On this day in Military History

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217 BC: During the Wars of the Diadochi (=Greek for heirs/successors) - the wars fought between the rival successors of Alexander the Great, following his death - the Battle of Raphia occurs. Ptolemy IV Philopator of Egypt with 70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 73 war elephants fought the army of Antiochus III the Great of 62,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and 103 elephants at Raphia, near today's Gaza. According to the Greek historian Polybius, the Antiochids suffered a little under 10,000 foot dead, about 300 horse and 5 elephants; 4,000 men were taken prisoner. The Ptolemaic losses were 1,500 foot, 700 horse and 16 elephants. Most of the Antiochid elephants were taken by the Ptolemies. Ptolemy's victory secured the province of Coele-Syria (=hollow Syria; an area expanding from today's Beqaa valley in Lebanon to the Israeli coast as far south as Jaffa) for Ptolemaic Egypt.

Gold Octadrachm of Ptolemy IV

168 BC: During the Third Macedonian War (a war fought between Rome and King Perseus of Macedon; Perseus aimed to end Roman political control in Greece and restore former Macedonian sovereignty over Greek states), the Battle of Pydna occurs. A 44,000-strong Macedonian Army under the Macedon King Perseus, was defeated by the 38,000-strong Roman Army under the Consul of the Roman Republic and General, Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus. Macedonians suffered horrendous casualties (25,000 killed and wounded). Following Perseus' defeat (he was captured prisoner), the Kingdom of Macedon was divided into four republics which marked the final destruction of Alexander’s empire.

Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus

1593: During the Ottoman Wars in Europe, the Battle of Sisak occurs. A combined army of forces from the Holy Roman Empire under the supreme command of the Styrian general Ruprecht von Eggenberg, of Croatians under the Ban of Croatia Tamás Erdődy, and of some forces from the Duchy of Carniola led by Andreas von Auersperg defeated the Ottomans of the Bosnian Beylerbey, Hasan Pasha Predojević. The defeat brought the expansion of the Ottoman Empire into Central Europe to a temporary halt and allowed Croatia and Inner Austria with the duchies of Styria, Carinthia and Carniola to remain free from Turkish control.

Croatian Hussar in the Battle of Sisak

1898: During the Spanish-American War, U.S Marines land on Cuba.

Hositing the US flag at Guantanamo

1940: An armistice between France and Germany is signed at Compiègne,in the very same railway carriage in which the 1918 Armistice was signed (removed from a museum building and placed on the precise spot where it was located in 1918). Hitler sat in the same chair in which Marshal Ferdinand Foch had sat when he faced the defeated German representatives. Adolf Hitler deliberately chose Compiègne Forest as the site to sign the armistice due to its symbolic role as the site of the 1918 Armistice with Germany that signaled the end of World War I with Germany's surrender. Its terms are read out loud to the French delegation by Generaloberst Keitel and provide for the occupation of the entire Channel and Atlantic coastlines, all major industrial areas, Alsace-Lorraine is to be returned to Germany. Most of southern France will remain unoccupied, with a French administrative centre at Vichy. The French Army and Navy is to be demobilised and disarmed and France is to bear the cost of the German occupation. All French prisoners of war are to remain in Germany until a peace treaty is signed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB8KaRBSZxA&NR=1

1941: At 3:15am, Operation Barbarossa begins with German and Axis forces comprising 183 divisions (3,500,000 men), 3,350 tanks, 7,184 guns and 1,945 aircraft launching the biggest military operation in history on a 2,900 km (1,800 miles) front from Finland to the Black Sea. Three Army Groups supported by powerful Panzer armies and Luftwaffe bomber fleets, Army Group South (von Rundstedt) with Panzer Group 1 (von Kleist), Army Group Centre (von Bock) with Panzer Groups 2 (Guderian) and 3 (Hoth), and Army Group North (von Leeb) with Panzer Group 4 (Hoepner), go into action against 132 Soviet divisions (2,500,000 men), 20,000 tanks and 7,700 aircraft. The overall objective of the campaign is to destroy the Soviet forces in western Soviet Union by the Autumn and to occupy the European part of the Soviet Union up to the line Archangel - Urals - Volga - Astrakhan. By the end of the first day, the Luftwaffe had destroyed 800 Soviet aircraft on the ground at 60 airfields and 400 in the air. The Red Army along the border seemed unprepared for the assault and offered only limited resistance, which allows the Panzer divisions to advance up to 80 km (50 miles) and maul 12 Soviet divisions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOhrBNloruM

