Time for today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post.
Have you ever wondered why early gunpowder armies wore such elaborate, colorful uniforms, like the famous British Redcoats, or the French Zouaves? There were cultural reasons, of course, and part of the idea was that they helped boost morale. /1
Have you ever wondered why early gunpowder armies wore such elaborate, colorful uniforms, like the famous British Redcoats, or the French Zouaves? There were cultural reasons, of course, and part of the idea was that they helped boost morale. /1
September 29, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Time for today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post.
Have you ever wondered why early gunpowder armies wore such elaborate, colorful uniforms, like the famous British Redcoats, or the French Zouaves? There were cultural reasons, of course, and part of the idea was that they helped boost morale. /1
Have you ever wondered why early gunpowder armies wore such elaborate, colorful uniforms, like the famous British Redcoats, or the French Zouaves? There were cultural reasons, of course, and part of the idea was that they helped boost morale. /1
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory is brought to you by the letter Q, for Q-Ship! Q-Ships were special decoy ships disguised as unassuming merchant vessels, when in reality they were heavily armed and looking to pick a fight with a submarine. Never underestimate your enemy!
Q-ship - Wikipedia
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September 22, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory is brought to you by the letter Q, for Q-Ship! Q-Ships were special decoy ships disguised as unassuming merchant vessels, when in reality they were heavily armed and looking to pick a fight with a submarine. Never underestimate your enemy!
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a reminder that women have *always* fought in wars. In particular, for the many women fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, they're carrying out a century's old legacy of Olena Stepaniv and others who fought in the First World War.
Olena Stepaniv - Wikipedia
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October 4, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a reminder that women have *always* fought in wars. In particular, for the many women fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, they're carrying out a century's old legacy of Olena Stepaniv and others who fought in the First World War.
I apologize for forgetting yesterday, so here's today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post. Most people know the story of Joan of Arc and its rather tragic ending, but in terms of "young prophets leading a wartime movement", she's actually on the more successful side. She at least accomplished something.
Children's Crusade - Wikipedia
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October 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I apologize for forgetting yesterday, so here's today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post. Most people know the story of Joan of Arc and its rather tragic ending, but in terms of "young prophets leading a wartime movement", she's actually on the more successful side. She at least accomplished something.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about the importance of proper demobilization. What do you do with countless soldiers who no longer have a war to fight? The correct answer is definitely *not* to shove them into the police force during an ethnic conflict. It won't work well for anyone.
Black and Tans - Wikipedia
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October 12, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about the importance of proper demobilization. What do you do with countless soldiers who no longer have a war to fight? The correct answer is definitely *not* to shove them into the police force during an ethnic conflict. It won't work well for anyone.
Hoo boy, I am very sleepy deprived today. I always think about sieges when I get like this-being on edge for months on end without sleep.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about one such event, the Siege of Przemysl in WW1, about which Alexander Watson wrote a book I quite enjoyed.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about one such event, the Siege of Przemysl in WW1, about which Alexander Watson wrote a book I quite enjoyed.
Siege of Przemyśl - Wikipedia
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October 17, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Hoo boy, I am very sleepy deprived today. I always think about sieges when I get like this-being on edge for months on end without sleep.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about one such event, the Siege of Przemysl in WW1, about which Alexander Watson wrote a book I quite enjoyed.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about one such event, the Siege of Przemysl in WW1, about which Alexander Watson wrote a book I quite enjoyed.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory is simple: Did you know that Japan fought in the First World War? It was driven by opportunism to snap up territory while Germany was busy, but they did fight a major battle. The diplomatic fallout of the war was also a turning point in Japanese and Chinese politics.
Siege of Tsingtao - Wikipedia
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September 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory is simple: Did you know that Japan fought in the First World War? It was driven by opportunism to snap up territory while Germany was busy, but they did fight a major battle. The diplomatic fallout of the war was also a turning point in Japanese and Chinese politics.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a reminder that GUNS AND ALCOHOL DO NOT MIX. DON'T GET DRUNK AND SHOOT YOUR OWN PEOPLE, AND DON'T SHOOT YOUR OWN PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WON'T LET YOU GET DRUNK.
Battle of Karánsebes - Wikipedia
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October 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a reminder that GUNS AND ALCOHOL DO NOT MIX. DON'T GET DRUNK AND SHOOT YOUR OWN PEOPLE, AND DON'T SHOOT YOUR OWN PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WON'T LET YOU GET DRUNK.
Rather than my usual #MorningMilitaryHistory post, today is a special #MilitaryMystery, ooowooooh! 🔍
After meeting a number of times with strange individuals, West Point cadet Richard Cox suddenly disappeared without explanation. Recruitment by spies? Murder? Desertion? No one knows....
