Comments on: The Most Decisive Battle of All Time http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-most-decisive-battle-of-all-time.htm All things military history! Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:45:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mark Case http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-most-decisive-battle-of-all-time.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8298 Mark Case Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:04:54 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=5950#comment-8298 When considering the single most decisive battle of all time, I would give serious consideration to the Battle of Britain. A German victory in the air campaign and a subsequent successful execution of Operation Sea Lion would have potentially provided Germany vast economic resources. Germany would have ultimately invaded the Soviet Union on much different, more favorable terms with the United States and its major Allies (Canada, Australia, and probably India) facing an even longer, more protracted war of technology and economic attrition against the Axis powers. When considering the single most decisive battle of all time, I would give serious consideration to the Battle of Britain. A German victory in the air campaign and a subsequent successful execution of Operation Sea Lion would have potentially provided Germany vast economic resources. Germany would have ultimately invaded the Soviet Union on much different, more favorable terms with the United States and its major Allies (Canada, Australia, and probably India) facing an even longer, more protracted war of technology and economic attrition against the Axis powers.

]]> By: Nickuru http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-most-decisive-battle-of-all-time.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8220 Nickuru Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:03:23 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=5950#comment-8220 I agree on the Manzikert observation. Also, do not underestimate the effect of Myrocephalion. This last battle sounded the death knell of the Byzantine Empire. The formidable Byzantine infantry was trapped in a gorge, under the command of their hero worship seeking emperor, and this, about 1280, led to the loss of all the Balkans. This along with Manzikert led to the destruction of the Byzantine Empire. Only the battle of Lepanto prevented the whole of the Mediterranean become a Turkish sea. I agree on the Manzikert observation. Also, do not underestimate the effect of Myrocephalion. This last battle sounded the death knell of the Byzantine Empire. The formidable Byzantine infantry was trapped in a gorge, under the command of their hero worship seeking emperor, and this, about 1280, led to the loss of all the Balkans.
This along with Manzikert led to the destruction of the Byzantine Empire. Only the battle of Lepanto prevented the whole of the Mediterranean become a Turkish sea.

]]> By: Hernan Reyes http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-most-decisive-battle-of-all-time.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8152 Hernan Reyes Thu, 28 May 2009 14:08:00 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=5950#comment-8152 I am not saying it was THE most decisive battle of all time, but Manzikert 1071 certainly desrves more credit than it is ever given in Western history classes (forget history classes in the USA... it is never mentioned even in footnotes...). Manzikert was the trigger for the crusades, but more to the point it was the beginning of the inexorable end of the Byzantine Empire... Byzantium never recuperated from the loss of Anatolia and its human resources... Admittedly, the fourth "Crusade" in 1204 gave Constantinople a knock-out blow, but if Manzikert hadn't crippled the Byzantine Army back in 1071, the history of the Eatsern Empire arguably would have been much different... I am not saying it was THE most decisive battle of all time, but Manzikert 1071 certainly desrves more credit than it is ever given in Western history classes (forget history classes in the USA… it is never mentioned even in footnotes…). Manzikert was the trigger for the crusades, but more to the point it was the beginning of the inexorable end of the Byzantine Empire… Byzantium never recuperated from the loss of Anatolia and its human resources… Admittedly, the fourth “Crusade” in 1204 gave Constantinople a knock-out blow, but if Manzikert hadn’t crippled the Byzantine Army back in 1071, the history of the Eatsern Empire arguably would have been much different…

]]> By: tad http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-most-decisive-battle-of-all-time.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8041 tad Wed, 06 May 2009 00:32:53 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=5950#comment-8041 as a medeival encounter , I would like to mention " grunwald " this was a major engagement involving the 2 largest and influential european forces at that time --the german knights and the litho-polish coalition.many natioanls were present and the otcome determined a major settlement of political geography-i.e. the control of eastern europe. as a medeival encounter , I would like to mention ” grunwald ”
this was a major engagement involving the 2 largest and influential european forces at that time –the german knights and the litho-polish coalition.many natioanls were present and the otcome determined a major settlement of political geography-i.e. the control of eastern europe.