1942: Erwin Rommel is promoted to Field Marshal after the capture of Tobruk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyoZQP5C-Q4

1944: The Soviet summer offensive, Operation Bagration begins against Army Group Centre in Belarus with assaults by the Soviet 1st Baltic, 3rd Belorussian 2nd and 1st Belorussian Fronts against Army Group Centre on a 724 km (450 miles) front between Polotsk and Bobruysk. Soviet forces amount to 124 divisions, 1,200,000 men, 5,200 tanks, 30,000 guns and 6,000 aircraft. Against this, the German can field just 63 divisions, including 900 tanks and 10,000 guns.

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1314: During the 1st War of the Scottish Independence, the Battle of Bannockburn begins (it lasted for two days and ended on 24 June). The Scottish Army led by Robert I of Scotland the Bruce defeated some 20-25,000-strong English Army commanded by King Edward II of England. The Battle of Bannockburn became the greatest victory in the history of Scotland. While full recognition of Scottish independence was still several years off, Bruce had driven the English from Scotland and secured his position as king. While exact numbers of Scottish casualties are not known, they are believed to have been light. English losses are not known with precision but may have ranged from 4,000-11,000 men. Following the battle, Edward raced south and finally found safety at Dunbar Castle. He never again returned to Scotland.

English Knights charge their armored war-horses, in vain, against a solid mass of Scottish spears. Robert Bruce, King of Scots, is victorious over the army of Edward II, on the second day of the Battle of Bannockburn, Scotland, June 24th, 1314 A.D.

1758: During the Seven Years' War, the Battle of Krefeld is fought between a 32,000-strong Prussian-Hanoverian army under Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick and a 47,000-strong French army led by Louis de Bourbon-Condé, Count of Clermont. It was a victory for the allies and as a consequence, Clermont was relieved of his command.

The victor, Duke Ferdinand Braunschweig

1760: During the Seven Years' war, the Battle of Landeshut occurs. A Prussian army of 12,000 men under General Heinrich August de la Motte-Fouqué fought an Austrian army of over 28,000 men under Baron Ernst Gideon von Laudon and suffered a defeat, with its commander taken prisoner.

The victor, Baron Ernst Gideon von Laudon

1812: Napoleon's Grande Armée numbering some 580-600,000 men, invade Russia; the Patriotic War of 1812 for the Russians begins.


1919: During the Estonian War of Independence (an Estonian defensive campaign against the Soviet agression and the offensives of the Baltic nobility-established armies in 1918–1920), the Battle of Wenden occurs. A combined Estonian-Latvian Army (3rd Estonian Division and North Latvian Brigade), defeated the forces of the Baltische Landeswehr, the Pro-German Government of Latvia. In Estonia the anniversary of the battle is celebrated as "Victory Day", a national holiday.

The monument to the battle

1940: Adolf Hitler visits the Madeleine, Opera, Place de la Concorde, Arch of Triumph, and Trocadero in newly defeated Paris in occupied France. Lieutenant General Kurt von Briesen awards Iron Crosses First Class to his men, the 30th infantry division, at the grave of the unknown soldier, Arch of Triumph. Von Briesen then salutes the troops on horseback as they parade along the Avenue Foche
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_22BId61KAc

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972: The Battle of Cedynia, the first historically recorded battle in the history of Poland occurs. Polish duke Mieszko I and his brother Czcibor defeated Hodon, the German Margrave of Brandenburg. This battle secured the western border of Polish territory.

