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Top 10 Armies In World History!

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Maat-Seshat View Drop Down
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  Quote Maat-Seshat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Top 10 Armies In World History!
    Posted: 14-Mar-2017 at 16:37
Well, quite interesting discussion and I really do not know why German Nazi Army was so great. There were greater armies in Germany in other times.
I do not know, if the armies have to be categorised after period of time because I would like to note them as they come into my mind:

1. Macedon Army under Alexander the Great

2. The Egyptian Army of the New Kingdom, after the Hyksos had introduced chariots and horses

3. Carthage Army under Hannibal

4. Roman Army

5. Huns Army under Attila, causing the great migration of peoples

6. Army of the Frankish Empire (France) under Charlemagne

7. Mongol Army under Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan

8. The Great Kurd Sultan Saladin, Commander-in-Chief of Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Nubia and more, re-conquered Jerusalem

9. The German Army under Frederick II, the Great from Prussia.

10. Grand Napoleonean Army









Edited by Maat-Seshat - 14-Mar-2017 at 16:38
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  Quote AnchoritSybarit Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-Mar-2017 at 02:51
Originally posted by viperzz33



3.Englands Army from 1066 to 1900s: This Nation is among the greatest that ever existed, from the battle of Hastings to world war 2 this Nations army has stayed strong. They also had the best navy ever. They are very well drilled and disciplined which are one of the key ingredients of making a good army. With this they controlled over 1/5 of the worlds population at their greatest. They had a lot of colonies all around the world and has had a lot of victories.


England's claim to military prowess rests on 2 foundations.  First they established their primacy as a naval power against Spain and later over the Dutch (a surprisingly difficult process).  They were able to parlay this advantage and create a world spanning empire by seizing territory while simultaneously preventing others from doing the same.
Second under Marlborough in the 18th and Wellington in the 19th Centuries they created a credible ground force.  This army admittedly good could ONLY achieve its goals as part of a coalition.  Without Eugene does anyone claim that Marlborough would have emerged victorious against the French.  Or Wellington against Napoleon without Grouchy and the fear of the approaching Russians, Prussians and Austrians.
In the last century the definition of military futility would be a hard fought contest between the French and the British.  In WW I despite having the game changing technology (the tank) as early as 1916, they were unable to parlay it into success until 1918.  Their grand strategy would have seemed to find another nation to go to war every time they were at their wits end.  First Italy and then the US.
In WWII despite having more and better tanks than the Germans they were routed, fleeing France like a scalded cat.  In North Africa despite having enormous numerical superiority, air parity is not superiority, more and better armour, an enemy at the end of a supply line stretched to the nth degree and the bonus of Enigma intelligence they managed to stop Rommell by a cat's whisker.  At 2nd El Alamein despite even greater superiority across the board and the knowledge of impending US landings in Morocco, they were unable to successfully pursue a shattered German army fast enough to prevent it from creating a successful defense in Tunisia, thereby prolonging the war for at least 6 month.

In Sicily and Italy their operations could at best be described as pedestrian and plodding.

At D-day Montgomery despite weaker than expected resistance was unable to achieve the goals that he himself had set, leading to the prolonged Normandy campaign.  The inability to close the Falaise gap or to allow the Americans to do so prolonged the war considerably.  And the disaster of Market Garden was a classic exercise in snatching defeat out of the jaws of certain victory, not to mention the failure to simply read the intelligence reports and act on them.
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  Quote Domen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-Apr-2013 at 16:13

3.Englands Army from 1066 to 1900s: This Nation is among the greatest that ever existed, from the battle of Hastings to world war 2 this Nations army has stayed strong. They also had the best navy ever. They are very well drilled and disciplined which are one of the key ingredients of making a good army. With this they controlled over 1/5 of the worlds population at their greatest. They had a lot of colonies all around the world and has had a lot of victories.


Hastings? In the battle of Hastings England's army actually lost to a mixed Norman-French army.

And in WW2 British army had a series of military blunders - the biggest one being the Malayan Campaign (against Japan).

Also British Expeditionary Force in France, Norway and Greece; Operation Market Garden; combats against Rommel in Africa (finally Montgomery won, but due to large numerical and material superiority + US help); battles around Caen (British forces stuck for long time), etc.

