew friends and others personally, who have joined La Legion and when he met them next could not believe their political and religious views -- ie before they were apolitical or moderate and then they would make the most ultra-conservative blush in their view points.


Jack E. Hammond

.

[jackehammond]

The British contingent and their native allies in the battle of Isandlwana in the Zulu War.

The French at Dien Bien Phu...

The German 6th Army at the Battle of Stalingrad.

And there is another action, I don't remember it's name but it was the time of British Imperialism. I think this was in Sudan or Egypt when a British fort was taken after a furious battle and the forts commander made a last stand.


Dear Member,

At Isandlwana, the really brave ones that meets the meaning of this message thread was the British officers. Each and every one of them had a good horse and could have left that battlefield and lived. They all stayed giving their horses to others to escape.

Jack E. Hammond


.

[jackehammond]

RC 4, French Indochina, October 1950. Moroccan Goums, 8 Tabor. Could have surrendred to the Viets, but with their French officers charged the Viets chanting the Chehada, prayer of death for Muslims. What a way to go!

Dear Member,

After the Communists Chinese took the Chinese-IndoChina border area, why the French command left those units in that area along RC4 is just unbelievable. And while I have no knowledge the Viet Minh's brutality towards FFL members that surrender was well known. The Moroccans most likely expected the same and decided to die honorably.

During the Siege of DBP, re-enforcements were needed and aircraft landings were on longer possible. After the French the Moroccan were the second group that volunteered to jump into DBP. There was no training jumps. They just gave them instructions on how to parachute and their first jump was into DBP at night.

Finally, it was shameful that the French government let the European-Algerians jerk them around the tail and not recognize that the Moroccan soldiers at least deserved full French citizenship. It may have been if that had been done "A Savage War in Peace" would not have been written.

Jack E. Hammond

NOTE> Thanks for pointing out this little known (at least in America) act of supreme bravery.

.

[jackehammond]

Major W.P.(Willem Pieter) Landzaat, during the Battle for the Grebbeberg(Grebbe mountain/hill) The Stopline, pretty much the final defensive position of Dutch Forces during the battle was penetrated. Many of the Dutch command posts were located behind the stopline and came under direct attack, many were routed.
Not the command post of I-8 RI batallion, under the command of Major Landzaat. He and his men valliantly defended the command post against the SS troops.

Landzaat gave his men the order to "stand firm behind the rubble" and to "resist until the last bullet". Once the group had run out of ammunition, Landzaat thanked and dismissed his men and continued to defend the command post against the SS on his own with the only remaining machinegun and any ammo he could find,allowing his Batallion,or what remained of it, to retreat and regroup behind the Waterline. His body was found after the battle by his wife. After the war Landzaat would be posthumously awarded the Order of William (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_William), the highest Dutch military honour.

Dear Member,

I looked up the battle. Very interesting reading. Below is a link to the battle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Grebbeberg

And it seems not only the Dutch were guilty about putting their tourists economy ahead of its defenses, even in the face of the coming Nazi peril. After December 7th, the German's sent as many submarines as possible to patrol off the US coast. They found all the cities along the coast with all their lights on at night, making spotting and sinking merchant ships extremely easy. There were those in the US Navy who wanted to order a black out of coastal cities, but they were refused because the local politicians stated it would hurt the tourist trade! Those early months along the US coast was the best hunting the German U-boats ever had.

Finally, a question which is off topic. Did the Dutch high command consider just blowing all the key bridges when it saw that the war was not going to end after Poland. That would have made Holland basically nothing of military value to invade. Some have said this might have been the best option for the Dutch East Indies when the Japanese gave their ultimatum about oil supplies from DEI. Just blow them all up. Then why would the Japanese want to invade? The Allies had other "safe" sources of oil.

Jack E. Hammond

.

[matsalleh18]

does anybody know the last stand of american soldier in the pacific during ww2,
all his mates were killed but he still manned the foxhole until the japanesed stop charging,he credited some 16 kills i think it was?
does anyone have info,saw this on History channel

[RSone]

Dear Member,

I looked up the battle. Very interesting reading. Below is a link to the battle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Grebbeberg

And it seems not only the Dutch were guilty about putting their tourists economy ahead of its defenses, even in the face of the coming Nazi peril. After December 7th, the German's sent as many submarines as possible to patrol off the US coast. They found all the cities along the coast with all their lights on at night, making spotting and sinking merchant ships extremely easy. There were those in the US Navy who wanted to order a black out of coastal cities, but they were refused because the local politicians stated it would hurt the tourist trade! Those early months along the US coast was the best hunting the German U-boats ever had.

Finally, a question which is off topic. Did the Dutch high command consider just blowing all the key bridges when it saw that the war was not going to end after Poland. That would have made Holland basically nothing of military value to invade. Some have said this might have been the best option for the Dutch East Indies when the Japanese gave their ultimatum about oil supplies from DEI. Just blow them all up. Then why would the Japanese want to invade? The Allies had other "safe" sources of oil.

Jack E. Hammond

.

Blowing the bridges over the major rivers was considered. You have to take into consideration that these rivers are huge by the time they reach the lowlands delta(The Netherlands is basically a big river delta) so blowing them would severely limit mobility of Dutch Forces around Rotterdam/The Hague.Couple this with the wish of the Dutch Government to stay neutral again(we would have gotten involved again eventually through war against the Japanese),the low standard of the army at the time, and the Germans saying we were brother people(which was obviously bullcrap) The Germans also attacked through the north of the country, with the aim of moving over the Closure Dike. I can't stress enough that that dike is of extreme importance for this country, if it were damaged,breached, it would mean the entire country along the Ijssel lake would be inundated, meaning large civilian casualties. Fortunately, at Kornwederzand fortress, the dutch forces held off the advance.

Eventually,when the situation deteriorated enough, the bridges were blown. The germans tried, via a brandenburger operation to take them intact, this failed. The bridges were blown,sometimes with the brandenburgers on them. The Germans were met by stiff resistance around Rotterdam and The Hague. Troops even refused to surrender, so their captive officers were shot by the Germans. This resistance had a goal, to get the Royal Family out of the country. After a few days it even seemed the Dutch Army had stopped the Germans, which enraged Hitler, as he was scared this might give the Brits room to respond. So he ordered the bombing of Rotterdam.

Edit: I Just stumbled on the idea, that if we had a proper army(i.e. not using arty pieces from the 1800's and a sufficient number of tanks instead of crappy peugeot light tin cans) we could have held the germans back long enough for the French and the British to respond.The War may have looked very different if that had happened

[ThatHistoryDude]

How about the fall of Constantinople to the Turks? I know not everyone involved died but the vast majority of the Greeks who fought the invaders did including the Emperor. Accurate numbers are unknown but the unit that was with Constantine XI apparently was killed to the last man.

Numbers were something like 4-5000 Greeks with about 2000 Western allies against somewhere around 100,000 Ottomans.

[RSone]

Battle of the Little Bighorn

http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk178/topgun_024/th_custard1.jpg

Colonel Custard's last stand at the battle of the Little Bighorn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Little_Bighorn

It's Custer, not Custard:)rofl

[jackehammond]

How about the fall of Constantinople to the Turks? I know not everyone involved died but the vast majority of the Greeks who fought the invaders did including the Emperor. Accurate numbers are unknown but the unit that was with Constantine XI apparently was killed to the last man.

Numbers were something like 4-5000 Greeks with about 2000 Western allies against somewhere around 100,000 Ottomans.

Dear Member,

Emperor Constantine XI without a doubt meets the standards of this thread. He was encouraged to leave Constantinople and continue the fight in his realm in southern Greece and refused. And fought at the breach when the Turks broke through. Many believe he and his body guard stripped off their armor so his body could not be discovered..