Duke Mieszko I

1128: The Battle of São Mamede takes place near Guimarães and is considered the seminal event for the foundation of Portugal. Portuguese forces led by Afonso I of Portugal defeated forces led by his mother Teresa of León and her lover Fernão Peres de Trava. Following São Mamede, the future king styled himself "Prince of Portugal". He would be called "King of Portugal" in 1139 and was recognised as such by neighbouring kingdoms in 1143.

Dom Afonso Henriques the future king of Portugal

1340: During the Hundred Years' war, the Naval Battle of l'Ecluse occurs. An English fleet of some 120-160 ships commanded by the English King Edward III himself, defeats the French Fleet of some 213 naval vessels under Admiral Hugues Quiéret. It is historically important in that it resulted in the destruction of most of France's fleet, making a French invasion of England impossible, and ensuring that the remainder of the war would be fought mostly in France.


1821: During the War for the Independence of Venezuela, the decisive Battle of Carabobo occurs. A Venezuelan Army of some 6-8,000 troops (the British volunteers of the British Legion included) under Simón Bolívar, defeated the Royalist Spanish Army of Field Marshal Miguel de la Torre. Bolívar's decisive victory at Carabobo led to the independence of Venezuela.

Simón Bolívar

1859: During the 2nd Italian War of Independence, the Battle of Solferino and San Martino occurs. An Army of the Franco-Sardinian alliance numbering some 120,000 men under their respective Monarchs, Emperor Napoleon III & King Victor-Emmanuel II, defeated an Austrian Army of some 100,000 troops under the Austrian Emperor Franz-Joseph. It was the last major battle in world history where all the involved armies were under the personal command of their Monarchs. The battle is especially notable for being witnessed by the Swiss Jean-Henri Dunant. Horrified by the suffering of wounded soldiers left on the battlefield, Dunant set about a process that led to the Geneva Conventions and the establishment of the International Red Cross.

Jean-Henri Dunant

1866: During the Italian Unification process, the Battle of Custozza, near Verona, occurs. The Austrian Imperial army, led by Archduke Albert of Habsburg, defeated the Italian army led by Alfonso Ferrero la Marmora and Enrico Cialdini, despite the strong numerical advantage of the Italians. The Austrians were decisively victorious, both strategically and tactically. The Italians were driven back across the Mincio river out of Venice.

The charge of the 13th Regiment of Austrian-Hungarian Uhlans under Col. Rodakowski against Italian Bersaglieri

1941: Italian troops enter Athens, under the booing and the taunts of gathered Athenians.

The triple axis occupation of Greece; Red: German occupation. Blue: Italian occupation. Green: Bulgarian Occupation. Dark blue: Italian Dodecanese (Possedimenti Italiani dell'Egeo)

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524: During the Burgundian War initiated by the four successors of the Frankish King Clovis I, Childebert I, Chlodomir, Clotaire I and Theuderic I, the Battle of Veseruntia (Vézeronce-Curtin in today's France), occurs. The Burgundian Army under king Sigismund was defeated by the Frankish Army, but Chlodomir, the leader of the Frankish army, was killed in battle by Gundomar III, brother of Sigismund. In vengeance, Sigismund and his two sons were slain by the Franks after the battle. Clotaire and Childebert then completed their conquest at Veseruntia by defeating Gundomar and his allied Ostrogoths. The Frankish victory assured the annexation of the Burgundian kingdom to the Merovingians.

The four brothers Childebert, Chlodomir, Clotaire and Theuderic

841: Contention over the division of the Carolingian Empire between the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious, king of Aquitaine and co-emperor of the Franks (with his father Charlemagne) culminated in the decisive Battle of Fontenoy fought near Auxerre. It was a defeat for the allied forces of Lothair I of Italy and Pepin II of Aquitaine and a victory for Charles the Bald and Louis the German. It was a decisive divisionist victory (the Empire was divided between the three brothers two years later).