After meeting a number of times with strange individuals, West Point cadet Richard Cox suddenly disappeared without explanation. Recruitment by spies? Murder? Desertion? No one knows....
Disappearance of Richard Colvin Cox - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
October 26, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Rather than my usual #MorningMilitaryHistory post, today is a special #MilitaryMystery, ooowooooh! 🔍
After meeting a number of times with strange individuals, West Point cadet Richard Cox suddenly disappeared without explanation. Recruitment by spies? Murder? Desertion? No one knows....
After meeting a number of times with strange individuals, West Point cadet Richard Cox suddenly disappeared without explanation. Recruitment by spies? Murder? Desertion? No one knows....
The return of #MorningMilitaryHistory! Sorry for the delay, been feeling exhausted recently.
Today's post is once again on the topic of failure, one of my favorite things to study. Here's a fun question: what was the British military's most crushing defeat? /1
Today's post is once again on the topic of failure, one of my favorite things to study. Here's a fun question: what was the British military's most crushing defeat? /1
October 25, 2025 at 5:22 PM
The return of #MorningMilitaryHistory! Sorry for the delay, been feeling exhausted recently.
Today's post is once again on the topic of failure, one of my favorite things to study. Here's a fun question: what was the British military's most crushing defeat? /1
Today's post is once again on the topic of failure, one of my favorite things to study. Here's a fun question: what was the British military's most crushing defeat? /1
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about one of Bill and Ted's erstwhile companions, Genghis (or Chingis) Khan.
Even today, the Mongols are typically viewed as bloodthirsty barbarians, but they were (and are) a much more complicated people than the stereotypes would suggest. /1
Even today, the Mongols are typically viewed as bloodthirsty barbarians, but they were (and are) a much more complicated people than the stereotypes would suggest. /1
October 22, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about one of Bill and Ted's erstwhile companions, Genghis (or Chingis) Khan.
Even today, the Mongols are typically viewed as bloodthirsty barbarians, but they were (and are) a much more complicated people than the stereotypes would suggest. /1
Even today, the Mongols are typically viewed as bloodthirsty barbarians, but they were (and are) a much more complicated people than the stereotypes would suggest. /1
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a bit of a clarification: while many people know that the Soviet Union teamed up with the Nazis to invade Poland (again), there's a common characterization of the Poles as basically being already defeated by the Nazis at that point, which wasn't true. /1
Soviet invasion of Poland - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
October 21, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a bit of a clarification: while many people know that the Soviet Union teamed up with the Nazis to invade Poland (again), there's a common characterization of the Poles as basically being already defeated by the Nazis at that point, which wasn't true. /1
I was a bit too wiped out yesterday to make the annual #MorningMilitaryHistory post, but some of my energy has returned, so today let's talk about the Inca! Like a lot if pre-Columbian civilizations, most people have only a vague, stereotypical idea as to the structure of their society. /1
October 20, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I was a bit too wiped out yesterday to make the annual #MorningMilitaryHistory post, but some of my energy has returned, so today let's talk about the Inca! Like a lot if pre-Columbian civilizations, most people have only a vague, stereotypical idea as to the structure of their society. /1
A bit of an early morning for me today, so an early #MorningMilitaryHistory post to go with it: this time, about the almost pitiable fate of the last Emperor of Mexico, brought to power on the back of the French military, and deposed and executed by the enduring forces of the Republic.
Maximilian I of Mexico - Wikipedia
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October 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM
A bit of an early morning for me today, so an early #MorningMilitaryHistory post to go with it: this time, about the almost pitiable fate of the last Emperor of Mexico, brought to power on the back of the French military, and deposed and executed by the enduring forces of the Republic.
I was busy last morning, meaning I missed the #MorningMilitaryHistory post, but I'm back! Are you ready for some football and/or war? El Savador and Honduras were, very briefly, after ethnic and economic tensions led to an explosion of violence, first at the World Cup, then on the battlefield.
Football War - Wikipedia
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October 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I was busy last morning, meaning I missed the #MorningMilitaryHistory post, but I'm back! Are you ready for some football and/or war? El Savador and Honduras were, very briefly, after ethnic and economic tensions led to an explosion of violence, first at the World Cup, then on the battlefield.
So, one of the recurring political topics in the UK for quite a while has been the fishing industry and the fate of all those little boats. Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a reminder that whatever the trials of modern politics, at least they won't be attacked by Russian battleships anymore.