As to the numbers. It seems overwhelming, but Constantinople is a tough nut to crack. See the defense of Rhodes. Armored Christian fighters in the defense are very effective against the relatively unarmored Ottoman Turk levies. The main problem was the lack of good walls along the Horn. Once the Sultan dragged those boats over Constantinople was basically doomed. Plus, because of the jacka** Pope insisting that the Greek Orthodox Church submit to Rome authority, many of the population of Constantinople refused to fight to defend the city because Constantine agreed (ie the Venetians brought 800 suits of demi-armor and could not even find enough volunteers from the population to take all 800!).


Jack E. Hammond

.

[berberman]

Hi Jack!


Sorry, about the misinterpretation. I know the Spanish cavalry unit mentioned was not part of La Legion. I was thinking everyone would assume that in my statement. I was making that statement, because I knew that incidents of La Legion would be next mentioned.
Never mind.


And it was a famous Spanish poet when the first months of the Spanish Civil War who in an incredible act of courage -- speaking up in the presence of the father of La Legion -- stated the contradiction about the motto "Long Live Death!" No just Jack E. Hammond.
Miguel de Unamuno. Yes, a courageous act in front of Millán Astray and several fascist people around. We needed more people like him in this years.


As to the Japanese vs the American code on death in battle. The Japanese immune a code of death even when the death accomplished nothing. That code (along with La Legion during the Spanish Civil War) caused a culture of death which resulted in brutalities beyond would be the norm.
Along with La Legión? I disagree. I have no notice about suicidal attacks or actions with their own nonsense death.
I´m sad to say there where in that war so many times for brutality...from both sides.


Also, if you have read about the Siege of Malta (which the Spanish viceroy was involved in planning for and helped raise the siege) he gave three points of advice to the Grand Master. One of them was to control the Spanish nobles of his orders desire to seek open combat and death instead of fighting what they saw as the "cowards" way from behind the walls.
I think it has no sense to compare the honour codes of 16th century with the occidental 20th ones.


As to your final statements. I have my sources and knowledge. And we will have to agree to disagree. But for one last statement. One Spanish citizen I know, stated he knew friends and others personally, who have joined La Legion and when he met them next could not believe their political and religious views -- ie before they were apolitical or moderate and then they would make the most ultra-conservative blush in their view points.
You´re true:we have to agree or disagree. Is the purpose of a forum like this:discussing topics.
I have my sources and knowledge too. I Know Spanish soldiers from the Ejército (Army), the Infantería de Marina (Marines) and La Legión. Some of them are friends of mine. My political views are not conservative for sure, and I had never got the feeling of being among fanaticals or ultras. They´re soldiers. Nothing less and nothing more.

JR

[kawaiku]

Dear Member,

At Isandlwana, the really brave ones that meets the meaning of this message thread was the British officers. Each and every one of them had a good horse and could have left that battlefield and lived. They all stayed giving their horses to others to escape.

Jack E. Hammond


.What's up Jack,
You are also forgetting about the soldiers who made some of the last stands near the closing moments of the battle. There are two groups that made two different stands that are more well known, and also smaller groups of soldiers that fought in other areas of the camp near of the other parts of the battlefield that also, "meet the meaning of the message." So don't just remember the officers of this battle.


Was that general Gordon?
I was hoping you knew p-)

[Johnny_H02]

The Bravest Last Stand to the Death, is none other than the last stand at Gandamak by the 44th Regiment of Foot in Afghanistan.
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/7850/laststandpt4.jpg

The final stand took place at Gandamak on the morning of 13th January 1842 in the snow. 20 officers and 45 European soldiers, mostly of the 44th Foot, found themselves surrounded on a hillock. The Afghans attempted to persuade the soldiers that they intended them no harm. Then the sniping began followed a series of rushes. Captain Souter wrapped the colours of the regiment around his body and was dragged into captivity with two or three soldiers. The remainder were shot or cut down. Only 6 mounted officers escaped. Of these 5 were murdered along the road.
http://www.britishbattles.com/first-afghan-war/kabul-gandamak.htm

[blueactive]

Torpedo Squadron 8 from the USS Hornet at the Battle of Midway.
http://www.valorstudios.com/Images/Torpedo8/torpedo8.jpg





"If there is only one plane left to make a final run-in," he told his men, "I want that man to go in and get a hit. May God be with us all. Good luck, happy landings, and give 'em hell."

Commander John C Waldron, Commanding Officer, Torpedo Squadron 8


Here are the recollections of the sole survivor of Torpedo 8's brave attack against the Japanese Fleet at the Battle of Midway.

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq81-8c.htm




http://www.torpedoeight.com/gallery/Go-in-and-get-a-hit.jpg

[Umbro2914]

Funny how no one has mentioned the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Although they were not professional soldiers, they fought to the death, for they knew that if they didnt fight, they will face certain death in concentration camps, and if they did fight, they could at least die with honor. The few that were captured were murdered by the germans at the site.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_ghetto_uprising

[Eztyga]

my fav australian last stand is the battle of long tan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Long_Tan

Umm, how is this a last stand? A last stand by definition is down to the last man, there were survivors from the Battle of Long Tan.

WO2 Kevin 'Dasher' Wheatley.

Arriving in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) in March 1965, Wheatley joined the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. He distinguished himself on 28 May by risking heavy fire to rescue a 3-year-old girl. On 18 August, when South Vietnamese troops ceased advancing during an assault, he took the lead and inspired them to continue charging up a hill. His men routed some fifty People's Liberation Armed Forces (Viet Cong) soldiers.

Wheatley and another Australian, Warrant Officer R. J. Swanton, were on a search and destroy mission in the Tra Bong valley, Quang Ngai province, with a platoon of the Civil Irregular Defence Group on 13 November 1965 when it was attacked by the Viet Cong. The platoon broke in the face of heavy fire and began to scatter. Swanton was shot in the chest. Although told that Swanton was dying, Wheatley refused to leave him. Under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, he half-dragged and half-carried Swanton out of open rice paddies into the comparative safety of nearby jungle. He refused a second request to withdraw, pulled the pins from his two grenades and waited with his motionless colleague while the enemy approached. Two grenade explosions were heard, followed by several bursts of fire. Wheatley and Swanton were found at first light next morning, dead from gunshot wounds.

For refusing to abandon a wounded comrade in the face of overwhelming odds Wheatley was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. He had also been awarded the United States of America's Silver Star. The Republic of Vietnam had appointed him a knight of its National Order and awarded him its Military Merit Medal and Cross of Gallantry with Palm. In 1993 Wheatley's V.C. and other medals were presented to the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

Regards,

Ezy

[California Joe]

These kinds of threads always bother me. Who are we to pass judgement on any of these men in these battles? How do we know there was a conscious effort to be "brave"? The actions could simply be the result of realizing that they were done..."Oh, we're f*cked now, might as well take as many of them with us as possible"...We don't know what the motivations were, and they were certainly different among individuals.

I remember reading a description of Picketts Charge at G ettysburg by a soldier that took part in it. He said that they knew what they were in for, and all of them were scared to death to go, but no one was willing to refuse the order and be shamed in front of their comrades. I don't know if that constitutes bravery or peer pressure. Surely some of both.

[Billy No Mates]

I don't know if that constitutes bravery or peer pressure. Surely some of both.

I suppose thats touching on the difference between physical bravery and moral courage,i guess the formers an attribute the later a virtue,not that i would really know as i am pretty sure i possess neither .

[matthew.manhorn]

Was it true that a single Russian tank blew up tons German panzers miraculously during the Battle of Moscow?

Same to the Israeli's during 6 day war against Syria?

[ThatHistoryDude]

These kinds of threads always bother me. Who are we to pass judgement on any of these men in these battles? How do we know there was a conscious effort to be "brave"? The actions could simply be the result of realizing that they were done..."Oh, we're f*cked now, might as well take as many of them with us as possible"...We don't know what the motivations were, and they were certainly different among individuals.