Regarding the battle of France in 1940 - British forces lost nearly 100% of their equipment left behind in France. Large part of manpower was evacuated, but mostly by civilian boats. So Dunkirk is an achievement - but an achievement of British civilians, while a defeat of British army. And they rescued men, not an army (an army = men + equipment, and equipment was lost). British people often entirely blame France for the defeat of 1940, but as a matter of fact the Dunkirk escape was possible largely thanks to resistance of French forces at Lille (Siege of Lille 1940), which gave time for evacuation.

In the battle of Monte Cassino the British army also experienced many troubles against much weaker Germans.

In general performance of the British army in WW2 was rather moderate / decent - not bad but also not very good.

Some operations of RAF were also failures - for example initial period of bombing campaign against Germany.

=============================================

While when it comes to great British victories in WW2.

Here udoubtedly I would qualify the air battle over Britain, in which forces of RAF repulsed Luftwaffe, the defence of Malta and initial British victories in Africa against Italy (including Operation Compass - a similar blunder for the Italians as the Malayan Campaign was for the British).


Edited by Domen - 17-Apr-2013 at 16:52
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  Quote Sixteen String Jack Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-Apr-2013 at 09:14
The best army at present is the British Army.  In fact, Britain (and England before that) probably has the best military record of any nation in history.
 
Also, if the German Army was the best of the 20th Century then why did Germany lose both world wars?


Edited by Sixteen String Jack - 16-Apr-2013 at 09:16
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  Quote viperzz33 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-Apr-2013 at 15:44
oh well we all have our opinions still like the roman army better though
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  Quote Centrix Vigilis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-Apr-2013 at 21:16
I agree twas a fine force 'after 42'. Prior to that it was an infantry army with with post WW1 doctrinal innovations coming on.

After 42; it become a 'combined arms force (still infantry heavy)' with simplistic yet durable and highly efficient sources of equipment (to include lend lease)...and a significant manpower reserve pool even after their earlier catastrophic losses.

Equally important, it had the moral high ground in retaliation for the invasion by the Nazi's, and it's tactical and strategic leaders in uniform, having not been purged, were doing the job.
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  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-Apr-2013 at 19:07

Red Army of WWII: Singlehandedly broke the back of the Nazi war machine. Equipped with advanced, yet simple to produce, weapons, including the PPSH sub-machine gun, T-34 tank, Yak-9 fighter, and Sturmovik bomber
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  Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04-Apr-2013 at 21:24
Its hard to say.  Some armies such as alexanders might not have done so good under a different general.  Its hard to say wether in was the army or the commander or both who made it so powerful.  Considering all time periods and armies I'd have to say in no order:
 
U.S. army - Definately the most powerful armed force in all of history.  Given the advanced technology of the modern age of course.  No other country in history has had the power to land an army anywhere in the world in such a short time period.  Add in nuclear capabilities and the ability to push a button and decimate a country anywhere on earth and you have a powerful force.
 
Mongol army under Ghengis khan - Not only was he the best general in history (according to a thousand page debate/vote on another history forum) but his armies conquered 1/4 of the earths surface a feat only exceded by the British empire.  And he did it on horseback with bows and arrows wtih 150,000 men conquering advanced nations like china and khwarazam who had armies in the millions.
 
Roman army - Was an unstoppable force that ruled the mediterranian world for for 800 years.  Only their corruption and infighting led to their downfall.
 
Arab army - Came out of arabia as wondering nomads and conquered a vast portion of the middle east and africa, even taking some of spain.
 
British army - Conquered more territory than any nation in history over 1/4 of the earth.
 
German army WW2 - Had the most advanced weaponry of the time including the first jets and had one of the most disciplined armies.  Fought 3 countries at once and only lost because of a 2 front war and outproduced by the americans.
 
Chinese army 800 - 1100 - Hard to gage since they really only fought among themselves but given their size and man power and the art of war and gunpowder (they had rockets by the 11 century) they probably could have taken on any other country of the time period
 
Macedonian army - Alexanders army conquered the persian empire and much of the world. 
 
Spartan army -  Powerful army that was unstoppable for a while.
 
Japanese army ww2 - Fiercly fanatical they conquered much of asia.
 
