10 Most Vicious Acts of War in History
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VOICE OVER: Peter DeGiglio
WRITTEN BY: Aidan Johnson
From ancient conflicts to modern warfare, history is marked by acts of unprecedented brutality. Join us as we examine the most devastating military decisions that shaped our world. These shocking events demonstrate how single actions can trigger catastrophic consequences and change the course of history forever. Our countdown includes the atomic devastation of Japanese cities, Vlad's terrifying forest of impaled soldiers, Britain's aggressive response to China's opium ban, and more! Which historical event do you think had the most significant impact? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Welcome to WatchMojo, today were looking at some of the most monstrous acts of war that incited, ended, or prevented a war in history.
Battle of Port Arthur (1904)
One of the earliest wars for the Empire of Japan was an overwhelming victory over the Russian Empire in 1905. Japan was anxious about Russias ambitions in Asia, which conflicted with their colonial interests. As you might expect, Russia wasnt at all intimidated by Japan, viewing them as a minor Asian nation to be pushed around. The Japanese military proved otherwise, launching a surprise attack on Port Arthur, which didnt become a victory for either side. Despite this, in roughly 18 months Japan had firmly defeated Russia, turning the island nation into a great power, while ruining the Russian Emperors reputation.
Nazi Invasion of Poland (1939)
After years of tension in Europe, with Nazi Germany repeatedly seeing what it could get away with, invading Poland finally triggered all-out war. Hitler had already annexed Austria, plus Czechoslovakias Sudetenland[a], with no heated response from other powers. Starting September 1, 1939, Hitler and Stalin conquered the country in only 35 days. Hitler sought to exterminate the Polish people, making it into living space for the Germans. It was one of the darkest periods of not only Polish history, but European history as a whole. The Second World War wouldnt end until 1945, and almost entirely began because of Nazi cruelty.
Persecuting the God Worshipping Society (1850-64)
The 19th century was a particularly dark era in Chinese history, later called the Century of Humiliation. One of the bloodiest periods was the Taiping[b] Rebellion, when Hong Xiuquan[c] declared he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ. The devoutly Christian man from Guangzhou [d]formed the God Worshipping Society, a religious movement that combined Protestant Christianity with traditional Chinese folk religions. The ruling Qing dynasty viewed it as a subversive cult, then subsequently violently suppressed its followers. Eventually, it turned into an enormous rebellion, which lasted almost 14 years, killing between 20 and 30 million people.
Killing Ottoman Supporters (1532-55)
The Ottoman Empire was one of the largest Middle Eastern Empires in history. Stretching from Croatia to the Persian Gulf at its greatest extent, it was a vastly powerful empire at its peak. Despite its power, it never once managed to entirely conquer neighboring Persia. It wasnt for a lack of trying, with one lengthy war lasting between 1532 and 1555. It was triggered by the Safavid[e] Emperor, the ruler of Persia, assassinating the governor of Baghdad. He was a sympathizer of Suleiman the Magnificent[f], the Ottoman ruler, and as such they took it as a major provocation. The assassination wasnt the only contributing factor, but it gave the Ottomans a casus belli[g], leading to a war that eventually put Baghdad under Ottoman control.
British Response to Chinas Opium Ban (1839-42)
So weve discussed the Taiping Rebellion, which worsened Chinas century of humiliation, but how did the century begin? Well, it was with the First Opium War in 1839. In the early 19th century, Britain began smuggling huge quantities of opium into China. This caused tons of issues within China, but it was extremely lucrative for Britain. Chinese officials decided to ban opium, alongside destroying opium stocks. Britain responded by ignoring diplomacy, instead sending the Navy to fix the situation. The British Navy was overwhelmingly strong, causing Chinas defeat in under three years. As a result, the Treaty of Nanking was signed, sending China on a downward spiral into foreign control.