I remember reading a description of Picketts Charge at G ettysburg by a soldier that took part in it. He said that they knew what they were in for, and all of them were scared to death to go, but no one was willing to refuse the order and be shamed in front of their comrades. I don't know if that constitutes bravery or peer pressure. Surely some of both.

Some of these men no doubt found themselves forced to be 'brave' because of the circumstances. Others like Leonidas had an opportunity to get away but passed on it out of a sense of duty and courage. You are of course right though that one of the largest contributing factors in a person's battlefield courage is a sort of peer pressure of not wanting to be shamed in front of ones comrades. The Theban Sacred Band is probably the best expression of this idea.

Which leads me to another great last stand the Sacred Band at Chaeronea. While their lifestyle, at least according to Plutarch, was unorthodox no one can question their bravery in battle.

[[WDW]Megaraptor]

Was it true that a single Russian tank blew up tons German panzers miraculously during the Battle of Moscow?


I thought it was a KV-1 at Raseinai, Lithauania?

[kongman]

Battle of the Little Bighorn

http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk178/topgun_024/th_custard1.jpg

Colonel Custard's last stand at the battle of the Little Bighorn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Little_Bighorn



my personal opinion that one was supidity..............

[angry cow]

Second Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroo_Onoda

Dude fought for 30 years by himself, and only surrendered when his former commanding officer ordered him to. And his Arisaka 99 was still in operating condition. Men like him make me glad that the US never had to land on the Japanese home islands.


Private Teruo Nakamura also didn't surrender till 1974.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teruo_Nakamura

[[WDW]Megaraptor]

According to this page: http://www.wanpela.com/holdouts/list.html

There was another Japanese holdout, Fumio Nakahira, who was not discovered on Mindoro island, Philippines until 1980.

[Hollis]

I sort of feel the same as CJ on threads that measure stuff as the best, etc.

There are a number of reasons in my mind not to do that. Maybe just calling them all tremendous acts of heroism might be better. What about events that never get recorded or read in history.

Custer's last stand seems heroic, and his men where. The problem it was a fool hardy adventure. How many holding actions to allow the main body to slip away are never recorded because there was no one left to write about them. It is the same with medals, not every one who fulfilled the requirement to get one, got one. Not everyone who got one, Let's just say, maybe someone else should have got it.

Maybe to the young man who has never served, topics of the "last stand" sounds so inviting, encourages them to enlist. I would suggest reading "All Quite on the Western Front".

How does one go about measuring heroics. There are a number of men, who feel they where just doing their duty. They where and more. I guess it is part of a society to need heroes, so they are made or heroes are exploited for that need.

I guess my problem is that there are heroes and there are Societies needs for heroes and often the two are not same. Personally the title of the thread smacks of immaturity. It ignores so many issues and seems to pander on the child's view of war.

There are Heroes, a lot more than this thread would elude too, and their deaths was a last stand to the death. Arlington lists many of their names followed by KIA.

[T-Rex]

my personal opinion that one was supidity..............

I think Custer lacked sufficent inteligence on the exact position of the Indian force, plus, he never knew that he was so outnumbered. In the end it was a brave last stand but one that spelled death for his whole troop. Add the fact that he was facing some very spirited Native leaders, among them the famed Crazy horse.

[Ichabod]

There are a number of reasons in my mind not to do that. Maybe just calling them all tremendous acts of heroism might be better. What about events that never get recorded or read in history.


Why not change the title of the thread to ''Bravest Last Stands to the Death'' or just ''Last Stands'' or something ??

[Krikke.D]

one thing comes to mind
Camerone
legion étrangère made their reputation that day

[Mastermind]

These kinds of threads always bother me. Who are we to pass judgement on any of these men in these battles? How do we know there was a conscious effort to be "brave"? The actions could simply be the result of realizing that they were done..."Oh, we're f*cked now, might as well take as many of them with us as possible"...We don't know what the motivations were, and they were certainly different among individuals.

I remember reading a description of Picketts Charge at *****sburg by a soldier that took part in it. He said that they knew what they were in for, and all of them were scared to death to go, but no one was willing to refuse the order and be shamed in front of their comrades. I don't know if that constitutes bravery or peer pressure. Surely some of both.
Joe, you make a great point. But, in my personal experience, I never heard of anyone fighting for flag or for the glory...we all fought for each other. It might nave been a sense of duty, or patriotism or a burning hatred for the enemy that originally made men enlist.
But, in the trench, in hell of it all, in the fire...we (all who have tasted the hell of battle) never fought for mother, home and apple pie...we fought like hell because if we didnt we would let others of our brotherhood down.

Soldiers can be ordered into the maw..and they go scared, like the men of Picketts charge, and still go willing. They go inspite of the weak knees, the bile in the breath and the urge to pee your pants. The greatest fear, though, is not the fear of the ball in the gut or the shard through the jaw...it is the fear of wondering just where your breaking point is...and believe me, no man knows that until it finds him.

I knew a man who won the Congressional Medal of Honor for charging an enemy bunker line and screaming "Geronimo" like a maniac while doing it...he and his M-113 ACAV crew rolled over the top of the bunker line, tossing out grenades and hollering like hell and the Sarge in charge was laughing his ass off all the way...His name was Baker, B-Troop, 17th Cav, 101st Abn. I watched the charge and we all laughed our asses off. Quite honestly, knowing Sergeant Baker, I knew he did it as a joke...we knew the enemy positions, we had been there several times, and in spite of it all, though the acutal danger was moderate, it was a hell of a thing to see...and it so surprised the enemy, they up and hauled out...leaving no battle for the rest of us (for which I was down right thankful). That said, I also thought it was one hell of a dumb ass prank...but, also an act of outragous bravery. When Baker finsihed his run, we all patted him on the back and joked about it. What we did not know, was Genral Barsanti was watching the action from a helicopter...Baker got put in for the CMOH and it was duly awarded.

Brave...from this keyboard of safety today...My God, it sure as hell was. Brave from our day-to-day fighting experience...not really. But, he sure did not have to do it and who knows who it saved that day. Reading the writ for it...it sounds like he ripped the sky in two with his own ****.

Your right, we often go into the fray not thinking, "I'll be stout and brave today..to hell with the snipers and the shells...I'll take 'em all on, and one at a time if I have to." And, I was mentally prepared, myself, that I would never allow the enemy to take me alive...I would take every damn one of 'em I could with a rock if need be, before they took me. I saw too many they took and what they did to them. I never considered my self a brave man...I was almost always scared shtless. But, if I had been put to a test of a "Last Stand", I knew what I was going to do. So it was with most everyone else around me.
Sure, we wanted to live...and in one piece, if that was at all possible. But, I doubt we were any bit different than all the soldiers who preceeded us and who came after us. The guys at Dien Bien Phu, the guys at the Alamo, The guys at Cadiz, the guys at Little Round Top, or walking that long walk with Pickett, or scrambling through the street of Mogadishu, or any other gallant "Light Brigade thing", in my personal belief, were all just about the same.

We mainly fought for each other. If that saved a country...well, good. But, in that moment of facing down the scyth, I doubt very many were thinking about why they enlisted in the first place. They were just there and they did what they had to do. In my book...yeah, that's bravery and for the best reasons of 'em all.

[California Joe]

Well said MM, as usual.

[El Diablo Rojo]

You are the first person who has publicly stated what many in the US military are thinking. It does not add up. Especially the part about the Afghan extending them hospitality due a fugitive on the run. That part of the Pashtun code extends only to fellow Moslems. No unbelievers. Also the part about the 3 goat herders. They could have held them till the helicopter came and extracted them or tied them up. And last, the vote. I may be wrong, but the US military is not a democracy. Especially among the elite of professionals.
1. He says in the book that he recited Muslim chants with his hosts while he was seeking refuge with them. Maybe they figured "beard + Muslim prayer = Muslim"? Just a thought on my part.
2. The reason they didn't extract after the goatherd incident was because of major commo issues; they couldn't get through to anyone.
3. Your guess is as good as mine as why they voted, maybe Lt. Murphy figured they'd come up with the best answer through debate and discussion instead of a quick autocratic decision?

