Forgotten Wars

It's 1824 and a British army is entering the jungles of the Gold Coast in west Africa to fight the mysterious Ashanti. Find out how slavery, gross incompetence and macaroni lead to a British General being beheaded and his skull used as cup. #History #Britishempire #Historynerd #War #Militaryhistory

During World War 2 Iran was invaded by Britain and the Soviet Union, an act that is often covered in just a sentence or two in most histories of the war. Yet it would arguably be the turning point of Iran’s modern history, setting up the domino's for the Iranian Revolution, the fall of the Shah and the rise of an aggressive theocracy. #war #history #militaryhistory #iran #worldwar2

 On the morning of Oct. 25, 1813, the inhabitants of the Pacific island of Nuku Hiva awoke to a startling sight, a fleet of strange ships sailed across the cobalt blue sea and landed at their island. It was an American fleet, trying to escape the British during the war of 1812. So began the most bizarre US military campaign in history, a riproaring yarn involving fights with cannibals, mutinying sailors and a soon to be scandalous amount of fornication with local women. #war #militaryhistory #history #america

Dark times have fallen on the Republic, after the disastrous Teruel offensive the Republican zone is now split in two. The triumph of the Nationalists seems inevitable, but as the Munich Crisis begins the Republicans plot one last great offensive to turn the tide. The Battle of the Ebro will decided the fate of Spain and bring about the triumph of Franco. #war #worldwar2 #spain #history #historynerd

The Republic is still recovering from the meat grinders of Brunete and Belchite, while it faces the grim prospect of Franco overrunning what was left of its northern enclave. Desperate for a success to silence the doubters, the Communists will take the biggest gamble of the whole war. After the Battle of Teurel, nothing will ever be the same again. #war #militaryhistory #historynerd #history #worldwar2 #spain

With the Communist's now dominant in Republican Spain after the May Days, they decide to launch two huge offensives. Brunete and Belchite will become disasters for the Republic, inflicting gaping wounds that will never heal. Meanwhile Mussolini embarks on a career as a Mediterranean pirate. #history #historynerd #spain #war #worldwar2

What a difference 3 months can make. In March 1937 the Republic won its greatest victory of the civil war at Guadalajara, for the first time since the coup it seemed as though they could defeat the Nationalists. Yet by May Franco's forces were on the verge of victory in the north, after destroying the town of Guernica with the help of the German Condor Legion. Meanwhile a civil war within a civil war raged behind the Republican lines, as the anarchists and Communists battled for dominance in Barcelona. #history #historynerd #war #worldwar2 #spain

As Franco's forces advance on Madrid everyone believes it will fall easily. General Mola even boasts he will soon drink coffee on the Grand Via. But it will be a much harder fight than anyone suspects, setting the scene is set for an epic contest that will leave the Nationalists frustrated, and guarantee that this will be a long drawn out war. #war #militaryhistory #historynerd #history #worldwar2

In July 1936 the army rose up and attempted to seize control of Spain, yet the nation was so polarized that while it was successful in some areas, in others it completely failed. With Spain split in half, Civil War is the only way to victory. Meanwhile in Berlin, Rome and Moscow plots are made that will soon internationalise the conflict. #Militaryhistory #War #History #Historynerd