]]> By: Brad Cohen http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-most-decisive-battle-of-all-time.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7671 Brad Cohen Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:51:43 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=5950#comment-7671 I'd say Jutland was definitely the decisive naval conflict of WW1! The German Prisoner assaulted its Royal navy jailor, but stayed in prison IE even though it wasn't a crushing tactical victory for either it was strategically decisive victory for the Royal Navy in the surface war in WW1. Convoy ONS-5 is a good point, but I'd say victory in the Battle of the Atlantic was more about long term trends and developments, integrating new technologies and weapons into the allied ASW system rather then a single decisive engagement. Isn't it the case that the further back in history a battle is, the more inherently decisive in world history it is? Saratoga has only affected the world for 232 years, Salamis for 2488! The very idea we have a differing conception of an 'East' and a 'West' comes from this campaign... I’d say Jutland was definitely the decisive naval conflict of WW1! The German Prisoner assaulted its Royal navy jailor, but stayed in prison IE even though it wasn’t a crushing tactical victory for either it was strategically decisive victory for the Royal Navy in the surface war in WW1.
Convoy ONS-5 is a good point, but I’d say victory in the Battle of the Atlantic was more about long term trends and developments, integrating new technologies and weapons into the allied ASW system rather then a single decisive engagement.

Isn’t it the case that the further back in history a battle is, the more inherently decisive in world history it is? Saratoga has only affected the world for 232 years, Salamis for 2488! The very idea we have a differing conception of an ‘East’ and a ‘West’ comes from this campaign…

]]> By: Chris Knott http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-most-decisive-battle-of-all-time.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7576 Chris Knott Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:39:18 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=5950#comment-7576 What about Cold Harbor? This was a decisive battle in halting Grant's advance on Richmond. It also changed the face of combat, introducing and proving the effectivness of trench warfare. What about Cold Harbor? This was a decisive battle in halting Grant’s advance on Richmond. It also changed the face of combat, introducing and proving the effectivness of trench warfare.

]]> By: Todd Bandrowsky http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-most-decisive-battle-of-all-time.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7567 Todd Bandrowsky Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:54:29 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=5950#comment-7567 I would scratch Jutland from World War I and replace it with the Convoy ONS-5 of World War II. The topic here is "decisive" battles. A "decisive" usually means a single, short but pitched battle where both sides throw both their chips onto the table and one walks away the winner. At Jutland, both sides threw their chips on the table and walked away. At ONS-5, the chips stayed. After ONS-5, the Allies and the Germans both knew that the U-Boat was beaten, and the Atlantic belonged to the US-UK alliance (and it still does to this day!) I would scratch Jutland from World War I and replace it with the Convoy ONS-5 of World War II. The topic here is “decisive” battles. A “decisive” usually means a single, short but pitched battle where both sides throw both their chips onto the table and one walks away the winner.

At Jutland, both sides threw their chips on the table and walked away. At ONS-5, the chips stayed. After ONS-5, the Allies and the Germans both knew that the U-Boat was beaten, and the Atlantic belonged to the US-UK alliance (and it still does to this day!)

]]> By: davies oladapo fatunmishe http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-most-decisive-battle-of-all-time.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7561 davies oladapo fatunmishe Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:02:53 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=5950#comment-7561 where will u place the israeli victories in 1948 ,1967 and 1973 yom kippur wars over combined arab nations where will u place the israeli victories in 1948 ,1967 and 1973 yom kippur wars over combined arab nations

]]> By: Paul van Kriedt http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-most-decisive-battle-of-all-time.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7551 Paul van Kriedt Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:43:47 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=5950#comment-7551 How about the somme . The end of the British Empire. No more volunteers after that. Tore the heart out of Britain. How about the somme . The end of the British Empire. No more volunteers after that. Tore the heart out of Britain.

]]> By: Philippe Leroy http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-most-decisive-battle-of-all-time.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7488 Philippe Leroy Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:30:10 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=5950#comment-7488 I am surprised to see that in the modern time area Waterloo is not mentioned. I think that the battle had a major impact in the shaping od Modern Europe and prevented a resurging dominance by France over Europe I am surprised to see that in the modern time area Waterloo is not mentioned. I think that the battle had a major impact in the shaping od Modern Europe and prevented a resurging dominance by France over Europe

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