20 Battles That Shouldn’t Have Been Won (But Were)

The Athenian army was significantly smaller than the invading Persian forces sent by King Darius I. Despite their numerical inferiority, the Greeks launched a swift charge that threw the Persian archers into disarray and forced them into close combat.

The Persian fleet vastly outnumbered the Greek ships during the Greco-Persian Wars. The Greek commander Themistocles lured the Persian navy into the narrow straits near Salamis, where their numerical advantage became less of a factor.

Alexander the Great faced a massive Persian army led by King Darius III. The Persians outnumbered him and had even deployed scythe-wielding chariots designed to break through the infantry lines. Alexander used disciplined formations and a carefully timed cavalry charge to strike at a weak point in the Persian line. When Darius fled the battlefield, Persian resistance collapsed.

Hannibal’s Carthaginian army was vastly outnumbered by Roman forces during the Second Punic War. Instead of fighting a defensive war, Hannibal arranged his troops in a curved formation in order to deliberately lure the Roman legions inward.

King Henry V’s English army was exhausted, starving, and far outnumbered by the French forces it faced. Heavy rains had turned the battlefield into thick mud, slowing the advance of the French knights. The English archers fired volleys of arrows that disrupted the attack. The French suffered devastating losses, while the English won an unexpected victory during the Hundred Years’ War.

The Ottoman Empire laid siege to Vienna with a large and experienced army. European forces led by King John III Sobieski of Poland marched to the city’s aid and launched a massive cavalry charge from the hills outside Vienna, which ultimately led to their victory.

During the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Army was struggling and morale was at an all-time low. George Washington led his troops across the frozen Delaware River on the night of December 25 and took the Hessian troops stationed in Trenton by surprise the next morning.

British General John Burgoyne advanced southward from Canada, counting on support from other British forces. That support never came, leaving his army isolated and surrounded by American troops. After a series of battles, Burgoyne surrendered.

Revolutionary France had to face an invasion by the Prussian and Austrian armies, which were intent on crushing the young republic. Instead, the French artillery and defensive positions held firm during the fighting. The invading army ultimately chose to retreat rather than risk a protracted battle.

The British fleet, commanded by Admiral Horatio Nelson, faced a larger combined French-Spanish fleet. Nelson employed an unconventional tactic by dividing his ships into two columns that broke through the enemy line. This approach threw the opposing fleet into chaos.

The War of 1812 was drawing to a close when British forces attempted to capture New Orleans. American troops—composed of soldiers, militiamen, and even pirates—led by Andrew Jackson took up strong defensive positions behind earthen fortifications, which gave them a significant advantage and enabled them to win the battle.

During the Anglo-Zulu War, British forces underestimated the Zulu army and spread their troops too thinly. The Zulu warriors launched a coordinated attack using their traditional “buffalo horns” formation.

The Russian Baltic Fleet crossed half the globe to face Japan during the Russo-Japanese War. Japanese Admiral Togo Heihachiro intercepted the fleet near the Tsushima Strait, thanks to the Japanese ships’ effective maneuvering and their accurate long-range fire.

Russian forces advanced into East Prussia at the start of World War I. German commanders Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff coordinated a swift counterattack using intercepted communications. German forces surrounded the Russian Second Army.

Japan entered the battle with a larger fleet and superior naval power. American cryptographers had deciphered parts of the Japanese naval code, which allowed the U.S. Navy to anticipate the attack. An American plane struck the Japanese aircraft carriers while their planes were being refueled, thereby turning the tide of the battle.

German forces initially took control of most of the city during fierce fighting. Soviet troops held narrow positions along the Volga while preparing a counteroffensive. Operation Uranus, however, encircled the German Sixth Army during the winter, forcing the Germans to surrender.

French forces established a fortified base in northern Vietnam, hoping to lure Viet Minh fighters into open battle. Instead, the Viet Minh moved heavy artillery into the surrounding hills. Their guns overlooked the French positions and gradually destroyed the base. After weeks of fighting, the French garrison surrendered.

During the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, a small group of Indian soldiers defended the Longewala outpost in Rajasthan. Pakistani armored units attempted to capture the outpost during the night. The Indian defenders held their ground until dawn, allowing the Indian Air Force to intervene. The airstrikes destroyed many Pakistani tanks and forced them to retreat.

During the Gulf War, U.S. armored units engaged Iraqi Republican Guard forces under conditions of poor visibility. Despite the confusion caused by a sandstorm, U.S. crews were able to capitalize on their advanced targeting systems and training. U.S. forces destroyed a large number of Iraqi vehicles with minimal casualties.

At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many observers expected Kyiv to fall quickly. Ukrainian forces held their ground thanks to a coordinated defense, mobile units, and broad support from the civilian population. Russia’s supply problems and logistical failures slowed its advance. Within a few weeks, Russian troops withdrew from the region, marking a major setback for the invasion.