The partition of the Carolingian Empire in 843

1876: During the Great Sioux War of 1876-77, a two-day armed confrontation between the combined forces of Lakota and Northern Cheyenne and the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army occurs, also known as the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The U.S. Seventh Cavalry, including a force of 700 men led by George Armstrong Custer, suffered a severe defeat. Five of the Seventh's companies were annihilated; Custer was killed, as were two of his brothers, a nephew, and a brother-in-law. Total U.S. deaths were 268, including scouts, and 55 were wounded.

Custer's last stand in the battle of littlebighorn

1920: During the Greek Minor Asia campaign, the Greek Cavalry Brigade enters and occupies the city of Bursa (the ancient Bithynian city of Prusa)

Greek cavalry in Bursa

1944: During the Continuation War (the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II) the Battle of tali-ihantala begins. it lasted until 9 July and to date, it is the largest battle in the history of the Nordic countries. The Battle of Tali-Ihantala was possibly the single most important battle fought in the Continuation War and it was a Finnish victory.

Finnish 75 mm anti-tank gun at Tali-Ihantala

1950: At approximately 4 a.m. (Korean Standard Time) on a rainy Sunday morning, Democratic People's Republic of Korea Army artillery and mortars open fire on Republic of Korea Army positions south of the 38th Parallel, the line then serving as the border between the two countries. The opening barrage is followed shortly by tank/infantry attacks at all points along the Parallel. At 11 a.m. North Korea announced a formal declaration of war and what is now known as "The Korean War" officially began.


2006: 19 year-old Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit is captured by Palestinians in a cross-border raid.

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363: During his Sassanid campaign, Roman Emperor Flavius Claudius Iuli****, also known as Julian the Apostate, is killed in the Battle of Samarra. It is said that Julian's dying words were "Vicisti, Galilaee" (Thou have won, Galilean). General Flavius Iovi**** is proclaimed Emperor by the troops on the battlefield.

Bronze coin during the reign of Emperor Jovian

1913: During the Second Balkan War, the Greek X Infantry Brigade, after a two-day fight, drive off the Bulgarians occupying the Kerkine ridge and advances to the valley of Strumnitsa


WWI-1917: The first U.S. troops begin arriving in France. These are men of the U.S. 1st Division.

French soldiers watch as a large contingent of newly arrived Americans pass through a small village

1940: De Gaulle forms French Volunteer Legion in Britain.


1944: US troops enter Cherbourg taking the German garrison commander prisoner. The British Second Army begins a major offensive in the Odon valley, west of Caen, named Operation Epsom.


1950: During the Korean War, South Korean government - President Syngman Rhee and cabinet - leave Seoul for Taejon.

ROK President,Syngman Rhee

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1709: During the Great Northern War (an anti-Swedish alliance comprised Peter the Great of Russia, Frederik IV of Denmark-Norway and August the Strong of Saxe-Poland-Lithuania that fought Swedish Empire), the Battle of Poltava occurs. 42,500 Russians under Tsar Peter I the Great of Russia, defeated some 24,500 Swedish troops under the Swedish King Charles XII and Field Marshal,Count Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld. The Battle of Poltava was a disaster for Sweden and a turning point in the Great Northern War. Swedish casualties numbered 6,900 dead and wounded, as well as 2,800 taken prisoner. Among those captured was Field Marshal Rehnskiöld. Russian losses were 1,350 killed and 3,300 wounded.

Peter the Great, the conqueror of Poltava

1743: During thw War of the Austrian Succession, the Battle of Dettingen occurs. On the battlefield in Bavaria, the British Monarch, George II personally leads his troops into battle, the last time that a British monarch would command troops in the field. The British forces, in alliance with those of Hanover and Hesse, defeated a French army under Adrien Maurice de Noailles, 3ème duc de Noailles. With the French defeat at Dettingen, the Duc du Noailles missed the best opportunity to win the war for France.

King George II

1921: During the Greek Minor Asia campaign, large scale operations begin on the entire front by the entire Greek Army of Minor Asia (3 Army Corps, 12 Divisions, ca 200,000 troops) along the line Eskişehir (ancient Dorylaeum)-Kütahya (ancient Cotyaeum)-Afyonkarahisar (ancient Akroinum) against the Turkish revolutionaries of the Turkish National Movement under Mustafa Kemal (also known as Atatürk).



