History’s Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach

Explore pivotal incidents of catastrophic failure in battle and consider how these errors changed the course of history in this fascinating 24-lesson series.

Overview

Course No. 3761

Military history often highlights successes and suggests a sense of inevitability about victory, but there is so much that can be gleaned from considering failures. Study these crucibles of history to gain a better understanding of why a civilization took—or didn’t take—a particular path. Full of dramatic reversals of fortune and colorful characters, this course examines some of the world’s most notable examples of military misfortune. Success and failure, as you’ll learn, are two sides of the same coin. These 24 lectures reveal how the trajectory of history hangs in the balance of individual battles; even a single person’s actions in a particular moment have made drastic and irreversible impacts.

How could an army equipped with cannon be wiped out by Zulu warriors wielding spears and outdated firearms? How could armored French knights be vulnerable to the crude weapons of a band of Flemish shopkeepers? Why would a savvy Chinese general fall victim to a tactic he had previously used himself? Unpredictable twists of fate abound, demonstrating that when it comes to war, there are no givens. Sheer numbers, superior weaponry, and skilled leadership are never a guarantee of success. Take a fascinating journey through some of the most gloriously inglorious wartime encounters. By reversing the lens on history and confronting some of the most costly wartime mistakes, we can see the past from a new angle—and perhaps avoid making the same errors in the future.

Video Lessons

01: Petersburg: Union Digs Its Own Grave-1864

Follow the chain of events that led to the Civil War’s ill-fated Battle of the Crater, a notable example of what can happen in warfare when a plan goes awry due to poor leadership, last-minute changes, and other unclear objectives. Duration: 34 min

02: Syracuse: Athens’s Second Front-413 B.C.

From initiating a second front with a new enemy to dividing supreme command among multiple generals, see how failures of decision-making and leadership spelled disaster for Athens. Duration: 33 min

03: Carrhae: The Parthian Shot-53 B.C.

The Roman military suffered one of its most humiliating defeats at the hands of the Parthians. Discover how intelligence failures and overconfidence played a role. Duration: 30 min

04: Red Cliffs: Cao Cao’s Bad Day-208 A.D.

Examine how the accomplished general Cao Cao fell for an obvious ploy in the battle of Red Cliffs. Duration: 33 min

05: Barbarian Gate: Adrianople-378, Pliska-811

Explore the curious similarities between the defeats of Roman forces at Adrianople and Pliska, triggered by mistreatment and overconfidence. Duration: 31 min

06: Fourth Crusade: Byzantium Betrayed-1204

Learn what led to the unexpected attack on Constantinople by Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade. Duration: 31 min

07: Kalka River: Genghis Khan’s General-1223

Examine the factors that led to the Mongols’ victory over Russian forces, including strategic maneuvers by Subotai. Duration: 29 min

08: Courtrai: Knights versus Shopkeepers-1302

Delve into how the finely armed French knights were defeated by the Flemish shopkeepers’ improvised weapons. Duration: 29 min

09: Nagashino: Taking Swords to a Gunfight-1575

Consider why access to technology isn’t enough without understanding its effective use. Duration: 29 min

10: Cartagena: High Walls, Short Ladders-1741

Trace how British enthusiasm turned to embarrassment during this amphibious assault. Duration: 28 min

11: Culloden: The Bonnie Prince Blunders-1746

Explore how rivalries and poor decisions led to the defeat of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Duration: 29 min

12: Russia: Napoleon Retreats in the Snow-1812

Investigate Napoleon’s tactical errors during his Russian campaign. Duration: 31 min

13: Afghanistan: Khyber Pass Death Trap-1842

See how paranoia led to the disastrous First Afghan War for the British. Duration: 29 min

14: Crimea: Charge of the Light Brigade-1854

Follow the missteps leading to this infamous military blunder. Duration: 31 min

15: Greasy Grass: Custer’s Last Stand-1876

Examine the controversy surrounding the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Duration: 30 min

16: Isandlwana: 25,000 Zulus Undetected-1879

Discover how the British were defeated by Zulu warriors in a shocking battle. Duration: 31 min

17: Adwa: Italy’s Fiasco in Ethiopia-1896

Learn how the Italians’ overconfidence led to a significant defeat. Duration: 31 min

18: Colenso: The Second Boer War-1899

Explore how outdated tactics resulted in a failed British attack. Duration: 30 min

19: Tannenberg: Ineptitude in the East-1914

Discover how German forces capitalized on Russian errors at the Battle of Tannenberg. Duration: 30 min

20: Gallipoli: Churchill Dooms Allied Assault-1915

Investigate the failed Gallipoli campaign during World War I. Duration: 31 min

21: World War II: Royal Navy Goes Down-1941-42

Examine naval disasters involving the Royal Navy during WWII. Duration: 33 min

22: Dieppe Raid: Catastrophe on the Beach-1942

Find out what went wrong during the ill-fated Dieppe Raid. Duration: 29 min

23: Operation Market Garden: A Bridge Too Far-1944

Review the planning and execution errors during Operation Market Garden in WWII. Duration: 29 min

24: The Great Blunders: Four Paths to Failure

Review recurrent errors in military conflicts, concluding with a case study of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Duration: 33 min