Killing Genghis Diplomat (1219)
The Khwarazmian [h]Empire is significantly less well-known than the Mongol Empire. The major act of war that caused this was the killing of Mongol diplomats. The two had no real bad blood initially, with the Mongols sending a merchant caravan to them in 1218. A Khwarazmian governor decided, for some reason, to execute them and seize the goods. Genghis empire subsequently sent envoys, which the Shah killed one of, then humiliated the other two. Genghis was so upset that he put his invasion of China on hold, then spent two years exterminating the empire.
Vlads Forest of the Impaled (1462)
Vlad III was the Voivode[i] of Wallachia, [j]a tiny principality located along the Danube, in the 15th century. At the time, their neighbors were the terrifying, power-hungry Ottoman Empire. Vlads nation was tiny, so he knew he had to get creative to protect it. He was outnumbered 10 to 1, so he decided to launch a surprise attack at night on the Sultans camp. The Wallachians were then pursued to the capital, where they found the city gates left wide open. Inside, was the forest of the impaled, with more than 20,000 Ottoman soldiers and sympathizers impaled along the roadside. The Sultan left Wallachia the day after, with Vlad getting exactly what he wanted.
Invasion of Iraq (2003)
One of Americas most controversial decisions in the 21st century was to invade Iraq. In 2003, a US-led coalition invaded Iraq, motivated by America seeking to end Saddam Husseins rule, alongside getting rid of their weapons of mass destruction. In the end, it turned out they didnt have any WMDs, as the UN inspection declared before the wars outbreak. The invasion was extremely controversial, led to immense suffering in the region, and served to increase turmoil in Iraq. It was widely regarded as a violation of international law and was declared without any approval from the United Nations. The Afghanistan conflict, the rise of ISIS, and the Syrian Civil War were all direct outcomes of the invasion.
Mussolini's Invasion of Ethiopia (1935)
Italy became a fascist state in 1922 and remained that way until its liberation in 1943. At its head was Mussolini, a pioneer in the field of spreading hatred and cruelty. One of the many atrocities ordered under his regime was the invasion of Ethiopia in 1935. It was almost entirely unprovoked, with Italy not even declaring war before invading. Ethiopia was one of the last independent African nations and had already repelled an Italian invasion decades prior. The 1935 invasion was an act of revenge, which caused extreme suffering among the population and employed tools such as chemical warfare. Entire villagers were massacred, with every Ethiopian being a target in Italys crosshairs.
Before we move on to our next entry, here are a few dishonorable mentions.
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki (1945)
Things had taken a turn for the worst for Imperial Japan by 1945, with the Japanese homelands at risk of American invasion, plus the Soviet Union finally breaking their pact. By August, they were ready to surrender; however, the Allied powers sought an unconditional surrender. To achieve this, they dropped two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It got what America desired, with Imperial Japan finally surrendering on August 15th. Many consider it a necessary evil, but this is a widespread falsification. Americas enemies were Japans leaders, not the civilians of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, making it one of the most barbaric acts of cruelty in human history.
On a more positive note, do you know any acts of great kindness made during wartime? Leave them in the comments below!
[c]Hong Xiuquan - https://youtu.be/BjwGmRJ_M1I?si=41KnBzu06hcYXZQ-&t=1
[d]Guangzhou https://youtu.be/8jnsDnFSHzo?si=lXRCXO6UjtdCSkm1&t=21
[e]Safavid - https://youtu.be/Z8SiCKrcpmE?si=QzhefomyyFQkfmjh&t=5
[f]Suleiman - https://youtu.be/LvtSYkGIbM4?si=RXz62zZmIs2e3fbr&t=33
[g]casus belli - https://youtu.be/QTvQYmeI7Pw?si=HRKsSTLCBvGzF_Ub&t=33
[h]Khwarazmian - https://youtu.be/OqfMgnF70pg?si=Iy9Ev5PDYdJ-FtGO&t=4
[i]Voivode -https://youtu.be/rvEL77xYpMk?si=w_sWOmXdDksddiud&t=6
[j]Wallachia -
https://youtu.be/46Mdp0hKyFs?si=za_8y8AQHF6TXe2H&t=57
Battle of Port Arthur (1904)
One of the earliest wars for the Empire of Japan was an overwhelming victory over the Russian Empire in 1905. Japan was anxious about Russias ambitions in Asia, which conflicted with their colonial interests. As you might expect, Russia wasnt at all intimidated by Japan, viewing them as a minor Asian nation to be pushed around. The Japanese military proved otherwise, launching a surprise attack on Port Arthur, which didnt become a victory for either side. Despite this, in roughly 18 months Japan had firmly defeated Russia, turning the island nation into a great power, while ruining the Russian Emperors reputation.