Dogger Bank incident - Wikipedia
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October 13, 2025 at 4:23 PM
So, one of the recurring political topics in the UK for quite a while has been the fishing industry and the fate of all those little boats. Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a reminder that whatever the trials of modern politics, at least they won't be attacked by Russian battleships anymore.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about two things: first, the ever-present specter of racism in most militaries, and a reminder that even non-combat troops are often risking their lives at the risk of very dangerous accidents.
Port Chicago disaster - Wikipedia
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October 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about two things: first, the ever-present specter of racism in most militaries, and a reminder that even non-combat troops are often risking their lives at the risk of very dangerous accidents.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about one of my favorite milhist topics; complete morons.
Contrary to their glorified reputation, the Confederacy had a number of incompetent and unintelligent generals, sirrah Pillow here being an example of someone who couldn't even properly dig a hole.
Contrary to their glorified reputation, the Confederacy had a number of incompetent and unintelligent generals, sirrah Pillow here being an example of someone who couldn't even properly dig a hole.
Gideon Johnson Pillow - Wikipedia
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October 8, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about one of my favorite milhist topics; complete morons.
Contrary to their glorified reputation, the Confederacy had a number of incompetent and unintelligent generals, sirrah Pillow here being an example of someone who couldn't even properly dig a hole.
Contrary to their glorified reputation, the Confederacy had a number of incompetent and unintelligent generals, sirrah Pillow here being an example of someone who couldn't even properly dig a hole.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post returns to the weird world of premodern China and it's endless innovations that never seemed to stick around. This was the case for armor as well as weapons, with plenty of strange suits worn by soldiers. My favorite is the paper armor worn by Song militia.
Chinese armour - Wikipedia
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October 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post returns to the weird world of premodern China and it's endless innovations that never seemed to stick around. This was the case for armor as well as weapons, with plenty of strange suits worn by soldiers. My favorite is the paper armor worn by Song militia.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is for all those cat lovers out there who are sick of seeing dogs get all the soldierly attention. Sure, maybe they're not rushing into combat, but cats wage their own private war against the scourge of rat sabotuers. Where are their medals?
Cats? In the Military?!
Despite their small, fluffy nature and their propensity to do as they please, even cats had a place in the military.
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October 6, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is for all those cat lovers out there who are sick of seeing dogs get all the soldierly attention. Sure, maybe they're not rushing into combat, but cats wage their own private war against the scourge of rat sabotuers. Where are their medals?
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a reminder that pre-Colonial North America still had it's violent conflicts, many of which are still shrouded in mystery. Tribes and civilizations falling dramatically, wars and massacres-a fascinating, complicated history interrupted by crass colonialism.
Crow Creek massacre - Wikipedia
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October 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a reminder that pre-Colonial North America still had it's violent conflicts, many of which are still shrouded in mystery. Tribes and civilizations falling dramatically, wars and massacres-a fascinating, complicated history interrupted by crass colonialism.
Just a bite sized fun fact for today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post: tanks are descended from tractors, which were used to haul things around in the First World War.
The next time you see a farm, just know that that innocent looking tractor could hulk out at any time....
The next time you see a farm, just know that that innocent looking tractor could hulk out at any time....
History of the tank - Wikipedia
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October 3, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Just a bite sized fun fact for today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post: tanks are descended from tractors, which were used to haul things around in the First World War.
The next time you see a farm, just know that that innocent looking tractor could hulk out at any time....
The next time you see a farm, just know that that innocent looking tractor could hulk out at any time....
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about an animal with long funny ears, who kicks up at anything they hear....or at least, that's how the song goes. Mules, who've carried our stuff around for millenia, have a long but often ignored history in military conflict.
Army Mules: The Beast of Burden in War
Mules served in large numbers with U.S. Army forces during World War II.
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October 2, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is about an animal with long funny ears, who kicks up at anything they hear....or at least, that's how the song goes. Mules, who've carried our stuff around for millenia, have a long but often ignored history in military conflict.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a reminder that professional armies generally need to be *paid* in order to function-and paid well in order to keep them from looting and pillaging. Loyalty and warrior ethos won't convince a guard not to abandon their post out of boredom.
October 1, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is a reminder that professional armies generally need to be *paid* in order to function-and paid well in order to keep them from looting and pillaging. Loyalty and warrior ethos won't convince a guard not to abandon their post out of boredom.
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is just some two-cents from me; acting all ruthless and loose cannon-y and saying that you're not gonna deal with those pesky war crimes your troops are committing doesn't make you strong. It shows you're too weak and cowardly to win a fair fight.
September 30, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Today's #MorningMilitaryHistory post is just some two-cents from me; acting all ruthless and loose cannon-y and saying that you're not gonna deal with those pesky war crimes your troops are committing doesn't make you strong. It shows you're too weak and cowardly to win a fair fight.