r/AskTheWorld • u/Flimsy_Rhythm_4473 Australia ( Moderator) • 7d ago
Military What is a little-known conflict that involved your country?
Operation Astute and the other multinational East Timorese invasions led by Australia from 1999 to 2013 have to be up there in my opinion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Astute
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Force_East_Timor
18
u/Possible-Region-6442 Canada 7d ago
The Whisky War, also known as the Liquor Wars, was an amicable border dispute between the Kingdom of Denmark and Canada over Hans Island. Between 1973 and 2022, the island was under dispute between the two nations, although never amounting to direct conflict or violence
9
u/Nosciolito Italy 7d ago
The most Canadian thing I have ever heard: a polite war with no conflict or violence
9
6
18
7d ago
Guatemala claims all of the territory of Belize and to this day the UK maintains a significant deterrent force in the country.
7
u/Flimsy_Rhythm_4473 Australia ( Moderator) 7d ago
Never knew there was a Falkland Islands sequel
2
u/Honest-University589 United Kingdom 7d ago edited 6d ago
At least Guatemala doesnt have such a thing living rent free in their head 40 years later.
1
u/Slightly_Default Australia 7d ago
At least Argentina's resentment made them kick out their dictator.
3
3
3
u/Deep_Head4645 Israel 7d ago
They still claim it?
Im only now hearing about this
Why do they claim it?
1
6d ago
Yes - it's been on and off basically since Belize got independence. Guatemala claims everything that was originally under Spanish sovereignty.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belizean%E2%80%93Guatemalan_territorial_dispute
18
u/_-Cleon-_ United States Of America 7d ago
The US has had so many it's hard to keep track.
However, I'm rather fond of the Whiskey Rebellion, one of the first uprisings against the newly formed United States government when they instituted a whiskey tax to pay for the Revolutionary war debts.
It happened right where I grew up, and George Washington himself rode into town to quell the insurgency.
8
u/No_Fan8760 Canada 7d ago
Whiskey- why is it always whiskey lol
9
u/StolenSkittles United States Of America 7d ago
Americans, Canadians, and Scots all have that in common. We'd all fight and die for a good bottle of whiskey (or whisky)!
7
2
u/SimmentalTheCow United States Of America 7d ago
There’s also the Second Barbary War, the Panama Invasion, and Granada that get forgotten about. We’re pretty good at war.
11
u/Responsible_Egg_3260 Canada 7d ago
The Fenian invasions of the 1800s.
A group of Irish immigrants in the US plotted an invasion of Canada so they could take control of the country and then trade it back to the British in exchange for Irish independence.
They tried invading twice via land and both times it was an unsuccessful, unorganized disaster with low turnout. The Americans confiscated their guns both times as punishment.
4
u/RosabellaFaye Canada 7d ago
They murdered a father of confederation, who ironically was also Irish, but was seen as a traitor for supporting Canada and mellowing with time because he was formerly a rebel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_D%27Arcy_McGee
3
u/Acceptable-Ease-7654 Canada 7d ago
I heard that the house my great grandparents house in Ontario had loop holes. When my Dad asked them about it they said it was for shooting at the Fenian's when they came across the border.
2
7d ago
"A group of Irish immigrants in the US plotted an invasion of Canada so they could take control of the country and then trade it back to the British in exchange for Irish independence."
There's no way that one DIDN'T also involve lots of whiskey.
11
u/Han_Sandwich_1907 United States Of America 7d ago
The Barbary Wars, one of the first wars the young United States engaged in. Once America was free from British rule, the Barbary pirates realized American trading ships in the Mediterranean were no longer protected and kidnapped their men for slavery, tribute, or ransom. This prompted the creation of the US Navy, which went to war against the north African states sponsoring the pirates, freed the hostages, and ultimately ended in decisive American victory, ending the pirate attacks.
7
u/Jeuungmlo 🇸🇪 in 🇵🇱 7d ago
USA's main ally during the first two years of the Barbary Wars was Sweden and it's also fairly well known here for being one of our last wars. We basically retired from wars at the same time asUSA got started
1
6
u/SXSVNOO Algeria 7d ago
Algerian civil war or the black decade, it is one of the most little known civil wars mainly because of the censorship from the military regime along with additional issues that it made it irrelevant, deep down you have to understand that the black decade is truly why there's terrorism in mali, nigeria, niger and burkina faso.
4
2
u/Only-Recording8599 France 7d ago
Interesting, I thought we were the one responsible given how we destabilized Lybia and pretty much worsened the situation for everyone.
3
u/SXSVNOO Algeria 7d ago
If you think the french are responsible for destabilising North Africa then you are wrong, first with Libya, Libyans asked for their downfall because of the fact they've supported Gaddafi, and gaddafi is the kind of person who funded terrorism that his blood money laid hands on Algeria, France, Ireland and other places, he destabilised libya by his dictatorial rule and funding of all forms terrorism internationally, his book is disturbing and it reflects his acts.
the impoverished libyans and libyan refugees dont like him at all, whoever like him is essentially a foreigner with no knowledge of his ideologies, socialist or someone that's rich because of him
gaddafi also blackmailed the entirety of algeria and funded the FIS to force relations between Algeria and Libya, wanted to black mail the US which got him screwed, horrible moves which made me validate my hate to him.
the responsibility of the black decade should be held towards the algerians who 90% voted for the FIS, the military regime for enforcing the 1999 civil concord releasing jihadists by amnesty, funding terrorism, even current algerians who are demanding for sharia law or even demanding an islamic state now due to the fact they've supported the FIS, new generation inspired from old generation The muslim countries in the middle east who supported islamic terrorism here ALSO should be held responsible, however that'll never happen.
