Portal:War

The War Portal Introduction The Battle of Austerlitz by François Gérard. War is a state of conflict between relatively large groups of people (such as nations, states, organizations, social groups), which is characterized by lethal armed violence between combatants or upon civilians. Other terms for war, which often serve as euphemisms, include armed conflict, hostilities, and police action. A common look on war is a series of military campaigns between at least two or more opposing sides involving a dispute over sovereignty, territory, resources, ideology, or a host of other issues. A war to liberate an occupied country is sometimes characterized as a "war of liberation", while a war between internal elements of the same state is called a civil war. Aside from humans and other primates, ants are the only other animals known to exhibit such behavior on a large scale. A battle is a single engagement fought between two or more parties, wherein each party or aligned group will seek to defeat their opponent. Battles are most often fought during military campaigns and can usually be well defined in time, space and action. Wars are generally the continuum of a related series of battles and are guided by strategy, whereas individual battles are the stage on which tactics are employed. Military history is the recording and analysis of those events in the history of humanity that fall within the category of organized armed conflict and that relates to the institutions and organizations that prosecute such conflict. “ If you want peace, prepare for war.(Si vis pacem, para bellum) ” — Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus Featured article - The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the Neo-Stalinist government of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from October 23 until November 10, 1956. It began as a student demonstration which attracted thousands as it marched through central Budapest to the Parliament building. The revolt spread quickly across Hungary, and the government fell. Thousands organized into militias, battling the State police force and Soviet troops. The new government formally disbanded the State police force, declared its intention to withdraw from the Warsaw Pact and pledged to re-establish free elections. On November 4, a large Soviet force invaded Budapest using artillery and air strikes, killing thousands of civilians. Organized resistance ceased by 10 November 1956, and mass arrests began. An estimated 200,000 Hungarians fled as refugees. By January 1957 the new Soviet-installed government had suppressed all public opposition. Soviet actions alienated many Western Marxists, yet strengthened Soviet control over Eastern Europe, cultivating the perception that communism was both irreversible and monolithic. Public discussion about this revolution was suppressed in Hungary for over 30 years, but since the thaw of the 1980s it has been a subject of intense study and debate. Selected conflict - Clockwise from the top: communist troops at the Battle of Siping; Muslim soldiers of the NRA; Mao Zedong in the 1930s; Chiang Kai-shek inspecting soldiers; CCP general Su Yu inspecting the troops shortly before the Menglianggu campaign The Chinese Civil War was a civil war in China fought between the Kuomintang (KMT)-led government of the Republic of China (ROC) and forces of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) lasting intermittently between 1927 and 1949. The war is generally divided into two phases with an interlude: from August 1927 to 1937, the KMT-CCP Alliance collapsed during the Northern Expedition, and the Nationalists controlled most of China. From 1937 to 1945, hostilities were put on hold, and the Second United Front fought the Japanese invasion of China with eventual help from the Allies of World War II. The civil war resumed with the Japanese defeat, and the CCP gained the upper hand in the final phase of the war from 1945 to 1949, generally referred to as the Chinese Communist Revolution. (Full article...) Major topics and categories Eras of warfare Overview • Prehistoric • Ancient • Medieval • Gunpowder • Industrial • Modern Types of warfare Aerial • Amphibious • Arctic • Armoured • Artillery • Asymmetric • Attrition • Biological • Cavalry • Chemical • Conventional • Desert • Electronic • Ground • Guerrilla • Fortification • Herbicidal • Infantry • Information • Jungle • Maneuver • Mechanized • Mercenary • Mountain • Naval • Network-centric • Nuclear • Psychological • Radiological • Siege • Ski • Space • Sub-aquatic • Submarine • Surface • Total • Trench • Unconventional • Urban Categories War War by medium Wars Warfare Anti-war Aftermath of war War casualties Causes of war Chronology of war Environmental impact of war Laws of war War and the media Metaphors referring to war and violence Military and war museums People associated with war War and politics War in popular culture Lists Armies • Battles • Civil wars • Corps • Divisions • Fleets • Invasions • Operations • Orders of battle • Sieges • Tactics • Wars • Weapons • World War II Commanders Other related topics Genocide • Peace Did you know? - ... that in 1264, the Genoese captured an entire Venetian trade convoy after tricking the Venetian fleet into thinking that they had sailed for the Levant? ... that during the Battle of McDowell, Confederate soldiers attempted to use the dead bodies of their comrades to build breastworks? ... that some of the men of Ruffner's Missouri Battery were executed by Union forces after being captured at the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry? ... that the Battle of Mine Creek was one of the largest battles between mounted cavalry during the American Civil War? ... that although it was only formed in late 1939, the French 87th African Infantry Division inflicted 6,600 casualties upon the German forces and fought until the very end of the Battle of France? ... that when surrounded at the Battle of Oroscopa Carthaginian troops killed their horses and burnt their wooden shields to cook them? Featured picture - Although used occasionally in later experimental devices, this nuclear weapon design was used only once as a weapon, in Little Boy, because of the extreme danger of a misfire. A simple crash could drive the "bullet" into the "target" and release lethal radiation doses or even a full nuclear detonation. Illustration credit: Fastfission Selected anniversaries March 3 1857 - France and the United Kingdom declare war on China. 