[RSone]

Dear Member,

I looked up the battle. Very interesting reading. Below is a link to the battle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Grebbeberg

And it seems not only the Dutch were guilty about putting their tourists economy ahead of its defenses, even in the face of the coming Nazi peril. After December 7th, the German's sent as many submarines as possible to patrol off the US coast. They found all the cities along the coast with all their lights on at night, making spotting and sinking merchant ships extremely easy. There were those in the US Navy who wanted to order a black out of coastal cities, but they were refused because the local politicians stated it would hurt the tourist trade! Those early months along the US coast was the best hunting the German U-boats ever had.

Finally, a question which is off topic. Did the Dutch high command consider just blowing all the key bridges when it saw that the war was not going to end after Poland. That would have made Holland basically nothing of military value to invade. Some have said this might have been the best option for the Dutch East Indies when the Japanese gave their ultimatum about oil supplies from DEI. Just blow them all up. Then why would the Japanese want to invade? The Allies had other "safe" sources of oil.

Jack E. Hammond

.


A bit late, but this should give you a better insight into what happened around Rotterdam and The Hague. Strangely enough, the fighting in The Hague claimed far more dutch casualties than that in Rotterdam,despite Rotterdams' greater strategic importance. Then again the troops in The Hague were guarding something far more important than a city. In the end Dutch forces had 1500 casualties in The Hague; 515 killed and 1000 wounded. The germans had 2945 casualties; 400 killed,700 wounded,1745 captured. In addition to that they lost 125 transport aircraft and 47 additional transports were damaged.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rotterdam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_for_The_Hague

oddly enough you can find more info in the general "Battles involving The Netherlands" page than in the Military History of The Netherlands during world war 2" page. I'll list them both,because they both list some interesting battles, The Georgian Uprising on Texel Island for example.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_Uprising_of_Texel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Battles_involving_the_Netherlands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Military_history_of_the_Netherlands_during_World_War_II

Captain Boers was another interesting dutch commander during world war 2. He commanded Dutch Forces on the Closure Dike(the Kornwederzand Fortress). After the general dutch surrender, Captain Boers joined the resistance. He was executed by the germans in Oranienburg concentration camp(ironically, orange is our national colour)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Boers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_The_Afsluitdijk

In the end, the Rotterdam bombing probably was the singular largest loss of Dutch Civilian lifes in the war. An estimated 800-900 people died with many thousands losing their homes and possesions.
I'ts also the reason why Rotterdam has no mideval city centre,despite it being a rather old city. The city centre was virtually destroyed
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc258/RsShogun/Rotterdam.jpg
This is the city centre after the bombing. The church you see is the Laurenskerk( english trans. would be Lawrence church) it is the only remaining mideval building in Rotterdam
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc258/RsShogun/HerdenkingVuurgrensRotterdam1940_20.jpg
Last years' memorial of the Rotterdam Blitz. The spotlights indicate places that were hit. As you can see no "old" buildings remain in Rotterdam.

[Semperfidjm]

Its on Bloody Ridge in defense of Henderson field.

[matthew.manhorn]

The Battle of Julu between the Chu Kingdom and the Qin Empire

Xian Yu, the king of Chu ordered his troops to destroy all cooking kits and ships once his troops crossed the river. With rations that only last for 3 days and no way to retreat, Xian Yu's 30,000 troops fought fiercly overcame Qin's 300,000 troops. 100,000 Qin troops were killed 200,000 surrendered, only to be buried alive by Chu troops afterwards.

[Mastermind]

I just read the story translation of Julu war on Wiki..Dayum...that was hard core. I had never heard of this battle.

[Billy Reid]

And there is another action, I don't remember it's name but it was the time of British Imperialism. I think this was in Sudan or Egypt when a British fort was taken after a furious battle and the forts commander made a last stand.

Siege of Khartoum. George Gordon beheaded and his head put on a spike. Sudan falling to the Mahdists.

[kawaiku]

Ahh thank you Billy...

[El Diablo Rojo]

Has anyone said TSgt John Chapman on Takur Ghar?

[Junkelf]

my personal opinion that one was supidity..............

Agree, besides Custer's record in the civil war should have seen him hang......had hed not been on the winning side

[Starlight]

Wilsons last stand.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shangani_Patrol
We were raised with the example of the "Shangani patroll" being the ultimate 'Rhodesians never surrender' inspiration. The best account written of this battle is "The White Man Sang" by Alexander Fullerton Pan books.
" For they were men of men, and their fathers were men before them" -Tribute by M'Jaan general of the Matabele army.

[deadskull]

Actually a saw on this board a tread, or it was in "Russian photos" about both of those "776" and "3234"

About "Last stands" i dunno, it was quite awesome stand, but anyway - (Дом Павлова, Dom Pavlova, Pavlov house) jumps to my mind. For Russia it's like Alamo for US

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlov_House - thery short article btw. I saw huge articles and lately, thery good documentary on this, but sadly only in Russian. Many soldiers from that episode actually survived The War, so there was lots of info, so Propaganda, rightfully IMO, made it a role model of heroism. I'm not strong at googlin, but methinks there is a lot of info on this in English, coz Wiki in this case quite brief.

Best regards.

How many soldiers actually survived? I remember reading through some russian sites a while back and the number was around 8 or 9?

["Desert Fox"]

The BEF's stand at Ypres, 1914

[Charpoy Major]

Starlite! Sorry to butt in, but didn,t the tribute by M,Jaan go..."Ahh!, Those Red Soldiers, how they fought, every man in in his place, For they were men of men, as were their fathers before them." Or so I recall reading!!??.

[Starlight]

The account as told to the trader, Dawson, by several Indunas is as follows; "Hear me! Neither the bodies or the possessions of these white warriors sall be touched ". "These were men of men, and their fathers were men before them! I say to you, beside these the warriors of the Matabele are as timid girls!"
"The Matabele shall do honour to the courage we have witnessed here. As these men died in silence, so in silence now, SALUTE THEM!"

[stef063]

Sidi Brahim, 1845 during the french invasion of Algeria.
450 men has been stupidely engaged against 10000 berbers warriors from Abd El-Khader.
After a first encounter, 82 survivors retreated to a stronghold and resisted numerous charges for 3 days without supplies, water, etc... so much that they had to cut their bullets to continue shooting and drink their urine. When asked by Abd El-Khader to blow the retreat, the french bugle did the charge instead.
The last survivors charged with their bayonet (11 survived).
Good thing, their officer (Lt-Col de Montagnac) did not survided. His behaviour toward locals was much in the style of Atilla, so much for the "civilization mission".

[eugenlitwin]

Megaraptor;3473863']A few that come to mind:

Badaber Uprising, Soviet War in Afghanistan (April 1985) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badaber_Uprising)

Russian and Afghan allied POWs stage a revolt in a prison in Pakistan. They hold off a force of several hundred Mujahidin, Pakistani Army and American, Chinese and Egyptian military instructors. In the end, all of them were killed after killing close to 200 enemy. Reports differ as to whether the prison's armory was blown up after being hit by an artillery shell, others say the defenders deliberately blew themselves up.

Battle of Xuan Loc, Vietnam War, April 1975 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Xuan_Loc)

The ARVN 18th Division was generally rated as one of the worst in ARVN. But as South Vietnam was being overrun in April 1975, the 18th Division was blocking the PAVN forces at Xuan Loc. In the resulting battle, the ARVN men destroyed three PAVN divisions before being overrun and wiped out.

Battle of Qala-I-Jangi Prison, Afghanistan, November 2001 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Qala-i-Jangi)

Another prison revolt. Al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners fought almost to the last man against a far superior force.

