Forgotten Wars

What was the worst riot in American History? Watts in 1965? Detroit in 1967? The LA riots in 1992 after the Rodney King beating? These were nothing compared to the mackdaddy of them all, the New York City Draft riots. The Big Apple in 1863 was a vast pressure cooker just waiting to blow, riven by racial and class tensions, combined with disillusionment towards the Civil War raging outside. When Abraham Lincoln introduced a draft to fill the depleted ranks of the Union Army, violence exploded on an almost unimaginable scale. As the city descended into bloody chaos, it would take the same US army regiments that had just been victorious at Gettysburg to retake the streets. #history #militaryhistory #america #newyork #civilwar

The Cold War led to many crazy decisions and bizarre alliances, but the Ogaden War is up there with the best of them. As Ethiopia plunged into bloody red revolution, neighbouring Somalia spotted an opportunity to conquer the disputed Ogaden region. As the fighting raged, America and the Soviet Union swapped sides mid war, while Castro’s Cuba even got involved. It would all end with a destabilised East Africa, helping to set in motion events such as the collapse of the Somali state, the Black Hawk Down incident, and the piracy crisis in the Horn of Africa. #coldwar #history #militaryhistory #historynerd #america #eastafrica

It's 1942 and as the Japanese juggernaut overruns South-east Asia, the eyes of the Empire of the Rising Sun fall on the Australian Port of Darwin. What followed was a devastating air raid, a tale of individual heroism and massive official incompetence. Most of all it is a story of the unthinkable happening, and a whole city having to live with the consequences that World War 2 had finally reached Australia’s shores. #history #militaryhistory #worldwar2 #pacifictheatre #australia #historynerds

1759 is the year when everything changed, the year of victories for the British and the colonists, the year that the back of French power in North America was finally broken. Wolfe is about to lead an army against the fortress city of Quebec, the beating heart of New France. Awaiting him is the legendary warlord Montcalm, undefeated so far in this conflict. The two best Generals Britain and France ever sent to North America are about to clash, their epic struggle will decide the future of the whole continent. #history #militaryhistory #britishempire #britain #historynerd

Britain is at its lowest point in the war, its army’s once again failing to make progress, its dreams for North America seemingly gone up in smoke along with the smouldering ruins of Fort William Henry. But change is in the air, new leadership is on the way, and soon fresh armies will be heading to the new world. Soon the British and the colonists will go from the ecstasy of triumph at Louisbourg, to the bloody failure that was Ticonderoga. #history #militaryhistory #america #britishempire #historynerd

In this episode we take a break from the main narrative to focus on one of the most remarkable units in American history; Rogers Rangers. Like so many innovations, they were born out of dire necessity. Britain was suffering defeat after defeat trying to use conventional tactics on the wild frontier. What worked on the plains of Europe, instead caused massacres when applied to the endless forests and lakes of North America. Robert Rogers, a soon to be legendary frontiersmen, had the solution: the Redcoats and colonial militia must learn to fight like Native Americans.  He would form the rangers, a motley band of bushrangers, frontiersmen and Indian fighters; who would take on the French and their Indian allies at their own game. They would become lethal shadows of the forest, earning French fear and Indian respect. #history #militaryhistory #war #america #history #historynerd

In the shadow of Braddock's defeat, Britain's other offensives in 1755 have distinctly mixed results. As the war spreads to Europe and then around the world, Britain and her colonists must now fight for their very lives, as the French go all out for total victory. It will all end with France's greatest victory of the war at Fort William Henry, and also the wars most infamous atrocity. #britishempire #america #history #militaryhistory #historynerd

It is 1754 and for over 60 years the rival superpowers of Britain & France have waged wars, both hot & cold, across the North American continent. Into this ancient feud steps a young Virginian colonial militiaman named George Washington. His actions will ignite a war on the American frontier that will spread across the world and lead to one Britain's worst defeats, the truly terrible failure that was the Braddock Expedition. Join me for our new series on the French and Indian War! #britishempire #france #history #historynerd #militaryhistory