Topic: Most impressive military achievement in the 20th Century? 9

perseus · March 16th, 2007

Quote:

Whilst the Finnish victory in the 'Winter War' of 1940 was very impressive

I wasn't aware Finland did win. Neither side did, but as a whole, the peace terms were harsh for Finland. The USSR received the city of Vyborg, in addition to their prewar demands.

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stop Russian (Soviet) domination of the European theatre

Actually it nearly defeated the USSR indirectly, since it must have given Hitler the confidence to launch Barbarossa. Unless you believe he would have done this anyway.

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I'd say the Iraqi insurgents are doing a pretty bang-up job of expelling their occupiers.

I doubt if we would be very popular for saying this, but yes I expect this is a real David and Goliath struggle, and it seems increasingly probable that the former will eventually win, or that a complete political breakdown will result, if it hasn't done so already.

It seems that a Democratic state with a free media cannot afford to have too many body bags returning or bad publicity from collateral damage, this severely handicaps them. The Insurgents have no such limitations, and many are willing to literally commit suicide to further their cause.

Doppleganger · March 18th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by perseus

I wasn't aware Finland did win. Neither side did, but as a whole, the peace terms were harsh for Finland. The USSR received the city of Vyborg, in addition to their prewar demands.

They had to concede some territory but for all extents and purposes the Finnish won as the USSR did not swallow up their country into their empire.

Quote:

Originally Posted by perseus

Actually it nearly defeated the USSR indirectly, since it must have given Hitler the confidence to launch Barbarossa. Unless you believe he would have done this anyway.

IMO the outcome of the Winter War made very little difference to Hitler's plans for the USSR. Hitler was committed to move east no matter what. After June 1940 it was the only practical direction for him to move in. What it probably did though was strengthen Hitler's conviction that a quick, lightning war against Russia would prevail. It was only in 1942 that Hitler developed any grudging respect for the 'Bolsheviks'.

Icarus · March 21st, 2007

The finnish in the Winter War, of course. Their small armed forces stopped almost the whole Red Army. Great.

Wheezcellbert · March 27th, 2007

I'd have to say the Yom Kippur war. Israel was attacked on all sides by decent military forces. Was outnumbered and outgunned in almost all aspects and they still managed to pull out a win. Of course the war may have been different if a Syrian tank commander would have moved his troops across a key bridge that was undefended. Luckily for Israel the commander thought it was heavily fortified and halted his armored units. If anyone can remember the name of the bridge or the Syrian command I would love to know.

Damien435 · March 27th, 2007

Pretty much any of the Israeli victories will do, they were surrounded and out numbered every single time yet they always came away victorious.

Grimmy · March 28th, 2007

Well, there was that time that I single handedly stopped an enemy force from seizing my great city by holding the far bridgehead while my fellow countrymen dismantled the bridge behind me. And after slaughtering many of the invader enemy I managed to swim back to my comrades... but that was another life and not 20th century, so... If I cant pick from a number of WW2 Pacific island battles, I'll pick the Israelis.

Easy-8 · August 9th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doppleganger

IMO the outcome of the Winter War made very little difference to Hitler's plans for the USSR. Hitler was committed to move east no matter what. After June 1940 it was the only practical direction for him to move in. What it probably did though was strengthen Hitler's conviction that a quick, lightning war against Russia would prevail. It was only in 1942 that Hitler developed any grudging respect for the 'Bolsheviks'.

Indeed. Hitler believed slavic people's to be subhuman and these racist thoughts did not begin or end at the winter war. It was written long before WWII was even a dream in Mein Kempf.

Norwegian Viking · August 22nd, 2007

The allied victory in World War 2 for me.

Cdt Matteo · January 5th, 2008

The Canadian Princess Patricia's Light Infantry Regiment in Korea.
Kapyong, Korea: 10 Men, some mortars, some Artillery help and OMFG luck/Divine internvention held off 3000 Chinese soldiers for 3 days while the UN forces withdrew to make a new defensive line. 4 Soldiers were killed in that squad.

The Other Guy · January 5th, 2008

I'm going to go with... the finnish stand against the Soviets.

View Poll Results :Most impressive military achievement in the 20th Century?
The Japanese victory over Russia, 1905.	4	3.20%
The Allied victory in WWI, 1914-1918.	1	0.80%
The Finnish stand against the USSR, 1940.	20	16.00%
The Axis victories in the first half of WWII, 1939-1942.	12	9.60%
The Allied victory in WWII, 1939-1945.	23	18.40%
The Israeli victory in the Israeli Independence War, 1948.	6	4.80%
The UN/USA victory in the Korean War 1950-1953.	2	1.60%
The Israeli victory in the Six Days War, 1967.	17	13.60%
The Arab relative succes in the Yom Kippur War, 1973.	0	0%
The Israeli Victory in the Yom Kippur War, 1973.	7	5.60%
The North-Vietnamese Victory in the Vietnam conflicts, 1945-1975.	11	8.80%
The Mujahidin victory in the Afghan War, 1979-1989.	5	4.00%
The Hizballa succses in the Invasion of Lebanon,1982-2000.	1	0.80%
The UN/USA victory in the Gulf War, 1991.	8	6.40%
Other.	8	6.40%
Voters: 125. You may not vote on this poll

March 27th, 2007	Post 85
Damien435 Tribunus Laticlavius	Pretty much any of the Israeli victories will do, they were surrounded and out numbered every single time yet they always came away victorious. __________________ Please note that 98% of what I say is my opinion and/or my "version" of the facts. Most of what I say is rumor with little to no evidence to back it up, just something I picked up somewhere. My City

January 5th, 2008	Post 90
The Other Guy Spam King Gear	I'm going to go with... the finnish stand against the Soviets. __________________ I've known hunger, I know thirst, lived the best and seen the worst, but the only way I know how to finish is to finish first! Everybody's talkin' at me I can't hear a word they're sayin' Just driving around in Jon Voight's car

March 21st, 2007	Post 83
Icarus Milites Gregarius	The finnish in the Winter War, of course. Their small armed forces stopped almost the whole Red Army. Great.

March 27th, 2007	Post 84
Wheezcellbert Milites Gregarius	I'd have to say the Yom Kippur war. Israel was attacked on all sides by decent military forces. Was outnumbered and outgunned in almost all aspects and they still managed to pull out a win. Of course the war may have been different if a Syrian tank commander would have moved his troops across a key bridge that was undefended. Luckily for Israel the commander thought it was heavily fortified and halted his armored units. If anyone can remember the name of the bridge or the Syrian command I would love to know.

March 28th, 2007	Post 86
Grimmy Optio	Well, there was that time that I single handedly stopped an enemy force from seizing my great city by holding the far bridgehead while my fellow countrymen dismantled the bridge behind me. And after slaughtering many of the invader enemy I managed to swim back to my comrades... but that was another life and not 20th century, so... If I cant pick from a number of WW2 Pacific island battles, I'll pick the Israelis.

August 22nd, 2007	Post 88
Norwegian Viking Milites Gregarius	The allied victory in World War 2 for me.

January 5th, 2008	Post 89
Cdt Matteo Optio Gear	The Canadian Princess Patricia's Light Infantry Regiment in Korea. Kapyong, Korea: 10 Men, some mortars, some Artillery help and OMFG luck/Divine internvention held off 3000 Chinese soldiers for 3 days while the UN forces withdrew to make a new defensive line. 4 Soldiers were killed in that squad.