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The Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna was a significant turning-point in the Ottoman Empire's influence in Europe. It was the high-water mark of Ottoman expansion and the Holy Roman Empire and Europe were never severely threatened by the Ottoman presence thereafter. This is the only battle on the timeline to have pikemen contingents present.
"War Against the Ottomans." Heeresgeschichtliches Museum Wien. 2015. http://www.hgm.at/en/exhibitions/exhibitions/war-against-the-ottomans.html (accessed April 5, 2015). -
Battle of Dogger Bank
<a href='http://www.cindyvallar.com/williamkidd.html' >Jameson, John Franklin. Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period: Illustrative Documents. New York: MacMillan, 1923.
This is William Kidd's privateer letter of marque granted by the British admiralty in 1696 before the Battle of Dogger Bank. This source demonstrates how the hiring of privateers by European nations became popular around this time to compensate for a stagnation in naval development due to lack of finances. -
The Battle of Blenheim
Blenheim was in the War of the Spanish Succession, one of many dynastic conflicts of the 18th Century. This period marks the beginning of line infantry; standard musket-armed infantry units.
"THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH AT THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM." National Trust prints, posters and canvasses. n.d. http://www.ntprints.com/image/359226/the-duke-of-marlborough-at-the-battle-of-blenheim-by-or-after-louis-laguerre-1663-1721-painting-in-the-staircase-hall-at-plas-newydd-anglesey (accessed April 5, 2015). -
Battle of Quiberon Bay
http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/11894.html
This an oil canvas painted by Richard Wright in 1760 called "The Battle of Quiberon Bay, 21, November 1759: the Day After." It depicts the complete devastation of the French navy by the more modern, copper sporting British fleet. At the time, this might have been used as propoganda to garner support for Britain during the seven year's war. -
Crimea becomes (unofficially) part of the Russian Empire.
The treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca is signed between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire. It leads Crimea to its official independence, that is, its actual dependence to Russia. Here Catherine the Great is depicted leading the armored soldiers, before the end of the war. Torelli, Stephano.Allegory of Catherine the Great’s Victory over the Turks and Tatars. oil on canvas. 1772 (State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow). http://www.tretyakovgallery.ru/en/collection/_show/image/_id/436 -
Massacre of the Champ de Mars
The Sans Culottes are the revolutionary forces that were chosen to be the most emblematic of the French Revolution. The Massacre of the Champ de Mars determined the entry in politics of the Sans Culottes, literally called "Without Pants". They show how the lack of military uniform allowed the romanticization of a revolutionary movement.
Anonymous. Le sans-culotte et la femme du sans-culotte, prints,1792 (coll. De Vinck, Bibliotheque nationale Francaise). -
Battle of Trafalgar
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/turner-the-battle-of-trafalgar-as-seen-from-the-mizen-starboard-shrouds-of-the-victory-n00480
This is oil canvas painted by Joseph Mallord William between 1806 and 1808 called, "The Battle of Trafalgar, as Seen from the Mizen Starboard Shrouds of the Victory." It depicts the most decisive naval victory of the Napoleonic wars and the end of the age of the sail in boat design. British Admiral Horatio Naval led the British to victory with his innovative tactics. -
Alexander I shows to Napoleon the Kalmuks, the Kossacks and the Baskir of the Russian Army
This painting illustrates the diversity of the Russian Army as well as the relation between the Russian and the French Empire before Napoleon declared war to Russia. Beregeret, Pierre-Nicolasco. Alexandre Ier présente a Napoleon les Kalmoucks, les Cosaques et les Baskirs de l'armée russe, le 9 Juillet 1807. Oil on canvas. 1810. (Chateau de Versailles) http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/joconde_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_1=REF&VALUE_1=000PE005060 -
Battle of Somosierra
During this battle between Napoleon's forces and the Spanish, Napoleon's artillery forces could not outflank the Spanish, so he had the Polish "Chevaux Leger" forces accompany them. This battle became one of the Polish Cavalry's most noted successes. Suchodolski, January. Somosierra, painting. 1875. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Somosierra#/media/File:Samosierra.jpg -
The Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon's last stand is an example of the effectiveness of the cavalry square. His defeat marks the end of the instability of the French Revolution across Europe but its effects could be felt years on..
"The Battle of Waterloo: The British Squares Receiving the Charge of the French Cuirassiers." Victoria and Albert Museum: Search the Collections. March 30, 2015. http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O133043/the-battle-of-waterloo-the-oil-painting-philippoteaux-felix-henri/ (accessed April 5, 2015). -
Battle of Sinop
http://cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/images/530/53030.jpg.htm, original is currently housed at the Naval school of St. Petersburg. This is a painting by Ivan Aivazovsky from 1853 called, "Russian ships at the Battle of Sinop." It makes a clear distinction between the old, wooden naval fleet of the disintegrating Ottoman empire and the more industralized Russian forces. This was probabaly used as a propoganda piece at the time because Russians took a lot of pride in this decisive victory. -
The Battle of Sadowa
This battle marks a significant step in the unification process of Germany. This battle and the Dreyse Needle Gun highlight the Prussian General Staff’s captialisation of emerging industrial technologies, and the extent of Prussian militarism. Sadowa also marks the era of intense national liberation and unification movements
"Die Schlacht Bei Konniggratz, 3rd July 1866 by Carl Rochling." Cranston Fine Arts. n.d. http://www.cranstonfinearts.com/art_print.php?ProdID=5917 (accessed April 05, 2015). -
The French leave for the battlefield
The French uniform in the beginning of World War I has not changed since the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. Brighter than the khaki German outfit, it will cost France quantity of deaths before adapting to the conditions with a more camouflage equipment.