Nazi Invasion of Poland (1939)
After years of tension in Europe, with Nazi Germany repeatedly seeing what it could get away with, invading Poland finally triggered all-out war. Hitler had already annexed Austria, plus Czechoslovakias Sudetenland[a], with no heated response from other powers. Starting September 1, 1939, Hitler and Stalin conquered the country in only 35 days. Hitler sought to exterminate the Polish people, making it into living space for the Germans. It was one of the darkest periods of not only Polish history, but European history as a whole. The Second World War wouldnt end until 1945, and almost entirely began because of Nazi cruelty.
Persecuting the God Worshipping Society (1850-64)
The 19th century was a particularly dark era in Chinese history, later called the Century of Humiliation. One of the bloodiest periods was the Taiping[b] Rebellion, when Hong Xiuquan[c] declared he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ. The devoutly Christian man from Guangzhou [d]formed the God Worshipping Society, a religious movement that combined Protestant Christianity with traditional Chinese folk religions. The ruling Qing dynasty viewed it as a subversive cult, then subsequently violently suppressed its followers. Eventually, it turned into an enormous rebellion, which lasted almost 14 years, killing between 20 and 30 million people.
Killing Ottoman Supporters (1532-55)
The Ottoman Empire was one of the largest Middle Eastern Empires in history. Stretching from Croatia to the Persian Gulf at its greatest extent, it was a vastly powerful empire at its peak. Despite its power, it never once managed to entirely conquer neighboring Persia. It wasnt for a lack of trying, with one lengthy war lasting between 1532 and 1555. It was triggered by the Safavid[e] Emperor, the ruler of Persia, assassinating the governor of Baghdad. He was a sympathizer of Suleiman the Magnificent[f], the Ottoman ruler, and as such they took it as a major provocation. The assassination wasnt the only contributing factor, but it gave the Ottomans a casus belli[g], leading to a war that eventually put Baghdad under Ottoman control.
British Response to Chinas Opium Ban (1839-42)
So weve discussed the Taiping Rebellion, which worsened Chinas century of humiliation, but how did the century begin? Well, it was with the First Opium War in 1839. In the early 19th century, Britain began smuggling huge quantities of opium into China. This caused tons of issues within China, but it was extremely lucrative for Britain. Chinese officials decided to ban opium, alongside destroying opium stocks. Britain responded by ignoring diplomacy, instead sending the Navy to fix the situation. The British Navy was overwhelmingly strong, causing Chinas defeat in under three years. As a result, the Treaty of Nanking was signed, sending China on a downward spiral into foreign control.
Killing Genghis Diplomat (1219)
The Khwarazmian [h]Empire is significantly less well-known than the Mongol Empire. The major act of war that caused this was the killing of Mongol diplomats. The two had no real bad blood initially, with the Mongols sending a merchant caravan to them in 1218. A Khwarazmian governor decided, for some reason, to execute them and seize the goods. Genghis empire subsequently sent envoys, which the Shah killed one of, then humiliated the other two. Genghis was so upset that he put his invasion of China on hold, then spent two years exterminating the empire.
Vlads Forest of the Impaled (1462)
Vlad III was the Voivode[i] of Wallachia, [j]a tiny principality located along the Danube, in the 15th century. At the time, their neighbors were the terrifying, power-hungry Ottoman Empire. Vlads nation was tiny, so he knew he had to get creative to protect it. He was outnumbered 10 to 1, so he decided to launch a surprise attack at night on the Sultans camp. The Wallachians were then pursued to the capital, where they found the city gates left wide open. Inside, was the forest of the impaled, with more than 20,000 Ottoman soldiers and sympathizers impaled along the roadside. The Sultan left Wallachia the day after, with Vlad getting exactly what he wanted.