Soviet, story like special was written for the big Hollywood production

[BearInBunnySuit]

Or from the Korean War

The Fight for Gloster Hill

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/korea/gloster.html

Hey, that was one of my votes too. :)

[eskachig]

How many soldiers actually survived? I remember reading through some russian sites a while back and the number was around 8 or 9?6 survived.

Battle of Kluszyn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kluszyn

Brave Russian Army stand to death against Polish invaders. ;-)
I don't think you know what a last stand is. But thanks for showing us that you have it out for the Russians :)

Soviet, story like special was written for the big Hollywood production
I've never even heard of this event. Amazing. RIP

[Wrangel]

A few that come to mind:

Badaber Uprising, Soviet War in Afghanistan (April 1985) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badaber_Uprising)

Russian and Afghan allied POWs stage a revolt in a prison in Pakistan. They hold off a force of several hundred Mujahidin, Pakistani Army and American, Chinese and Egyptian military instructors. In the end, all of them were killed after killing close to 200 enemy. Reports differ as to whether the prison's armory was blown up after being hit by an artillery shell, others say the defenders deliberately blew themselves up.


Now,that's truly impressive.

[eugenlitwin]

Finnish soldiers during The Winter War, a perfect example of discipline and bravery

[SpecOpsGrandChild]

The bravest last stand that I can think of is Custer's

[boone]

The bravest last stand that I can think of is Custer's Really? It seems like one of the most retarded last stands to me.

[SpecOpsGrandChild]

Wait, No not really. I said the wrong thing I forgot to realize how Custer got engulfed. So sorry.:oops: The last stand I can think of is Wake.

[dan_pub]

During the opening of the 1973 war on the Golan, five Syrian divisions with about 1,500 tanks attacked 2 brigades.

The 188 Armored Brigade 'Barak' fought litterally to the last tank to slow down the Syrian advance until the reserves could be mobilized. They even fought with trackless tanks at the depot in Nafakh, and with bazookas when the Syrians broke into the headquarters.
Their last stand just bought enough time for the reservists to arrive, stemm the Syrian advance, and establish a new defensive line to replace the one that had been crushed.
The whole Barak brigade was obliterated in this desperate stand.


In the north of Golan, the 7th Brigade fought equally well, but was not as completely destroyed: they had 6 tanks still operable when the first reinforcements arrived.


For those interested, The Heights of Courage, by Avigdor Kahalani (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=6855760) is a first-hand book on the subject.

[Domen]

Several more battles which can be considered as last stands:

From the 1939 Campaign in Poland:

Some against the Germans:

1. Defense of Wegierska Gorka - 4 concrete bunkers (1 - 3 IX 1939) against German 7. Infanterie-Division.

Photos of Wegierska Gorka bunkers:

http://www.28pp.fora.pl/historia,11/punkt-oporu-wegierska-gorka,1710.html

German soldiers and a fallen Polish defender:

http://www.odkrywca-online.pl/forum_pics/picsforum21/wegier4.jpg

2. Battle of Tarnawatka and Antoniówka (22 - 23 IX 1939) - last stand was only the second part of the battle (on 23 IX) - the battle was fought by Polish 1st Legionary Infantry Division.

On 23rd of September Polish forces were encircled by German forces in a valley near Antoniówka. They were being under heavy enemy artillery fire from all sides and were repulsing German infantry attacks from all sides. When Polish forces almost run out of ammo and it turned out that the battle is lost, commander of the division - general Kowalski - gathered as many soldiers as possible and carried out a bayonet charge. In the evening general Kowalski was contused by German artillery fire and lost consciousness, few hours later he was taken from the battlefield by German medical patrol. Remnants of the division were repeating bayonet charges until the end. A few thousand managed to break through and join to 39. Infantry Division - together with it they continued to fight against German forces attacking from the west and Soviet forces approaching from the east.

When German officer asked general Kowalski: "What was the purpose for such a hopeless and desperate resistance if it was well known that operational defeat was already a fact?" - Kowalski replied:

"There was a very great purpose - that is, honour of the Jozef Pilsudski 1st Legionary Infantry Division, combat until the end, to the last soldier".

Fields around Tarnawatka after twilight:

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/7188/krynice2malky6.jpg

Valley near Antoniówka:

http://www.powiat-tomaszowski.com.pl/UserFiles/Image/jmichalczuk/jmichalczuk_krynice_antoniowka.jpg

3. Battle of Mlociny - Wawrzyszew - Placowka (21 IX 1939):

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=145170

One of several hundreds of Polish soldiers from 1st battalion of 30. Kaniowski Infantry Regiment who lost their lives during the battle of Mlociny - Wawrzyszew - Placowka on 21 IX 1939:

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/5528/polegykaniowszczykbl4.jpg

4. Combats of 201. National Defense Regiment (on 17.09.1939 - ca 454 soldiers, 20 HMGs, 2 AT guns) near Górecko against superior in numbers German forces (four days: 17 - 20 IX) - as the result only ca 100 soldiers left in 201. National Defense Regiment, but all German attacks near Górecko between 17 IX and 20 IX were repulsed.

5. Battle of Kepa Oksywska and the area of Polish Coast around Kepa Oksywska can be considered as last stand (1 IX - 19 IX 1939) - only between 10 IX and 19 IX (battle for Kepa Okywska) over 110 battles and combats were fought on that very small and almost uncovered piece of land - since 01.09.1939 until the end of the battle Polish forces lost around 4250 KIA and WIA (50% of them were KIA) including commander, who commited suicide on 19.09.1939 around 17:00. This is almost 30% of the total Polish force which was fighting there - and much bigger percent of man strength of stricte frontline units. German sources place German casualties there at over 1817 KIA and WIA (casualties of some minor German units are not included here).

Grave on Kepa Oksywska:

German inscription says: "5 brave Polish soldiers are buried here":

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/2466/attachmenthr7.jpg

And against the Soviets:

1. Defense of Fortificated Position "Sarny" (19 - 25 IX 1939) - especcialy combats for concrete bunkers along the section "Tynne" defended by 4. company "Tynne" under command of captain Emil Markiewicz.

Main battle took place between 19 and 23 IX, between 24 and 25 IX Soviet forces were clearing the area from remnants of Polish soldiers who did not want to surrender and tried to hide somewhere or resist.

Out of the initial strength of around 700 soldiers and officers, 4. company "Tynne" lost 229 KIA, 39 evacuated seriously wounded and 301 missing (mainly wounded and later captured). Additionally 7 wounded officers were murdered by Soviet troops after being captured.

Sub-lieutenant Bołbot died together with 49 of his soldiers inside his concrete bunker - he was defending it until Soviet sappers blown it up.

-------------------------------------------------------

Another battle which can be considered as last stand took place near Cwiklice on 02.09.1939.

German 5. Panzer-Division - spearheaded by Panzer-Regiment 15. under command of Oberst Streich - broke through the defensive lines of Polish 6. Infantry Division near Cwiklice and Pszczyna. General Mond knew that to rescue his division he had to sacrifice part of his forces. He ordered colonel Misiag - commander of 16. Infantry Regiment - to counterattack German armour and recapture lost positions, where Polish artillery was still struggling against encirclement of German tanks. Colonel Misiag ordered two battalions from his regiment under command of captain Alfred Mikee to counterattack, regain contact with cut-off artillery and then together repulse German tanks.

Unfortunately Luftwaffe and German reconnaissance spotted Polish infantry while it was counterattacking, Germans immediately sent tanks to surround it in the open field and did it. Captain Alfred Mikee - who was personally leading the attack - did not give up and decided to resist. Together with his infantry he was involving German tanks in combat for several hours - remnants of his forces were fighting there practically until the twilight.

This gave a lot of time for general Mond to withdraw and regroup his division. Thanks to Alfred Mikee's last stand Polish forces also managed to blow up extremely important bridges on the Vistula and Sola rivers on time, before German forces could get to these bridges. As the result of this fact German 5. Panzer-Division lost its chance for operational victory yet on the 2nd day of that war. Thanks to Mikee's fierce resistance 5. Panzer-Division failed to complete its orders and to completely defeat Polish 6. Infantry Division.