1941: Romanian troops conduct a pogrom against Jews in the town of Jassy, killing 13,000.


1941: Hungary declares war on the Soviet Union and agrees to send troops to help Army Group South.

Hungarian troops on the move, 1941

1950: The U.N. Security council passes a resolution calling for member nations to give military aid to South Korea.


1991: Slovenia, after declaring independence is invaded by 35,000 JNA troops, starting the Ten-Day War.

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1914: Archduke Franz-Ferdinand of Habsburg, heir to the Austria-Hungary throne and his wife Sophie are assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian Nationalist in Sarajevo. The Great War begins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGCUIEINzsA

1919: The Treaty of Versailles is signed. It was the peace settlement signed after World War One had ended in 1918 and in the shadow of the Russian Revolution and other events in Russia. The treaty was signed at the vast Versailles Palace near Paris - hence its title - between Belgium, Britain, France, Italy, the United States and allies on the one side and Germany and Austria-Hungary on the other side. The Versailles Palace was considered the most appropriate venue simply because of its size - many hundreds of people were involved in the process and the final signing ceremony in the Hall of Mirrors could accommodate hundreds of dignitaries. Many wanted Germany, now led by Friedrich Ebert, smashed - others, like Lloyd George, were privately more cautious.


1922: The Irish Civil War (a conflict waged between two opposing groups of Irish nationalists: The forces of the "Provisional Government" that established the Free State in December 1922, who supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty, and the Republican opposition, for whom the Treaty represented a betrayal of the Irish Republic. The war was won by the Free State forces) begins with the shelling of the Four Courts (the Republic of Ireland's main courts building) in Dublin by Free State forces.


1950: North Korean forces enter Seoul in the early afternoon and street fighting ensued but by midnight Seoul is in North Korean hands.

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1149: In the Battle of Fons Muratus (Fountain of Murad), the Syrian army of Nur ad-Din Zangi destroyed the Crusader army of Raymond of Antioch (he was killed in the battle) and the allied followers of Ali ibn-Wafa. After the victory, Nur ad-Din became a hero throughout the Islamic world.


1444: In the Battle of Torvioll, Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu (Skanderberg), with the united Albanian armies of 15,000 men, defeated an Ottoman force of 25-40,000 troops under Ali Pasha. Thousands of Turks died while 2,000 were captured. The Albanians were originally attributed to have lost as little as 120 men, while modern sources suggest higher figures with about 1,800 dead and 2,000 wounded. Skanderbeg's victory was loudly praised throughout the rest of Europe. The Hungarians urged Skanderbeg to join their alliance against the Turks. The European states thus began to consider a crusade to drive the Turks out of Europe.

Gjergj Kastrioti is the national hero of Albanians, remembered for the restoration of the Albanian state in 1443 and the national war of liberation against the Ottomans

1644: During the English Civil War (a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists), the Battle of Cropredy Bridge occurs. A 5,000 horse, 4,000 foot Parliamentarian army under Sir William Waller, is defeated by the 5,000 horse, 4,000 foot Royalist army under King Charles I of England. The battle at Cropredy Bridge is the last battle won by an English King on English soil.

King Charles I of England

1659: The Battle of Konotop, fought between an army of the Ukrainian Cossacks under their Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky and the Russians, occurs. It was a defeat for the Russian forces who tried to stop the Ukrainian leader from entering into an alliance with Poland and Lithuania.


1941: Hermann Göring is named Hitler's successor.

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1422: The Battle of Arbedo (canton of Ticino, Switzerland), fought between the Duchy of Milan and the Old Swiss Confederacy, occurs. A 11,000 foot, 5,000 horse, Milanese Army under Francesco Bussone, defeated a Swiss army of some 2,500 foot. The defeat at Arbedo persuaded the Swiss to increase the number of pikemen.