 
 
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  Quote viperzz33 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-Mar-2013 at 22:52
There have been a lot of armies i history, and what makes them great i guess is what it can do and what it did. In my opinion, this is my top 10

1.Roman Army: Very flexible and organized army, its their flexibility that made them successful and they had great generals like Caesar. This army is good at building fortifications and they lasted for hundreds of years. A good example is Aleisa, great battle. The Roman Army was the best at their time, and conquered most of Europe.

2.The Grand Army: Very well disciplined and drilled troops, best of their time. They are very loyal and had very high morale. They also had one of the greatest generals ever, Napoleon Bonaparte' who actually made the army. A good example is the battle of Austerlitz, total perfection. And their best infantry, the Old Guard, they were the elite of the elite, they were defeated only once at Waterloo. This could conquered the whole Europe if it wasn't for a few countries around it.

3.Englands Army from 1066 to 1900s: This Nation is among the greatest that ever existed, from the battle of Hastings to world war 2 this Nations army has stayed strong. They also had the best navy ever. They are very well drilled and disciplined which are one of the key ingredients of making a good army. With this they controlled over 1/5 of the worlds population at their greatest. They had a lot of colonies all around the world and has had a lot of victories.

4.Mongol Army of the the Mongol Empire: With this Army, Genghis Khan conquered the largest Empire ever, it stretch from Korea to Eastern Europe. They won hundreds of battles. They may be badly armored but its their maneuverability and speed that's their strength. If Genghis Khan lived a little longer they could have conquered more.

5. America's Army now: "But as of right now, The Modern US Army is the most powerful Army to walk the face of the earth. They don't even have any close competition in terms of conventional warfare."
 posted by Steelcut

6. Alexander's Army: great army i wish i can command it, it's so cool.
7. Nazi Germany's army
8.Greek army specially the Spartans
9.I'm not exactly sure but it could be the Samurai, very tough and loyal men
10. talgana shihvato's army awsome they killed 20,000 men with only 1298 of thiers


 
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  Quote Steelcut Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-Feb-2013 at 16:28
Perhaps
 
But as of right now, The Modern US Army is the most powerful Army to walk the face of the earth. They don't even have any close competition in terms of conventional warfare.
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  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31-Jan-2013 at 20:26
Originally posted by Steelcut

The modern US army is the most powerful Army ever to walk the face of the earth.

For the moment. However, I understand the Chinese are more numerous and, technologically, are catching up with the Americans
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  Quote Steelcut Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30-Jan-2013 at 00:15
The modern US army is the most powerful Army ever to walk the face of the earth.
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  Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-Jan-2013 at 02:22
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  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-Jan-2013 at 10:46
Originally posted by Anon43218765

if britain had one of the largest empires in the world if not the largest empire, it's because they had an excellent army, so it should definitely be thereSmile

No, we were the best because we had an excellent navy. Our warships had the most powerful guns, and our marines could storm any port and use it to land supplies
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  Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-Jan-2013 at 14:18
if britain had one of the largest empires in the world if not the largest empire, it's because they had an excellent army, so it should definitely be thereSmile
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  Quote akbar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26-Nov-2012 at 08:32
why "THE MAQPOON ARMY" not included in this list............ the great emperor of tibet "THE ALI SHER KHAN ANCHAN"
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  Quote Cheops Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30-Oct-2012 at 03:58
I personally see no reason to have the Russian army on the list. Instead I should choose for the Persian army.
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  Quote Delenda est Roma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-Sep-2012 at 16:08
I rest my case you are a fantaic eho refuses to provide evidence goodbye.
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  Quote Cyrus Shahmiri Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-Sep-2012 at 15:57
These negative views can be found everywhere, the fact is that some people know and some other people don't know and just want to deny, for example they don't know an inscription of Darius the Great has been discovered in modern Romania, of course according to some biased Greek sources, Persians never controlled any part of Europe but there are some people who research, they read ancient Persian inscriptions, for example they already know that the Persian satrapy of Skudra was located in Europe.
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  Quote Delenda est Roma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-Sep-2012 at 11:45
Heres a review on your article

There are negative comments from peer reviewers.

Antoine Simonin wrote on 2012-01-10 17:54:22:

Achaemenids never controlled the Northern Black Sea area; the Anatolian Pontos region and Armenia were vassals, so maybe was Arabian Maka. And in the East, Sogdiana was the north-easternmost point they controlled, as was Gandhara in the East.
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