Mikee and 225 other Polish soldiers lost their lives. Additional 26 Polish soldiers died of wounds later - in German captivity. Many soldiers were wounded - majority of wounded were captured by Germans, only around 100 were evacuated from the battlefield by Polish forces. II. battalion was almost completely destroyed, the other battalion and Polish artillery also suffered casualties.

Captain Alfred Mikee:

http://www.tajemnice.org.pl/gfx/mikee_1.jpg

During the battle of Cwiklice 5. Panzer-Division lost (mainly due to direct fire of Polish artillery and AT guns) 17 - 18 tanks, including at least two Panzer IVs:

This one:

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1501/p1rd5.jpg

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/8763/q8jj9.jpg

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/4599/polen25rw9.jpg

http://img.odkrywca.pl/forum_pics/picsforum23/1_copy1104.jpg

And this one:

http://odkrywca.pl/forum_pics/picsforum23/q6ui0.jpg

Grave near forest Brzezina (near Cwiklice), Winter of 1940 - German inscription says: "120 Polish warriors are buried here":

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6853/brz.jpg

In the past many Polish historians blamed Mikee for leading his battalion to a slaughter - but in fact he simply received an impracticable order and tried to complete it - to complete his duty.

[Rad Resistance]

Was it true that a single Russian tank blew up tons German panzers miraculously during the Battle of Moscow?

That is very unlikely.

Spring of Cresson 1187 last stand of the Templars.

[Rad Resistance]

Really? It seems like one of the most retarded last stands to me.

Wow how disrepectful of you bad talking an Civil War hero,
How could he know that there would be over a thousand natives.

[C.Fodder]

"That is very unlikely."
I believe this is the incident Mat was referring to.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3059933&postcount=8

"Wow how disrepectful of you bad talking an Civil War hero,
How could he know that there would be over a thousand natives."

How about doing some recon,listening to his scouts, junior officers and higher command .
Arrogance and a lack of respect for his enemy cost his men their lives IMO.
From Wiki,
"The division of his force into four smaller detachments (including the pack train) can be attributed[citation needed]to inadequate reconnaissance on his part, and the deliberate ignoring of the warnings given by his Crow scouts. It was also a clear tactical error by the military doctrine of his time. In some respects, events overtook Custer, so that by the time the battle had begun, he had already divided his forces into three battalions of differing sizes. In doing so he kept the largest with himself. Consequently, his men were widely scattered and unable to support each other.[68][69]"

[Wake27]

Dear Member,

You are the first person who has publicly stated what many in the US military are thinking. It does not add up. Especially the part about the Afghan extending them hospitality due a fugitive on the run. That part of the Pashtun code extends only to fellow Moslems. No unbelievers. Also the part about the 3 goat herders. They could have held them till the helicopter came and extracted them or tied them up. And last, the vote. I may be wrong, but the US military is not a democracy. Especially among the elite of professionals.

I have no doubt there was bravery from the various persons in that book. But the books facts are not adding up. From the first page I wondered. My thinking is that the facts had to be drastically changed to cover up an embarrassment (one Vietnam US Navy pilot wants to know why help was not their within minutes -- not hours) and some Afghans who for a huge bounty betrayed the Taliban in their area and might even had fired on the Taliban chasing that last survivor.

Jack E. Hammond

.

Its a good thing you're so educated. That way you don't actually need any experience related to the situation, but still know everything about it.

[ren0312]

I just read the story translation of Julu war on Wiki..Dayum...that was hard core. I had never heard of this battle.

I really doubt that massive numbers in Chinese battles, I mean supplying 50,000 is hard enough, how do you supply 400,000 soldiers on each side, the logistics of it would simply make such numbers unlikely, probably a battle that was reported to have 400,000 on each side just meant a very large army, not really 400,000.

[jackehammond]

Its a good thing you're so educated. That way you don't actually need any experience related to the situation, but still know everything about it.

Dear Member,

The engineers that warned about the WW2 torpedoes may not work, got the same answer you gave. And there are those that have that actual experience who on some military blogs I have been told have asked the same question. One was an F-8 fighter pilot in Vietnam that just could not understand why a raid relay aircraft was not in the air to patch through requests. And why a helicopter was not stationed closer in an unpopulated area to come to the rescue. It is not this inexperience writer who is stating such. Btw, only one person predicted exactly what WW1 would be before it started. Do you know who that was and what his profession was.

Finally do you wish to take a guess at the 20 some arm chair general who wrote the statement below? It is about combat in the mountains where what we are discussing took place.

Jack E. Hammond



"There will not be wanting those who will remind men that in this
matter my opinion finds no support in age or experience. To such
I shall reply that if what is written is false or foolish,
neither age nor experience should fortify it; and if true if
needs no such support."

.

[ferguson]

I would not call Custer's folly a last stand.
He was a buffoon and a publicity hound.
He made a variety of tactical errors-situational analysis and disregarding his advisors and scouts pretty significant. Splitting his command was another biggie.
He blithely blundered into a nest of hornets.
He and his men were mostly killed as they tried to get away.
They were run down and killed or finished off by the women as they lay wounded or feigning death.
It was over pretty quick.

[Wake27]

Dear Member,

The engineers that warned about the WW2 torpedoes may not work, got the same answer you gave. And there are those that have that actual experience who on some military blogs I have been told have asked the same question. One was an F-8 fighter pilot in Vietnam that just could not understand why a raid relay aircraft was not in the air to patch through requests. And why a helicopter was not stationed closer in an unpopulated area to come to the rescue. It is not this inexperience writer who is stating such. Btw, only one person predicted exactly what WW1 would be before it started. Do you know who that was and what his profession was.

Finally do you wish to take a guess at the 20 some arm chair general who wrote the statement below? It is about combat in the mountains where what we are discussing took place.

Jack E. Hammond



"There will not be wanting those who will remind men that in this
matter my opinion finds no support in age or experience. To such
I shall reply that if what is written is false or foolish,
neither age nor experience should fortify it; and if true if
needs no such support."

.

I don't know either of those answers. That's kind of my point, I wouldn't claim to. It seems like you're a very educated person, but in the sense that you do a lot of reading.

[ggk]

can this beconsidered last stand?

64 vietnamese sailour defending a cluster of reef literally under water....against few PLAN warship and marines.

see at 2:13

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/AXTTJAL52Pw

their only way out are those rusty ship...which the chinese navy sunk later.

[Ardee]

Folks,

What do you consider one of the most bravest last stands, where the defenders fought to the death "willingly". I am not talking about where the defenders got caught in a situation where they knew if they surrendered they would die, so why not die fighting, but those that stayed and fought when they could left. One example is the Spartan 300. But they at is the Spartans had been brought up from birth to do and perform in battle as they did (eg the Japanese of WW2). There are others, where those not trained and indoctrinated in battle to the death that when it came did the unbelievable and fought to the death when they did not have to.

Anyone have any examples?

Finally, please read the guide lines of this thread. This forum already has a "Heroic defense by small units" thread. If there are any survivors please post your nomination to the link below.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1925&highlight=defense

Jack E. Hammond

.

I will just note that your description of the "300" Spartans neglects to include the 1,000-or so other Greeks who also chose to stay and defend the pass to the bitter end, despite having the opportunity to withdraw.

[jackehammond]

I don't know either of those answers. That's kind of my point, I wouldn't claim to. It seems like you're a very educated person, but in the sense that you do a lot of reading.

Dear Member,

The claim was made by an F-8 pilot I know personally.

Jack E. Hammond

.

[jackehammond]

I will just note that your description of the "300" Spartans neglects to include the 1,000-or so other Greeks who also chose to stay and defend the pass to the bitter end, despite having the opportunity to withdraw.