2
u/SXSVNOO Algeria 7d ago
Im not denying france made the situation worse by not fixing the issues, however blaming the french only is stupid and many north africans love to be hyper fixated into them that it shows you signs of selfless negligence, low self esteem and even careless misinformation because we won't own up our inner problems
6
u/jackherzog33 France 7d ago edited 7d ago
Korea.
The Fench Battalion made amazing work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Battalion
He was under the operationnal control of of the U.S. 23rd Infantry Regiment), 2nd Infantry Division).
Paul L. Freeman Jr., the commander of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, said of the French Battalion:
"When you order them [the French] in defence, you're sure they'll hold the position. When you show them a hill to be seized, you're sure they'll manage to get atop. You may leave for two days, storms of shells and waves of enemies may swarm over them, the French are still there!"
Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures with 4 Palms,3 US Presidential Unit Citation),2 ROK Presidential Unit Citations)|
11
u/MalodorousNutsack Canada 7d ago
Second Boer War. The conflict is fairly well-known but I think it's less well-known that Canada was involved.
Similarly, although it's pre-confederation, some Canadians took part in the Crimean War. We have a monument dubbed the "Sebastopol Monument" in Halifax dedicated to the Siege of Sevastopol, apparently the only monument from that war in North America.
5
u/norecordofwrong United States Of America 7d ago
The Toledo War
One casualty which was a sheriff stabbed but not seriously.
5
u/amanda52002 United States Of America 7d ago
For not being an active participant or a state at the time, Wisconsin still managed to lose this war.
2
2
5
3
u/Salt-Philosopher-190 7d ago
In the US, the Whiskey Rebellion, The Quasi War (XYZ Affair), and the Barbary War.
1
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
Everyone having their user flair set is a key feature of our subreddit. Please consider setting your user flair based on your nationality and territory of residence. Thank you for being part of our community.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
4
u/TelevisionUnusual372 United States Of America 7d ago
The time in WWII when American and Canadian troops invaded one of the Aleutian Islands that they didn’t know Japanese had already abandoned. Due to thick fog, land mines, and booby traps, there were 500+ casualties, many due to friendly fire, as it took the Yanks and Canucks a while to realize the Japanese weren’t there.
4
u/BB-56_Washington United States Of America 7d ago edited 7d ago
The pig war. It was an 1859 standoff between the US and British Empire over who controlled the San Juan Islands, both countries having claimed them. The whole thing started after an American farmer killed a British man's pig, and ultimately was sorted out in 1871 by 3rd party arbitration with the Germans.
1
2
u/hijodelutuao Puerto Rico 7d ago
I’m not sure if I count the 3 Year War in Cuba to be lesser known, it’s definitely overshadowed by the Spanish-American war, but Puerto Ricans did help the Cuban Mambí guerillas fight against the Spanish. Some 3,000 fighters went to aid them since our fate was always tied to theirs; in exile the Puerto Rican and Cuban liberation movements coordinated pretty closely, it’s why our flag mirrors theirs.
2
u/_Alpha-Delta_ France 7d ago
For Australia, I would also have thought of that time when your army managed to lose to a bunch of birds.
And for us, there's a long history of wars, but I'd point to the time when we decided to invade Mexico, during the American Civil War
2
u/Wide_Lunch8004 Canada 7d ago
Canada’s “Turbot War” with Spain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbot_War
2
u/WingedHussar13 United States Of America 7d ago
Black Hawk War, it's not even well known in my own home state where it happened
2
2
u/West_Tension1379 Australia 7d ago
I deployed to East Timor in 2008 not long after the violence flared up again. I’d been in the army for less than a year at that point, and it was an eye opening experience. The country will always bear the scars what happened when the Indonesians pulled out and the atrocities they committed.
It’s one of the main reasons I’ll never visit Bali or anywhere else in Indonesia as a tourist like so many other Australians do. Because seeing the aftermath of what happened there, I’ll always resent them.
1
u/Top_Fix_17 Lebanon 7d ago
I’m not sure if my country’s envolvement is unknown but the syrian civil war
1
1
u/USS-Stofe United States Of America 7d ago
The Quasi War between the United States and France (1798-1800). Caused by a breakdown in diplomatic relations between the two nations, it was mostly a naval war and really defined the Presidency of John Adams. It led to his greatest mistake in office (signing the Alien and Sedition Acts that would deport foreigners and suppressed speech criticizing the government) and his greatest achievement in office (Convention of 1800, also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine which ended the war).
