Bizarre Battles

Author: Danny Sowell

In 1932, Australia faced an unexpected enemy: emus. After World War I, soldiers were given land to farm, but they soon found their crops under attack by thousands of emus. The government deployed soldiers armed with machine guns to combat the birds, but the emus proved surprisingly resilient. The 'war' ended in defeat for the humans, and the emus continued to roam freely.

In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Army faced an unusual threat: bees. British troops disturbed a large nest of bees, which then proceeded to attack and scatter the soldiers. This unexpected tactic forced the British to retreat, temporarily giving the Americans an upper hand.

In 19th century Sweden, Marshal Bernadotte faced a herd of reindeer that grew agitated by the presence of troops. These reindeer disrupted military lines and caused confusion, demonstrating that even animals can alter the course of military engagements.

In 1916, the French attempted to weaponize camels in the Sahara Desert. These camels, laden with explosives, were sent towards enemy encampments, but many refused to charge, creating a comical and ineffective military strategy.

The Switzerland-based Union of Mice faced an overwhelming invasion by cats in the early 1900s. To combat this, they developed elaborate networks of tunnels and traps, showing that even mice can devise clever military strategies.

During the Spanish Civil War, the Republican Army trained pigeons to carry messages and small explosives. These messenger birds played a crucial role in communication and sabotage, showcasing how even birds can be enlisted in wartime strategies.

In 1942, Lieutenant-Commander Herbert E. Werner linked submarines with bats for an American project called Operation X-ray. Bats carrying small incendiary devices were released over Japanese cities, but many ended up causing unintended fires, leading to the project's cancellation.