Dear Member,

In that you are probably right. Unlike the Spartan's those Greeks were ordinary warriors (by those day's standards) who stayed even though they did not have to. A good example would be that ordinary guy who came to the hospital when they were going to try and kill the God Father when his son told him to leave.

Jack E. Hammond

.

[jackehammond]

can this beconsidered last stand?

64 vietnamese sailour defending a cluster of reef literally under water....against few PLAN warship and marines.

see at 2:13

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/AXTTJAL52Pw

their only way out are those rusty ship...which the chinese navy sunk later.

Dear Member,

I really don't know. It looks more like a slaughter sort of like police or military firing on demonstrators. What I would like to know is if they were given a chance to leave or the NVA knew that they would immediately fire to kill all. What seems to happen is not something if I were the Chinese I would be particularly proud of. And those so called islands are actually similar to tidal flats. All the Chinese had to do was put a blockade around and wait for the wind (pushing the sea level up) to do its deed.

Finally, that NV ship looks like one of those old US LST that the US gave South Vietnam.

Jack E. Hammond

.

[Rad Resistance]

I would not call Custer's folly a last stand.
He was a buffoon and a publicity hound.
He made a variety of tactical errors-situational analysis and disregarding his advisors and scouts pretty significant. Splitting his command was another biggie.
He blithely blundered into a nest of hornets.
He and his men were mostly killed as they tried to get away.
They were run down and killed or finished off by the women as they lay wounded or feigning death.
It was over pretty quick.

How dare you bad talk American soldiers that died horrible and inhumane deaths at the hands of redmen.

[Migs]

How dare you bad talk American soldiers that died horrible and inhumane deaths at the hands of redmen.
they started it ---->:fork:

[Rad Resistance]

Well guess who won.

[Migs]

Well guess who won.
I have no idea, who won?
:|

[Rad Resistance]

Don't be a *** dumpster Migs, the U.S. goverment always prevails in the end.

[PeterG]

Aren't ALL 'Last Stands to the Death' actually brave..? Reading books and accounts on the bitter fighting on the eastern front during WWII, it is striking how often both soviet and german troops actually did fight until the bitter end - and in conditions so horrible as to almost defy belief..

[SBL]

Aren't ALL 'Last Stands to the Death' actually brave..?
I was about to post the same thing. I would think that all last stands are pretty 'brave' by nature.
I'm not sure how you quantify the courage of the participants.

[PeterG]

As one can see sometimes, it is easy to dismiss bravery by someone one doesn't like, as 'fanaticism' of course, like with the Waffen SS or japanese at Iwo Jima or Tarawa or taliban fighters putting up stiff resistance in the present time. They would be 'fanatic', while someone we like are 'courageous' when they do the exact same thing.

[Rad Resistance]

You have to be fanatic to have a last stand, and you can be fanatic about anything from your country to your service in combat and most people that have last stands are crazy ass guys with balls.

[Nikhil1256]

In 326 B.C. Alexander finally turned towards India. He asked all chieftains in satraps of Gandhara (Modern Kandahar, Afghanistan) to surrender. Only one, Ambhi of Taxila compiled. So alexander launched campaigns against all others. In battle against Ashwayans, the battle of Massaga went on for twenty days. During fighting, the chief of Massaga fell in the battle. So his mother, Cleophis took command of the Massaga forces. Seeing an old lady in the battle, all men and even women joined battle against Alexanders forces. In words of Diadorus,

"Undismayed by the greatness of their danger, they (Ashvakayanas) drew their ranks together in the form of a ring within which they placed their women and children to guard them on all sides against their assailants. As they had now become desperate, and by their audacity and feats of valour, had made the conflict in which they closed, a hot work for the enemy,--great was the astonishment and alarm which the peril of the crisis had created. For, as the combatants were locked together fighting hand-to-hand, death and wounds were dealt round in every variety of form. While many were thus wounded, and not a few killed, the women, taking the arms of the fallen, fought side by side with their men. Accordingly, some of them who had supplied themselves with arms, did their best to cover their husbands with their shields, while the others, who were without arms, did much to impede the enemy by flinging themselves upon them and catching hold of their shields. The defenders, however, after fighting desperately along with their wives, were at last overpowered by superior numbers, and thus met a glorious death which they would have disdained to exchange for the life of dishonour."

After the battle Alexander ordered slaughter of every man woman and child alive and completely destroyed the city keeping no structure standing.

[BlackFlag]

Battle of Shiroyama.

Japan's "300"

[ggk]

it makes me wonder...how many tamil tiger defended their last 100m x 100m bastion

[Corto Maltese]

What about the Swiss? to make a long story short, here's a quote from wikipedia:

There were two different corps of Swiss mercenaries performing guard duties for the Kings of France: the Hundred Swiss (Cent Suisses), serving within the Palace as bodyguards and ceremonial troops, and the Swiss Guards (Gardes Suisses), guarding the entrances and outer perimeter. In addition the Gardes suisses served in the field as a fighting regiment in times of war.
The Hundred Swiss were created in c. 1450 by King Charles VIII (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_VII_of_France). Their main role was the protection of the King indoors, what was called the garde du dedans du Louvre (the Louvre indoor guard), but in the earlier part of their history they accompanied the King on a war. In the Battle of Pavia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pavia) (1525) the Hundred Swiss of King Francis I (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_I_of_France) were slain before Francis was captured by the Spanish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain).

During the 17th and 18th centuries the Swiss Guards maintained a reputation for discipline and steadiness in both peacetime service and foreign campaigning. Internal discipline was maintained according to Swiss codes which were significantly harsher than those of the regular French Army.
The most famous episode in the history of the Swiss Guards was their defense of the Tuileries Palace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuileries_Palace) in central Paris during the French Revolution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution). Of the nine hundred Swiss Guards defending the Palace on August 10, 1792 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_of_August_(French_Revolution)), about six hundred were killed during the fighting or massacred after surrender. An estimated hundred and sixty more died in prison of their wounds or were killed during the September Massacres (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_Massacres) that followed. Apart from less than a hundred Swiss who escaped from the Tuileries, some hidden by sympathetic Parisians, the only survivors of the regiment were a 300 strong detachment which had been sent to Normandy to escort grain convoys a few days before August 10 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_August_(French_Revolution)). The Swiss officers were mostly amongst those massacred, although Major Karl Josef von Bachmann (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Josef_von_Bachmann) in command at the Tuileries was formally tried and guillotined in September, still wearing his red uniform coat. Two Swiss officers did however survive and went on to reach senior rank under Napoleon. The Swiss ran low on ammunition and were overwhelmed by superior numbers when fighting broke out spontaneously after the Royal Family had been escorted from the Palace to take refuge with the National Assembly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly).

The Swiss Guard has served the popes since the 1500s. The Corps of the Pontifical Swiss Guard or Swiss Guard is a small force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army) responsible for the safety of the Pope (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope), including the security of the Apostolic Palace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_Palace). Its official language is Swiss German (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_German). It serves as the military of Vatican City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Vatican_City).
Its first, and most significant, hostile engagement was on May 6, 1527 when 147 of the 189 Guards, including their commander, died fighting the unruly troops of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_V,_Holy_Roman_Emperor) during the Sack of Rome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Rome_(1527)) in order to allow Clement VII (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement_VII) to escape through the Passetto di Borgo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passetto_di_Borgo), escorted by the other 40 guards. The last stand battlefield is located on the left side of St Peter's Basilica (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Peter%27s_Basilica), close to the Campo Santo Teutonico (German Graveyard).

[avs]

for sure every single last stand is a unit example of courage,braveness and selfsucrifice

let me refer you a few last stands of Greek military history among ages

ancient years
The battle of Thermopylea.