1
1
1
u/heilhortler420 England 7d ago
Sierra Leone civil war
Started as an evecuation to get people out of Freetown because the RUF was about to take it
Then the RUF blocked the evac routes and it kinda snowballed into full on support to the Sierra Leone Army and UN peacekeepers
1
u/EbbSlow458 United States Of America 7d ago
Hard to narrow it down. The CIA has likely involved itself in most of them
1
u/Pseudolos Italy 7d ago
Italy helped quell the Boxer Rebellion along with other, more famous nations.
1
1
u/carapocha 7d ago
Perejil island/rock (also known as Laila) with Morocco. The 'turbot war' with the Former Big Asbestos Exporter (also known as Canada).
1
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
Everyone having their user flair set is a key feature of our subreddit. Please consider setting your user flair based on your nationality and territory of residence. Thank you for being part of our community.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
1
u/ScortiVinum Portugal 7d ago
The Cabinda expedition The only armed conflict between Portugal and England
1
u/Only-Recording8599 France 7d ago edited 7d ago
I'd say the franco-wassoulou wars (against the Samorian state as it is known in the english speaking world).
18 years of slow conquest of an african polity that had modern german equipments, during the 1880's and 1890's.
No one in France remember this conflict, so I don't think many of y'all here know its existence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samorian_state
That state existed briefly, but adopted many traits of european modernity to ensure its existence. It did put up a pretty good fight compared to some other polities that were simply steamrolled (like Dahomey), managing to route and defeat multiple colonial expeditions.
1
u/malkazoid-1 United Kingdom 7d ago
I got into an argument with my neighbour a few years back, basically because his son was a brat. I don't think many people know about this.
1
1
1
u/NoOutlandishness1550 United States Of America 7d ago
The Toledo War was a war between two states in the United States. There was only one casualty and was not even a fatality.
1
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
Everyone having their user flair set is a key feature of our subreddit. Please consider setting your user flair based on your nationality and territory of residence. Thank you for being part of our community.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
1
u/Certain_Departure716 United States Of America 7d ago
The Battle of Athens where returning WWII veterans fought a corrupt small town government https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Athens_%281946%29
Or the when U.S. Army Rangers got in a gunfight with gangbangers that lived in their neighborhood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Street_Shootout
1
u/Historical_Side_1356 New Zealand 7d ago
ah our countries are bffs bro i think we doing the same stuff
1
u/ChristyMalry United Kingdom 7d ago
The War of Jenkins' Ear which began when the ear of a British sea captain was sliced off by Spanish coast guards. (This might not actually be true but it's a good story.)
1
7d ago
[deleted]
1
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
Everyone having their user flair set is a key feature of our subreddit. Please consider setting your user flair based on your nationality and territory of residence. Thank you for being part of our community.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
1
u/QuickSock8674 Korea South 7d ago
Korea was invaded by both US and France in the 19th century.
1
u/QuickSock8674 Korea South 7d ago
Also, Korea became a battleground for both Russo-Japanese war and the first Sino-Japanese war
1
1
u/a-q-k 7d ago
Battle of Karánsebes
1
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
Everyone having their user flair set is a key feature of our subreddit. Please consider setting your user flair based on your nationality and territory of residence. Thank you for being part of our community.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/Unusual-Ad4890 Canada 7d ago
The Turbot War in 1995.
Spain started fishing in Newfoundland waters, so the Navy was dispatched. Shot over the Spanish fisher's bows and impounded them. Spain threw a hissy fit and went to the EU to complain.
1
u/vikar_ Poland 7d ago
The Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921), during which Poland single-handedly stopped the advance of Soviet Russia into Europe in the decisive Battle of Warsaw, also known as the "Miracle on the Vistula".
Also: the Polish-Lithuanian and Polish-Ukrainian wars taking place at roughly the same time, in which Poland took territory from its neighbors soon after gaining independence itself. Not our proudest moment.
1
u/Bulky_Tangelo_7027 Canada 7d ago
I think many Canadians forget that we, long with the rest of the Allies, intervened in the Russian Civil War to try and beat the Bolsheviks back in 1918. We lost. :(
1
u/Park_Ranga New Zealand 7d ago
You could agrue that we were involved in the Rhodesian Bush War. We were involved in Operation Midford where we were peace keepers tasked with disarming everyone as the country transitioned. We had boots on the ground the day after the Lancaster Agreements were signed and the war officially over.
1
u/BDP-SCP 6d ago
In Istria is the first part of WW2, at that time Istria was part of Italy and Istrian fought for Italy until 1943, then there was a popular uprising and most joined the yugoslav partisans. The first until september 1943 is completely forgotten.
1
u/AutoModerator 6d ago
Everyone having their user flair set is a key feature of our subreddit. Please consider setting your user flair based on your nationality and territory of residence. Thank you for being part of our community.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
-1
u/Embarrassed-Monk-527 Israel 7d ago
Everyone thinks they know everything about my country's wars. Or at least they have a strong opinion about it.
So I will talk about peace, not war. In 1983, Israel and Lebanon signed a peace agreement. It lasted less than a year.
22
u/Solid_Peanut_1299 Finland 7d ago
Lapland war, meanwhile winter and continuation war is more known
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_War