1918 - Germany, Austria and Russia sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ending Russia's involvement in World War I, and leading to the independence of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. 1942 - World War II: Ten Japanese warplanes raid the town of Broome, Western Australia killing more than 100 people. 1944 - The Order of Nakhimov and Order of Ushakov were instituted in USSR as the highest naval awards. General images The following are images from various war-related articles on Wikipedia. A small English Civil War-era cannon (from Military history) A battle of the Reconquista from the Cantigas de Santa Maria (from Religious war) Eighty Years' War, or Dutch Revolt against Spain, painting by Sebastiaen Vrancx (from Military history) An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools. (from Weapon) Assault rifle CZ-805 BREN (produced in Czech Republic). (from Weapon) The 3rd-century Great Ludovisi sarcophagus depicts a battle between Romans and Goths. (from Military history) Infantry were the first military forces in history. This warrior statuette demonstrates that military culture was an important part of historical societies, c.480 BC, Staatliche Antikensammlungen. (from Military history) Battle of Crécy (1346) between the English and French in the Hundred Years' War. (from Military history) The Vickers was the successor to the Maxim gun and remained in British military service for 79 consecutive years. (from Weapon) Selection of weapons collected by security officers at an airport (from Weapon) Demolished home in Balata, 2002, Second Intifada (from Religious war) The Canadian War Museum. (from Military history) Japanese samurai boarding Mongol ships in 1281 (from Military history) The bayonet is used as both knife and, when attached to a rifle, a polearm. (from Weapon) Fulani jihad states of Africa, c. 1830 (from Religious war) Relief of Ramses II located in Abu Simbel fighting at the Battle of Kadesh on a chariot. (from Military history) The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre of French Protestants, 1572 (from Religious war) Medieval Indian weapons (from Weapon) Franco-Prussian War (from Military history) Illustration of an "eruptor," a proto-cannon, capable of firing cast-iron bombs filled with gunpowder, from the 14th century Ming Dynasty book Huolongjing (from Military history) Saladin and Guy of Lusignan after the Battle of Hattin of 1187 (from Religious war) War-damaged buildings in Beirut (from Religious war) A sample scene of the Taiping Rebellion. (from Religious war) The victory of the Polish-Lithuanian forces over the Muscovites at the Battle of Orsha in 1514 (from Military history) A 155 mm M198 howitzer firing a shell (from Military history) A four-wheeled ballista drawn by armored cataphract horses, c. 400. (from Weapon) Ancient Chinese cannon displayed in the Tower of London. (from Weapon) A Greek trireme (from Military history) Related portals World War I World War II American Civil War American Revolutionary War Battleships Tanks Military history of Australia European military history Military history of Germany Genocide Other Wikimedia projects Things you can do Summary of Military history WikiProject open tasks watch · edit · full list News and announcements The February newsletter is now available. The Wikipedia:SOLDIER notability essay has been deprecated, and should no longer be used in discussions of notability at AfD and elsewhere. Editors are advised that Featured Articles promoted before 2016 are in need of review, if you had an article promoted to Featured status on or before 2016 please check and update your article before they are listed at FAR/C. Current discussions No major discussions are open at the moment Featured article candidates Khalid ibn al-Walid • Frederick Browning • John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke • Battle of Poitiers • Tom Eastick • Werner Voss Featured article review William Tecumseh Sherman • Joan of Arc • William Henry Harrison • Wesley Clark • Knights Templar Featured list candidates List of commanders of the British 3rd Division • List of commanders of the British 4th Division • Pershing House Featured picture candidates John Henry Turpin A-Class review Thirty Years' War • Nikephoros III Botaneiates • Ivo Herenčić • List of British infantry brigades of the Second World War (101–309 and named) • Ho Chi Minh trail • Battle of Glasgow, Missouri • Brazilian military junta of 1930 • Battle of Raymond • Charles Richardson (Royal Navy officer) • Kirk–Holden war • Gallic Wars • The Holocaust in Bohemia and Moravia • USS Johnston (DD-557) • CSS Baltic • Battle of the Blacks • List of British deception formations in World War II • Gisco (died 239 BC) • Sayfo • Oswald Boelcke Peer reviews Arthur Phillip • John Manners (cricketer) • Wei Yan • Battle of Alsasua • Crusading movement • Sargon II • Battle of Cedar Creek • Siege of Bukhara Good article nominees Colorado Coalfield War • Napoleonic looting of art • Mehmed Handžić • Robert Wertheim • Romanian Air Corps • Warsaw concentration camp • Gaius Marius • Soviet frigate Rezvyy • SoloTürk • William H. Davis (educator) • SS Eurana (1915) • Jim Gant • Battle of Agios Vasileios • Vito Trause • Abu Firas al-Hamdani • Hanover Expedition • General Butt Naked • HMS Topaze (1903) • Uthman ibn Abi al-As • CSS Pamlico • James Warren (politician) • CSS Scorpion • Squib-class torpedo boat • Lyndon B. Johnson • John L. Chapin • Battle on the Irghiz River Good article reassessments Operation Python Articles that need... work on referencing and citation (125,919) • only work on referencing and citation (40,379) • work on coverage and accuracy (99,390) • only work on coverage and accuracy (15,049) • work on structure (26,098) • only work on structure (214) • work on grammar (7,385) • only work on grammar (31) • work on supporting materials (27,793) • only work on supporting materials (1,255) • assessment (32) • assessment as lists (27) • project tags fixed (16) • assessment checklists added (12) • assessment checklists completed (0) • task forces added (197) • attention to task force coverage (233) Portals Activities Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Nature People Philosophy Religion Society Technology Random portal