Medievel era
Emperor Constantinos Paleologos at the walls of Constantinoupolis.He held 2 months strong defence with 5000 Greeks and 2000 Enets and Genuats against 180000 Ottomans with heavy canons.He fell heroic when after traytory the turks invaded by a "forgotten" door

Greek Independence War 1821
This era is probably the most heroic

Grigorios 'Papaflessas' Dikeos
He faced his destiny in battle of Maniaki.He and his 300 men fell after tough battle against 4000 Turks of Ibrahim.They managed to kill almost 700 enemies.

Athanasios Diakos
When Omer Bryon was marching towards Peloponisus to struggle the rebelions.Athanasios went to hold him at the place called Alamana.
Originaly he had 1500 men with him.But when his troops saw the size of enemy army (9000 soldiers with 800 cavalery) they fleet...He was left with a few brave warriors.
After desperate 3 hours battle and when his sword was broken and his rifle was blowed
he caught alive...Omer asked him to change religion and join turkish army.He answered
"I was born Greek and I shall die Greek".Then Omer ordered to torture him and execute him with the method of "stick"

The last stand of Sacred Band at Battle of Dragatsani
The Sacred Band was formed by prince Alexandros Ipsilantis and the general Georgakis Olympios.It was a mix of Greek students volunteers and philhellenes.
After traytory and crusial mistakes they passed from the attack to defence.
The fighters fell one by one.Georgakis with his 100 cavalery managed to save the flag and almost 100 Ierolohites.Turks had enormus casualties too...The tragic epilogue had wroten when Georgakis fell in the field of Pride at Seku monstry fighting against overnumbered enemies 3 months later.

The holocaust of monk Samuel Kougi.
When Turks manage to enter the fortress of freedom Souli.
The oldmen women and wounded were closed to church of Kougi.
when Turks entered in monk Samuel blowed up the gunpower barrels and everybody
got killed...

to be continued....

[tornadoss]

57th Infantry Regiment
Mustafa Kemal's leadership of Turkish troops at Anzac during two crucial periods was of great importance.
1- The Battle of the Landing (25 April-3 May)
When the Australians first landed they encountered small bodies of Turks who, after doing what they could, withdrew back over the ridges. The main Turkish forces in the area had been held in reserve to see just where the British Empire troops were going to land on the peninsula. By 6.30 am a report had reached the commander of the Turkish 19th Division, Colonel Mustafa Kemal, that an enemy force had scaled the heights at Ari Burnu. Kemal’s troops were at Bigali, a small village off to the east beyond the main range, and he ordered his whole division to prepare to march to the coast. He himself set off riding at the head of the 57th Regiment. By about 9.30 am Kemal stood at Chunuk Bair with some other officers. He could see the British warships and transports off Anzac Cove and also, coming rapidly up the hill towards him, a group of Turkish soldiers who had been tasked with defending Hill 261 (Battleship Hill). Kemal spoke to them:
"Why are you running away?"
‘Sir, the enemy’, they said.
‘Where?’
‘Over there’, they said, pointing out hill 261.
In fact a line of skirmishers of the enemy approached hill 261 and was advancing completely unopposed. Now just consider the situation. I had left my troops, so as to give them ten minutes’ rest. The enemy had come to this hill. It meant the enemy was nearer to me than my troops were, and if the enemy came to where I was my troops would find themselves in a very difficult position. Then, I still don’t know what it was, whether a logical appreciation or an instinctive action, I do not know. I said to the men who were running away,
‘You cannot run away from the enemy.’
‘We have got no ammunition’, they said.
‘If you haven’t got any ammunition, you have your bayonets’, I said, and shouting to them, I made them fix their bayonets and lie down on the ground. At the same time I sent the orderly officer beside me off to the rear to bring up to where I was at the double those men of the infantry regiment who were advancing on Chunuk Bair who could reach it in time. When the men fixed their bayonets and lay down on the ground the enemy also lay down. The moment of time that we gained was this one ….. It was about 10.00 hours when the 57th Regiment began its attack.
During the Battle of the Landing, Kemal has been credited with one of the most famous orders issued to Turkish troops during the whole campaign –

‘I don’t order you to attack, I order you to die. In the time which passes until we die other troops and commanders can take our place’.

57 regiment attaced the enemy. They all died.

[Rittmester]

As one can see sometimes, it is easy to dismiss bravery by someone one doesn't like, as 'fanaticism' of course, like with the Waffen SS or japanese at Iwo Jima or Tarawa or taliban fighters putting up stiff resistance in the present time. They would be 'fanatic', while someone we like are 'courageous' when they do the exact same thing.

History is written by the...

[Vytis]

Few dozens of battles in Lithuanian-Soviet war 1944-1969 could be concidered as such. But one of the most well known was "The Battle of Kalniske" ("Kalniškės mūšis")

http://www.lazdijai-punskas.eu/?EN=kalniske-battle-field


"The Battle of Kalniske", that took place in 16-17th of May, 1945, near Simnas (close to Alytus). There were about 90 Lithuanian freedom fighters situated in very good position on the forest hill and very well armed. They were attacked by honorable The Name of "Order of Kutuzov" NKVD 220th Red Army infantry regiment from the 1st "Pribaltiskyi" ("Baltic") front during 24h. According to NKVD "official sources" Reds have lost only 4 men KIA in this battle, but local people estimated - 600-700. The funniest thing is, that after such big efforts and big losses well front-experienced Russian soldiers failed to take that Lithuanian hill.


http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=618055#p618055

Here is the song about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/MOLNWtqafdI

[stelios1984]

Greek Independence War 1821
This era is probably the most heroic

Don't forget the stand at Gravia inn, where no more than 120 Greek fighters fended off 9,000 Ottoman soldiers...although it can't really be called a last stand because the Greeks won (and managed to escape) it is nonetheless impressive.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gravia
(proof there were less than 120 Greeks: count the names on the monument p-))

[Domen]

From the Warsaw Uprising of 1944:

http://www.berlin.polemb.net/gallery/nasze_obrazy/polonia/ikony/czoloepw07.jpg

http://czytelnia.pwn.pl/pwdp/zdjecia/powstanie_warszawskie.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/susek19/RrAwT4RxwAE/AAAAAAAABAY/_KdKhSAYUWs/s720/PowstanieWarszawskieWarsawUprisingWarschauerAufstandAlzamientoDeVarsovia.jpg

http://republika.pl/blog_fm_13300/311607/tr/powstanie_warszawskie.jpg

http://www.konflikty.pl/photos/powstanie8.jpg

http://pu.i.wp.pl/?k=NDg1NDA5MDgsNzcyODM2&f=1a.jpg

http://files.ithink.pl/Image/powstanie.jpg

"Fanaticism and determination characterize ways of combats used by [Polish] bandits in Warsaw. Achievements of our forces during the previous three weeks are very slight, despite the fact that they are benefiting from the support of the latest military technology. Combats for individual buildings should be conducted in accordance with certain rules. Among these rules: avoiding any crumbling of forces and means of combat, concentrating all of them against chosen targets of combat actions in defined periods of time, immediate exploitation of results of using own means of combat by infantry. In this way a block of flats after a block of flats should be in turn captured."

This is the preface of the German instructions of street combats in Warsaw quoted by Krzysztof Komorowski in his book "Bitwa o Warszawę '44: Militarne aspekty Powstania Warszawskiego" ("Battle for Warsaw '44: Military aspects of the Warsaw Uprising"), Warsaw 2004, pages 495 - 496. After this preface there is an entire list of correct and incorrect ways of carrying on street combats.

The same instructions were later used by Germans during street combats in other cities - including German cities.

[jackehammond]

Don't forget the stand at Gravia inn, where no more than 120 Greek fighters fended off 9,000 Ottoman soldiers...although it can't really be called a last stand because the Greeks won (and managed to escape) it is nonetheless impressive.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gravia
(proof there were less than 120 Greeks: count the names on the monument p-))


Dear Member,

The Defenders of Mesolongi.

Jack E. Hammond

.