Was war really that gully before modern weapons?

[MischievousMonkey]

We all know the epic and brutal picture movies depicts when it comes to medieval and ancient wars

Spoiler

But the reality was different. Most of the times, there was no big charge army against army, no free for all where everybody was running around on the field dishing sword hits to everybody (in the heat of the battle, covered in mud, it would have been hard to recognize who is who...)

Most of the battles were in tight formations, and as soon as one camp started to look morale, they'd flee.

Average casualty rate for pre-industrial war was only 5%-6% for all sides according to some historians and most of that happened after the losing side started to flee (so killing retreating or surrending folks)

Compare this to casualties registered for WW1:

British Empire: 8.9 million mobilized; 908,371 killed; 2.1 million casualties

Germany: 11 million mobilized; 1.7 million killed; 5.3 million casualties

France: 8.4 million mobilized; 1.3 million killed; 4.7 million casualties

Austria-Hungary: 7.8 million mobilized; 1.2 million killed; 5.8 million casualties

Russia: 12 million mobilized; 1.7 million killed; 7.4 million casualties

Ottoman Empire: 2.8 million mobilized; 325,000 killed; 5.3 million casualties

So which type of war front was really the gulliest? Modern ones (after the industrial revolution) or the ones before that? In which type would you rather get caught?

 

[CoryMack]

The Battle of Cannae was basically described as a daylong long knife fight. Plus those armies had to walk everywhere. In his book ‘Hannibal’ Dodge says the ancient world was definitely more brutal, but says modern warfare is more deadly because of firearms and artillery. And he fought in the Civil War, so image how much more it is today with air support and modern bombs and weaponry.

 

[MischievousMonkey]

bump

 

[Spiider]

The stories of WW I sound like a complete nightmare compared to every other war you learn about in school

 

[CreepyMcCreeperson]

I don’t think they could lift those heavy weapons over their heads like that, especially considering the poor diet, and lack of clean water, and medical care.

 

[SleezyBigSlim]

I would be a general if it were ancient times cuz I said so that's why

 

[im not you]

trench wrfare seems like a bytch

imagine getting ordered to charge at the enemy position knowing youll get mowed down with machine guns but if you dont your own people will smoke you

 

[Vandelay]

The stories of WW I sound like a complete nightmare compared to every other war you learn about in school

WWI from all accounts that I've read is probably the worst war to have fought in.

Now you just getting a high caliber bullet to your vital organs or blown up. It's a much quicker death.

 

[Dzali OG]

Have you not watched GoT??

 

[BaggerofTea]

makea no difference. Death is death .


Brutality changes over the ages.

If you were 500 b.c, your whole concept of life and death would be drastically different from now

 

[The_Sheff]

WWI was basically a no holds barred bloodbath full of experimental weapons and no treaties. That war alone skews everything.

 

[Sinnerman]

From everything I've read as well war was less deadly before the modern age(speaking strictly in terms of casualty rate)

Although in saying that, I wouldn't want to be on the other side of a pissed of Roman or Mongol army

 

[HandyWithTheSteel]

World War II has the most casualties of any war in human history by A LOT.

 

[east]

the combat fatality rate's fallen a lot since wwii cause of advances in trauma care and armor, from 55% to 12%. the only really bad recent war i can remember is iran-iraq, they had chemical weapons, trench warfare, human wave attacks, all sorts of fukkery.

also back then you usually wouldn't receive quarter, just an execution or enslavement, i'd rather go out in battle

 

[Double Burger With Cheese]

Yes, you had to have hands. The war referee would tell, 1,2,3, go! Then the two sides would run up throwing hands. Whichever side got the best hands win the war and get all the gold and wine and shyt like that that was important back in the day. Then weapons came in the game and fukked everything up