Prouvé, Victor. Le départ du soldat. Oil on Canvas. 1914 (Musée Lorrain, Nancy). http://www.histoire-image.org/pleincadre/index.php?c=Guerre de 14-18&d=1&i=75 -
Battle of Jutland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/artists/robert-henry-smith
This is a painting by Robert Henry Smith from 1919 called, "The Battle of Jutland: Admiral Jellicoe Arrives with the Battleships and Meets the Battle Cruisers." It exemplifies the industrial steel ships and steam power sources that were favored during World War I. The spurts of water also represent the German U boats, an invention first used at this battle. -
The First Day of the Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest battles ever fought. Technological advances had allowed massive amounts of troops to be at the front, as well as horribly high casualties in minutes; the German MG08 could fire at 600 rounds a minute. This battle is the gruesome epitome of industrial inter-state warfare.
"WW1 MG 08 MASCHINEN GEWEHR ." THE MUSEUM OF TECHNOLOGY; The Great War and WWII [1850-1980]. 2007. http://www.museumoftechnology.org.uk/expand.php?key=81 (accessed April 5, 2015). -
Battle of Flers–Courcelette
The indtroduction of the tank during World War One is a notable event, as it was intended to break the stalemate on the Western Front. This battle was a part of the Somme Offensive and is widely regarded to be the first tank battle.This first tank was the British Mark I, and 49 of them were sent into battle despite untrained crews and numerous mechanichal faliures. The Mark I was meant to cross trenches 12 feet wide. Engine faliure would prove to be the Mark I's biggest weakness. -
Battle of Vimy Ridge
At this time, railway had become the best way to get supplies ot one's troops. During the battle at Vimy, railway was important, for one, as the nearby town of Arras had a large railway junction, so whoever controlled it could best supply their troops. Trench railways, a second important rail component in World War One, connected the front with the regular railway system. Bringing Canadian wounded to the Field Dresseing Station. Vimy Ridge. April, 1917. https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam -
Russian Civil War
The first armoured car, the Austin was used by many sides in this war. It presents a first attempt at transporting people quickly and more safely than, say, on horseback. At first, it had trouble navigating the bumpy ground, and thus underwent many improvements. It shows the rapid modernization that took place in the first half of the 20th century. Austins (1st series) of the Russian Army during First World War. Niva magazine no 21, 1916. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Armoured_Car#/media/ -
Battle of Komarów
This battle, one of the key parts of the Polish-Bolshevik war, was also significant as the last significant cavalry battle. Many technological advancements in land transport for war had been in circulation by this time, especially in Western Europe. This event is a notable transition from the more tradtional ways of battle to the new, modern ways of utilizing machinery. It shows the modernization that Europe underwent in the early half of the 20th century.
http://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/File:B -
Theodor Eicke is named Inspector of Concentration Camps.
Himmler names Eicke Inspector of Concentration Camps and Commander of SS guard formations, before appointing him as official head SS-Totenkopfverbände (Totenkopf meaning "death's head"), the "Death Squads" ruling the concentration camps.
Anonymous. Theodor Eicke. Black and White Photograph. 1941. (Bundesarchiv) https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/archives/barchpic/search/_1428451668/?search[view]=detail&search[focus]=7 -
Battle of Taranto
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/taranto-harbour-swordfish-from-illustrious-cripple-the-it116445
This is a painting by Charles David Cobb called, "Taranto Harbour, Swordfish from 'Illustrious' Cripple the Italian Fleet, 11 November 1940." It captures the clash between aviation and naval forces that occurred for the first time during World War II. Admiral Andrew Cunningham said this battle showed the navy's most devasting weapon were armed forces in the air. -
Rommel and Major General von Bismarck in North Africa
Rommel and the Major General von Bismarck at a briefing with a map, managing the Afrika Korps. They are wearing a tan uniform, suited for combat in the desert. Otto. Nordafrika.- Offiziere bei Lagebesprechung mit Karte. Photograph. 1942 (Bundesarchiv). https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/cross-search/search/_1428452203/?search[view]=detail&search[focus]=2 -
The Battle of Stalingrad
Stalingrad was a decisive battle in the European Theatre of WWII. The 5-month long engagement featured intense urban warfare and the aggressive use of snipers on both sides; several claimed hundreds of kills from the one battle alone. The city, like much of Europe, was totally destroyed as a result.
"Sniper in Stalingrad 1942." WWII in Colour. n.d. http://www.ww2incolor.com/soviet-union/0.jpg.html (accessed April 05, 2015). -
Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky)
The DUKW is an American-made amphibious vehicle that was used by the allied forces during World War Two. It is based on the American CCKW trucks used during World War One and is meant to carry goods and troops across land and water. They were used for the fist time during Operation Husky and played an integral role in sustaining the troops, as they eaily landed suppliues along the beaches.
