10 victories that lasted for years and 10 quick defeats

The legendary siege of Troy, as described in Greek mythology, is said to have lasted about ten years. While the exact historical details are still a matter of debate, archaeological discoveries support the existence of a prolonged conflict in the region. This story highlights perseverance and strategy, particularly the famous ruse of the Trojan Horse.

This conflict between the Ottoman Empire and Venice lasted 21 years, making it one of the longest sieges in history. The city of Candia, on the island of Crete, held out despite relentless assaults and blockades. It finally fell in 1669, after a long war of attrition and the depletion of its resources.

The city of Ceuta, in North Africa, under Spanish control, was besieged by Moroccan forces for more than three decades. Although the intensity of the fighting varied, the pressure remained constant for 33 years. Spain ultimately retained control of the city, thereby demonstrating the strength of its defenses.

This siege, which took place during the Eighty Years’ War, lasted about three years and pitted Spanish forces against Dutch rebels. Both sides suffered heavy losses during repeated assaults and counterattacks. The Spanish eventually captured the city, but at the cost of enormous sacrifices.

During the Third Crusade, Acre was at the center of a protracted conflict between Crusader and Muslim forces. The siege lasted nearly two years and involved numerous armies and reinforcements. It ended with the Crusaders capturing the city after sustained pressure.

Alexander the Great’s siege of Tyre lasted about seven months, which was unusually long for his campaigns. The city’s strong defenses forced him to build a causeway to reach it. Eventually, his perseverance paid off, and the city was captured.

One of the longest and deadliest sieges in modern history, the Siege of Leningrad lasted nearly 900 days during World War II. German and Finnish forces surrounded the city, causing famine and extremely harsh living conditions. Despite immense suffering, the Soviet Union managed to hold the city until the siege was lifted.

The Great Siege of Malta lasted about four months, but its intensity and significance made it a landmark event. Ottoman forces attempted to capture the island, which was held by the Knights of the Order of St. John. The defenders held their ground despite an overwhelming imbalance of forces, and the Ottomans eventually withdrew.

During the Franco-Prussian War, Paris was under siege for more than four months. As the siege dragged on, the city faced food shortages and declining morale. It eventually surrendered after relentless bombardment and the lack of reinforcements.

This modern siege lasted nearly four years during the Bosnian War. Sarajevo was surrounded by Bosnian Serb forces, leading to relentless shelling and sniper fire. It was the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare.

British forces in Singapore surrendered to Japan after barely a week of fighting. Despite strong defenses, poor coordination and the rapid advance of the Japanese led to their collapse. This remains one of Britain’s most crushing military defeats.

France surrendered to Nazi Germany in the space of about six weeks during World War II. German forces used the “blitzkrieg” tactic to bypass defenses and advance. This rapid collapse stunned much of the world.

As part of what is known as the Anschluss, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany without offering any military resistance. This process unfolded rapidly, with political pressure and internal support playing a decisive role. This demonstrated that surrender does not always involve the use of force.

The Afghan government collapsed within a few days as Taliban forces advanced. Many regions surrendered without a prolonged fight, including the capital. The speed of this takeover took international observers by surprise.

Denmark surrendered to German forces just a few hours after the invasion began during World War II. The Danish government chose to surrender in order to avoid civilian casualties. This made it one of the shortest military campaigns in modern history.

During World War II, U.S. forces stationed on Guam surrendered to Japan after two days of fighting. The island had limited defenses and reinforcements. Its rapid fall highlighted strategic weaknesses in the Pacific.

Coalition forces captured Baghdad in about three weeks during the Iraq War. Iraqi resistance in the capital quickly collapsed once key positions had been taken. This rapid fall marked the end of Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Although Poland put up strong resistance overall, Warsaw surrendered after less than a month of siege and bombardment. German forces used air and artillery attacks to weaken the defenses. 

Rome was declared an open city and captured by Allied forces without encountering any significant resistance. German troops withdrew rather than defend it to the bitter end. This allowed for a relatively quick transfer of control.

Cambodian government forces surrendered to the Khmer Rouge after years of civil war. The final takeover took place rapidly once the capital was surrounded. It marked a sudden and dramatic shift in power.