Top 10 Smartest Military Operations in History

Top-10-Smartest-Military-Operations-in-History

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the greatest military operations in which leaders and armies displayed superior strategic intelligence.

#10: The Mongol Conquest of China (1205-79)

There’s a reason that Genghis Khan is one of the most feared names in human history. In the year 1205, he and his Mongol Empire began their legendary invasion of China, which is now known as the Mongol Conquest. For the next seventy years, the Mongol Empire completely eradicated China with an effective cavalry and stellar military tactics, including the use of skilled horse archers that were universally feared. This fear grew into the realm of psychological warfare, with the Mongol Empire eliciting incredible terror in their opponents. Their campaign ended various Chinese dynasties, including the Southern Song, and the Mongols took complete control of the country, beginning the historic Yuan dynasty.

#9: Battle of Rorke's Drift (1879)

Back in 1879, the British Empire invaded Zululand in Southern Africa, beginning the Anglo-Zulu War. During this skirmish, a major force of about 4,000 Zulu warriors attacked the small mission station of Rorke’s Drift, which was located in the Colony of Natal. The Zulu heavily outnumbered the British, as the small station was populated by just 150 troops. Despite the significant numerical disadvantage, the British emerged victorious thanks to some smart defensive measures and superior firearms. With the help of some well-placed barricades and powerful weapons, the British fought the Zulu for numerous hours before they fled with heavy casualties. The defenders were praised for their performance and awarded eleven Victoria Crosses, which is the most prestigious medal in the honors system.

#8: The Battle of Agincourt (1415)

And speaking of great underdog victories, let’s talk about the famous Battle of Agincourt! Celebrated as a significant English victory, the battle occurred during the Hundred Years’ War on October 25, 1415. The English were heavily outnumbered against the French, with their 8,000-odd men up against 25,000 French soldiers. But despite the odds, the English emerged victorious due to some smart military tactics. For one, the English positioned themselves well on a muddy and narrow terrain. The narrowness forced the French to move in a compact and easily-fought formation, and the mud significantly slowed their movement. Furthermore, the English utilized their famous longbows to rain arrows down on the slipping and sliding French. It’s a brilliant example of intelligence overcoming numbers.

#7: The Gallic Wars (58-50 BCE)

For eight years between 58 and 50 BCE, Julius Caesar and his Roman Republic invaded the region of Gaul. This is now known as the Gallic Wars, and they ended in a significant Roman victory. Caesar started the wars mostly to gain political clout, and, well, he certainly succeeded. The Romans were superior to the Gallic tribes in nearly every way, having better leadership and unity, more advanced technology, better resources, and wider mobility. The Romans also utilized siege warfare, often cutting off resources and forcing multiple surrenders. Caesar also took advantage of the general Gallic disunity, as their armies faced fierce internal divisions. It was an easy victory that expanded the Roman Empire and boosted the respect for and power of Julius Caesar.

#6: The Soviet Invasion of Manchuria (1945)

Serving as the largest campaign of the Soviet–Japanese War, the Manchurian operation saw the Soviet Union invading the region of Manchuria in northeast China. Between August 9 and 20 of 1945, the Soviets took control of Manchukuo, Inner Mongolia, and northern Korea, all of which were under control of the Empire of Japan. While the Japanese army was stretched thin in the midst of the Pacific Theater, the Soviets were well equipped, numerically strong, and backed by the support and coordination of the Allied forces. The Soviets had better arms, complete with over 5,000 tanks and rocket launchers, and they surprised the Japanese by declaring war just one hour before the invasion began.

#5: The Battle of Thermopylae (480 BCE)

Popularized by the film “300,” the Battle of Thermopylae occurred in the summer of 480 BC during the Greco-Persian Wars. While the outnumbered Spartan army lost the battle, their bravery and creativity earned wide respect, and it is now regarded by some as a pyrrhic Persian victory. The Spartans had positioned themselves well at the narrow pass of Thermopylae, effectively negating their numerical disadvantage and forcing the Persians to attack in a funneled and linear manner. The pass was made even more narrow thanks to some strategically-located defensive walls. Finally, the Spartans fought in their well-known phalanx formation, which gave them an advantage on the field. Despite the Spartan loss, the Battle of Thermopylae is still regarded as an ingenious example of strategic warfare.

#4: The Conquests of Alexander the Great (336-323 BCE)

There’s a reason he’s known as Alexander the Great. Between 336 and 323 BC, Alexander III of Macedon spread his influence east and completely decimated the Achaemenid Empire. By the time he was done, the Macedonian Empire stretched to Central Asia and India and brought about the influential Hellenistic period. Alexander won battles with siege warfare, the aforementioned phalanx formation, and his feared Companion Cavalry that used shock tactics to their advantage. He also utilized innovative techniques, combining units to create a swift-moving military engine. Finally, Alexander himself was fiercely ambitious and deeply charismatic, which lent fantastic unity to his army. They were literally unstoppable. In fact, the only reason they did stop was because they were tired and didn’t feel like fighting anymore.

#3: Operation Desert Storm (1991)

Iraq invaded the oil-rich country of Kuwait in August 1990, kickstarting the famous Gulf War. To help liberate Kuwait from Iraqi influence, the United States and a number of other countries launched a devastating air campaign-ground offensive combo that swiftly ended the war. The aerial assault targeted many key locations important to the Iraqi military, effectively decimating their power and allowing the ground forces to move quickly and effortlessly. The Coalition forces also owned superior weapons, utilizing Tomahawk cruise missiles and high-tech advancements like laser-guided smart bombs to strike with extreme precision. It wasn’t much of a fight, and the campaign was over within weeks.

#2: The Campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte (1793-1815)

If there’s one name that rivals Alexander the Great in terms of military dominance, it’s Napoleon Bonaparte. The famous French commander is widely regarded as one of history’s greatest military leaders, mostly dominating the French Revolutionary Wars and later Napoleonic Wars. His operations and tactics are still being taught in military academies around the world, a reputation that is bolstered by his exceptional record. Of the 81 battles that he fought, he lost only 11. He won these battles with exceptional tactics like surprise attacks, rapid maneuvering, flanking enemies, and devastating artillery attacks, just to name a few. While he ultimately lost, Napoleon is often called a military genius who changed the methods of warfare forever.

#1: The Normandy Landings (1944)

History was made on June 6, 1944. Widely known as D-Day, it saw humanity’s largest seaborne invasion when the Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France. It may seem like we just threw soldiers at the Germans, but the truth is far more complex. The landings required extensive planning and thorough research, like deciding what beaches to land on and secretly gathering intelligence from the Axis powers. Furthermore, they planned around the moon phase and the resulting tides, ensuring a precise date and time for the landings. And speaking of, the Allies successfully fooled the Axis with Operation Bodyguard, which masked the real locations and times through clever deception. Ingenious planning resulted in what was the most important victory of World War II.

What do you make of these operations? Let us know in the comments below!