Invasion of Iraq (2003)
One of Americas most controversial decisions in the 21st century was to invade Iraq. In 2003, a US-led coalition invaded Iraq, motivated by America seeking to end Saddam Husseins rule, alongside getting rid of their weapons of mass destruction. In the end, it turned out they didnt have any WMDs, as the UN inspection declared before the wars outbreak. The invasion was extremely controversial, led to immense suffering in the region, and served to increase turmoil in Iraq. It was widely regarded as a violation of international law and was declared without any approval from the United Nations. The Afghanistan conflict, the rise of ISIS, and the Syrian Civil War were all direct outcomes of the invasion.
Mussolini's Invasion of Ethiopia (1935)
Italy became a fascist state in 1922 and remained that way until its liberation in 1943. At its head was Mussolini, a pioneer in the field of spreading hatred and cruelty. One of the many atrocities ordered under his regime was the invasion of Ethiopia in 1935. It was almost entirely unprovoked, with Italy not even declaring war before invading. Ethiopia was one of the last independent African nations and had already repelled an Italian invasion decades prior. The 1935 invasion was an act of revenge, which caused extreme suffering among the population and employed tools such as chemical warfare. Entire villagers were massacred, with every Ethiopian being a target in Italys crosshairs.
Before we move on to our next entry, here are a few dishonorable mentions.
The Defenestration of Prague (1618)
Protestants Throwing Catholics Out a Window Triggered the Thirty Years WarThe Invasion of Kuwait (1990)
Iraq Began the Gulf War After Occupying KuwaitBombing of Pearl Harbor (1941)
Japan Sought a Quick Victory Over America, but Got the OppositeJapanese Invasion of Manchuria (1931)
It Would Eventually Trigger Japans Full Blown Invasion of ChinaAtomic Bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki (1945)
Things had taken a turn for the worst for Imperial Japan by 1945, with the Japanese homelands at risk of American invasion, plus the Soviet Union finally breaking their pact. By August, they were ready to surrender; however, the Allied powers sought an unconditional surrender. To achieve this, they dropped two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It got what America desired, with Imperial Japan finally surrendering on August 15th. Many consider it a necessary evil, but this is a widespread falsification. Americas enemies were Japans leaders, not the civilians of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, making it one of the most barbaric acts of cruelty in human history.
On a more positive note, do you know any acts of great kindness made during wartime? Leave them in the comments below!
[a]Sudetenland -https://youtu.be/PJ1G2v5LCA0?si=Ts-7h7KuwRqjiQnc&t=43
[b]Taiping - https://youtu.be/bN2JFsglXC8?si=pFJEniawlPZyJwbf&t=16[c]Hong Xiuquan - https://youtu.be/BjwGmRJ_M1I?si=41KnBzu06hcYXZQ-&t=1
[d]Guangzhou https://youtu.be/8jnsDnFSHzo?si=lXRCXO6UjtdCSkm1&t=21
[e]Safavid - https://youtu.be/Z8SiCKrcpmE?si=QzhefomyyFQkfmjh&t=5
[f]Suleiman - https://youtu.be/LvtSYkGIbM4?si=RXz62zZmIs2e3fbr&t=33
[g]casus belli - https://youtu.be/QTvQYmeI7Pw?si=HRKsSTLCBvGzF_Ub&t=33
[h]Khwarazmian - https://youtu.be/OqfMgnF70pg?si=Iy9Ev5PDYdJ-FtGO&t=4
[i]Voivode -https://youtu.be/rvEL77xYpMk?si=w_sWOmXdDksddiud&t=6
[j]Wallachia -
https://youtu.be/46Mdp0hKyFs?si=za_8y8AQHF6TXe2H&t=57
