Military History's Most Wanted™: The Top 10 Book of Improbable Victories, Unlikely Heroes, and Other Martial Oddities: The Top 10 Book of Improbable Victories, ... Unlikely Heroes and Other Martial Oddities

In 1944 U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Leslie J. McNair was accidentally killed by USAAF bombers that dropped their bombs short of the target, thus becoming the highest-ranking American casualty of World War II. Union Gen. Daniel Sickels was the first person to be successfully acquitted of murder by pleading temporary insanity after he shot and killed the son of "Star-Spangled Banner" composer Francis Scott Key in cold blood. Ten years before Custer's infamous last stand, U.S. cavalry Capt. William J. Fetterman disobeyed orders and led his eighty-man detachment in pursuit of a band of Sioux Indians. Neith.;Cover Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; Dedication; Contents; Photographs; Acknowledgments; Preface; PERSONALITIES; The Great Captains of History; The Great Admirals of History; The Distaff Side of Command: Female Combat Leaders; Commanding Officers (Old); Commanding Officers (young); Disabled Commanders: The Sick, Lame, but not Lazy; Guerrillas; Mercenaries; Overrated Commanders; Underrated Commanders; Incompetent Commanders; Commanders Blinded by Their Own Ego; Military nicknames; Don't Ask, We'll Tell: Commanders of Dubious Sexual Proclivities; Amateur Commanders; Ivy League Graduates. Delivers little-known facts and clever commentary on the people, the battles, and the wars, the literature and the media, and miscellaneous facts from ancient times to the present In 1944 U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Leslie J. McNair was accidentally killed by USAAF bombers that dropped their bombs short of the target, thus becoming the highest-ranking American casualty of World War II. Union Gen. Daniel Sickels was the first person to be successfully acquitted of murder by pleading temporary insanity after he shot and killed the son of "Star-Spangled Banner" composer Francis Scott Key in cold blood. Ten years before Custer's infamous last stand, U.S. cavalry Capt. William J. Fetterman disobeyed orders and led his eighty-man detachment in pursuit of a band of Sioux Indians. Neither he nor his men returned. In the United States, Benedict Arnold's name is synonymous with treason, but in Russia Andrei Vlasov holds that dubious distinction. After being captured by the Germans during World War II, he led an army of former Soviet POWs against the Red Army. Famous men of the arts and letters, such as Maurice Chevalier and Jean-Paul Sartre, openly collaborated with the Axis during World War II yet managed to escape punishment after the war. Entertainer Martha Raye was so beloved by the troops that she earned an honorary commission as "Colonel Maggie" and was allowed to be buried in Fort Bragg's military cemetery. James Bond creator Ian Fleming graduated from Sandhurst and was a naval intelligence officer in World War II. During the Thirty Years' War, Count Tilly lost control of his troops after capturing Magdeburg. After three days of looting, they had killed 25,000 of the city's 30,000 inhabitants. Military History's Most WantedTM chronicles 700 of the most outlandish commanders, battles, and accomplishments in military history. Its seventy lists include warfare's top ten winners, losers, traitors, entertainers, war novels, and movies. Military historians, buffs, and enthusiasts will enjoy this often irreverent and controversial look at the profession of arms. Cover Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Photographs Acknowledgments Preface PERSONALITIES The Great Captains of History The Great Admirals of History The Distaff Side of Command: Female Combat Leaders Commanding Officers (Old) Commanding Officers (young) Disabled Commanders: The Sick, Lame, but not Lazy Guerrillas Mercenaries Overrated Commanders Underrated Commanders Incompetent Commanders Commanders Blinded by Their Own Ego Military nicknames Don't Ask, We'll Tell: Commanders of Dubious Sexual Proclivities Amateur Commanders Ivy League Graduates. EducatorsGeneral Officers for Both Sides Traitors Collaborators Wretched Refuse: Generals in Exile Murder (and Death) Most Foul Friendly Fire Casualties and Collateral Damage Military Commanders as Specific Targets Biblical Commanders Native American Commanders Senior Flag Officers of the United States Marshal-Generals of France Air Aces Submarine Aces Military Chaplains Camp Followers and Mistresses Hollywood Actors Military Theorists The Greatest Command Staff in History Literary Soldiers War Correspondents BATTLES AND MANEUVERS Decisive Battles Decisive naval Battles. Lopsided Victories: More than 30,000 CasualtiesLopsided Victories: Fewer than 30,000 Casualties Military Upsets Airborne Operations Amphibious Operations Last Stands Massacres (World) Massacres (United States) Mutinies Raids Sieges Retrograde Operations Revolutions Civil Wars LITERATURE AND ENTERTAINMENT War Movies: Operational War Movies: nonoperational War Movies: Testosterone War Movies: Estrogen Television Shows Music: Classical Compositions Music: Popular Compositions Entertainers The Basic Military Library Memoirs war novels Military Fiction Series. Military Science FictionWar Games: Paper War Games: Computer MISCELLANEOUS Debunking Military Myths Revolution in Military Affairs Elite Troop Formations Horses Cavalry Charges Battle Cries Prisoner-of-War Camps Military Clothing Courts-Martial Web Sites Bibliography Index About the Author. This Volume Chronicles 700 Of The Most Outlandish Commanders, Battles, And Accomplishments In Military History, From Ancient To Present Times And From All Around The Globe. Its 70 Lists Include Warfare's Top Ten Winners, Losers, Traitors, Entertainers, War Novels And Movies. Personalities 3 -- Battles And Maneuvers 181 -- Literature And Entertainment 255. M. Evan Brooks. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 349-360) And Index. Eminent military historians (e.g., Liddell Hart, Dodge) as well as military leaders (e.g., Napoleon) have written detailed volumes on the Great Captains of History.