1651: During the Khmelnytsky Uprising (a Cossack rebellion in Ukraine that began in 1648 and turned into a Ukrainian war of liberation from Poland), the Battle of Berestechko ends. It lasted for two days (28-30 June, 1651) and it was a decisive Polish-Lithuanian victory. It led to the signing of the Treaty of Bila Tserkva according to which the number of Registered Cossacks decreased from 40,000 (the Treaty of Zboriv) to 20,000, and their seats located only on the territory of the Kiev Voivodeship.

Ukranian Cossack Colonel Ivan Bohun, fighting the Poles in the Battle of Berestechko

1758: During the Seven Years' War, the Battle of Domstadt occurs. A 30,000-strong Prussian Army under the Hussar General Hans Joachim von Zieten, is defeated by a 12,000-strong Austrian Army under Baron Ernst Gideon von Laudon. The defeat shocked the Prussian camp. A memorial called Black Cross was built to the north-east of Domstadt (now Domašov in Czech republic) in 1858 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the battle.

The Black Cross

1921: During the Greek Minor Asia Campaign, the Greek IV Infantry Division, defeats the Turks and captures the town of Afyonkarahisar (ancient Akroinon).

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk with his staff officers, battle of Afyonkarahisar

1941: German forces of Army Group South capture the city of Lviv in Ukraine.


1944: The remaining 6,000 Germans in the Cherbourg peninsula surrender to the US VII Corps.


1950: Gen. MacArthur receives permission to deploy one (1) Regimental Combat Team (RCT) to Korea to establish a defense line in Pusan area to assure retention of the port. A few hours after this the order was expanded to 2 combat divisions and with permission to employ these forces against North Korean forces in the Suwon area. The United States was now fully committed to the Korean War.

US General Douglas McArthur

[PeterG]

1 July 1916. The british army suffering 60 000 casualties on this, the first day of that battle. Reading the book 'The first day on the Somme' just now.

The number of causalties starts to sink in when at the end of the book, the author writes that 28 battalions lost 500 men or more on this day.. Staggering losses indeed. May those poor men who fought and died in the trenches, rest in peace.

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

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1097: During the First Crusade, the Battle of Dorylaeum occurs. A 10-20,000-strong Crusader army commanded by Bohemond I, Prince of Antioch and Taranto, was surrounded outside Dorylaeum by the 6-8,000 Seljuk Turks (cavalry mainly) of Kilij Arslan. It was a victory for the Crusaders who captured Kilij Arslan's treasury and became rich. The Turkish defeat at Dorylaeum, cleared the road for Antioch.


1898: During the Spanish-American War, the Battle of San Juan Heights occurs. Two US Divisions and two Cavalry Brigades under Major General William Rufus Shafter, attack the 760 Spaniards occupying the San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill. The battle proved to be a hard one for the Americans, who suffered almost three times as many losses as the Spanish. The Spaniards, meanwhile, had literally fought to the knife. The future US President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, became a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in this battle.

Roosevelt and his Rough Raider Volunteers at San Juan Hill

WWI-1916: Start of the Battle of the Somme, with the British military suffering its greatest number of casualties in a single day, 60,000.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc8bjBZR-B0

1941: Armoured forces of Panzer Group 4 of Army Group North cross the Dvina river and capture Riga, the Latvian capital.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yc10Thpr3Q

1942: The First Battle of El Alamein: Rommel captures 2,000 prisoners from the El Alamein "box" but loses 18 of his 55 remaining tanks.


1944: Since D-Day, the Allies have landed 920,000 troops, 177,000 vehicles and 600,000 tons of supplies and equipment. In the 24 days of fighting, they have lost 62,000 men killed, wounded and missing.

[FREE-FRENCH]

We will remember them

[politischinkorrekt]

what a waste of life

pi

[Korath]

Look here: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...-History/page8
There is a relevant thread and a post about the battle, so it's a repost.

[PeterG]

Look here: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...-History/page8
There is a relevant thread and a post about the battle, so it's a repost.

Oh crap. Sry bout that..